Lagos Carnival 2015

carnival friends

Morning start

Everything started around 10am on Saturday morning, buses brought young people dressed in feathers and strass. Every region or area had its own set of colors and design.

We went to the smallest gathering point by the waterside in Ikoyi. Participants were getting in rows in order to get ready for the procession. The groups were composed of dancers and musicians.

Some groups had substituted musicians with a truck loaded with speakers broadcasting club music. As the participants gathered, the music was getting deeper in minds and bodies which started to shake. The parking lot area soon transformed in a giant open-air disco.

A group in blue was the less disciplined of all and the more open to be photographed as they saw my camera. It was a rare moment of foolishness and intimacy where boys and girls would just strike fancy pauses and send kisses, play with their tongues in a happy sort of way. The Party had really started!

the Surulere crew

All the participants seemed to know each other very well, some were probably close friends as some couples kissed while looking on the side to the camera.

From Lagos with Love

Make-up was an integral part of some of the costumes. Glaring colors to contrast with the different shades of skins, from light brown to pitch black.

colourful mix

sending kisses

orange musicians

closing the parade

make-up for boys and girls

play time

hitting the road

end of the parade

The procession started in Ikoyi and joined Lagos Island along Awolowo road. Towards the end of the afternoon, some confusion happened in the crowd watching in Lagos Island. A burglar was caught stealing and a mob started to gather and take care of him. As the movement started in the crowd, someone on the police side shot tear gas which made area boys angry. The whole thing turned into a riot and the carnival was brought to an unfortunate close.

leopard crew

Overall the event has been a success and moment of fun, it is sad that it had to stop in such a way.

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