Nigeria, the land of plenty

dreaming a boat would come and take her away She sits every morning on the pier. This is the only pier accessible to anyone on Queensdrive, Ikoyi. She is peering eastward over the water. She is a women, whose age I could not tell, Somewhere between 20 and 40 year old. She sits on the pier with her backpack, her flip-flops and a white plastic bag lying behind her back. Her legs leisurely hang above the water. She contemplates the surface of the muddy water. Recent rains have loaded the water of rivers from the hinterland with red soil. The blue of the sky hardly reflects on that water. She wears simple clothes, a black headscarf, a grey t-shirt and a purple skirt. She seems to have time on her hand, Nowhere to go, no-one to expect her at that particular moment She peers into the horizon hoping for something good to crop-up. Perhaps a boat could come and take her away Her gaze caresses the shiny surface of the water. Her ears listen to the distant b...

16.30 - fun time at Elegushi Beach Harmattan is filling the air with thin particles of sand. Lagos skyline is blurred as if there was fog and sun at the same time. It is the last of day the year. Victoria Island and Ikoyi are asleep, most Lagosians are busy on the outskirt of the city to prepare the New Year celebrations, be it at Church or with their families. And the Young sleep in anticipation of the night to come. Lagos Island though is still alive, particularly the Balogun market which buzzes are usual, perhaps a little less because of no deliveries being made that day. Customers and sellers were still out and about to buy and trade goods of all sorts. 12.00 noon - gingery view at Balogun market I was looking for a hat, of the kind of Panamas. A year ago, I had got one chinese paper-made that looked nice at that time. This time, going through the market, it looked like the latest version of something similar to a Panama hat was everywhere the same (paper-made bu...

demolition in progress Ikoyi was once the place where rich Nigerians were living as well as the British. It is still possible today to see one or two storey colonial houses surrounded by trees. These are now in poor shape and the pace of redevelopment is accelerating. At a time where oil is cheap and foreign currency can't be sent abroad easily, there has been an explosion of new constructions as a way to use the foreign cash available to some happy connected few. Some sites are for hotels, some are for offices and some are residential. Land being very expensive, buildings are gaining more floors and occupying a larger percentage of the ground surface. The usual victims of this rapid reshaping of Ikoyi are trees which are being cut remorselessly. demolition completed It is along those lines that I witness the scraping of the house next door. It was bulldozed in one night and rubbles were cleared in another 12 hours. The trees are still standing until redevelopment is start...

KM 31 is nearing, smile Saturday February 6th, 2015 was the day of the 2016 Lagos marathon. Hold on a Saturday not to collide with church service on Sunday. The event, started at 7am, ran through much of the city. It started on the Mainland at the National Stadium then went through Oshodi before coming to Third Mainland bridge, the emblematic bridge of Lagos that runs on the lagoon for over 10km and offers a view on Makoko where streets are replaced by water and house are perched on wooden pillars. From the bridge one can have a look at the skyline of the islands. Then the marathon went on through Ikoyi to the Lekki Bridge before reaching Victoria Island, going back to Ikoyi before finishing on Bar beach next to the future city of Eko Atlantic. everyone is welcome Many participants joined the run, numbers up to 20,000 could be seen on the bibs. Kenyans arrived on first and second position; an Ethiopian arrived third. The weather was hot and it probably took a toll on the run...

autumn only lasts a week in April Inequality is a fashionable conversation topic across the rich world where it is present in some variable degrees. Here in Lagos, it is obvious that the gap is huge between the rich Oga, owner of a mansion on Banana Island or Ikoyi, and the man looking after his gate. Ikoyi is in a course of modernisation. New condominiums are sprouting next to new hotels and office buildings. Redevelopment though rapid is often partial as some old worn-out colonial houses continue to stand. They have long ago been abandoned by their owners. Caretakers or squatters are occupying them not to leave the ground empty for fear someone might seize it and do something with it. Hence, meet my neighbors, leaving at the back of a dilapidated two story building which has long lost its windows but is still uninhabited. Trees are providing shadow on the surrounding of a cleared area that is used as fire place and sitting area. something's burning Often inher...

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! ...

  white brass band swan at the regatta Aquatic Splendor of Lagos 2015 This morning, on the occasion of a Sunday morning walk, I saw two small boats colorfully decorated, one covered by a golden cloth and the other one white with pink garlands, navigating on the lagoon between Victoria Island and Ikoyi. They felt kind of lonely on the empty water, though joyful with their irregular progression. Finally, they landed on a piece of land belonging to the local government on Oyinkan Abayomi street, next to my favorite beach bar . The pink boat was displaying a welcome message to the newly elected Lagos governor. The boat was setup by its support committee. There, tents had been erected to provide some welcome shade to hundreds of white plastic chairs facing the water. The setup was very promising for what could be lengthy speeches by important people. A large banner facing the street offered an explanation with : "let's celebrate the aquatic splendor of Lagos "; ...

 a wooden candidate  Gubernatorial elections (for States governors) Today is the day to elect States governors. Same movement restriction as during the presidential elections two weeks ago between 8am and 5pm or so. The difference is that people are much more relaxed this time round. I therefore went for a walk on Lekki bridge  before it was too late to be on the street. Joggers and bicycle riders were about the only occupants of the bridge, it was serene unlike the roaring of fancy cars whose drivers are either very much in a hurry (no time to waste) or want to use the clear stretch to feel vibrations of their engines ;-) and perhaps impress the side passenger(s). Right before the bridge, one was greeted by a temporary wooden statue of one of the candidates to Lagos governate. I suspect from the shape that he was gracefully elongated to gum his roundness and appear more towering. It was Kinwunmi Ambode, APC candidate, who was declaring " vote for me I will treasure ...

  campaign material reaching new heights election at last Saturday March28th, 2015 is a long expected day, the day of presidential elections in Nigeria which have been postponed by 6 weeks on ground of security concerns with Boko Haram and hence the government's promise to defeat them within 6 weeks to allow peaceful and safe elections to take place in safety.  The Army has announced on Friday March 27th the re-conquest of a town in the hands of Boko Haram as proof of their promise and Boko Haram beheaded more than 20 people on the same day as a response, they also allegedly abducted 500 women and children a few days before. restricted movement After 8am, no cars are allowed to move around in town, except obviously those who are duly authorized like the vans that will bring the polling stating booths. Every voter was asked to register nearest to his house so that he does not need to drive to go and vote. From my window I can see the place where the polli...

flower power: roadside covered sewer bordered by plant nurseries Disclaimer : today we will talk about nature in the city with electoral campaign posters popping up in the landscape like mushrooms of various colour and size. The point is not to discuss the merit of political parties but merely the esthetic and the tone of its advertising. Nigerians should decide for themselves whom they wish to vote for, I have no opinion on the matter. I have just been told that political parties do not really follow the split between right and left, as it is the case in many other countries, it is rather linked to connections of tribes or extended areas. Saturday morning, traffic is very thin in Ikoyi; perfect time to go out and explore. There are many plant nurseries gracing the roadside with an air of giant garden. A nice contrast to Victoria Island. Some are selling only plants, other have a selection of pots. why women should earn less than men   ...