Lagos, Nigeria: Sweat, Stories, and Seriously Good Jollof
okay, so. lagos. where do i even begin? i’m still peeling the city off my skin, you know? like, the humidity clings to you like a second layer of clothing. i just checked and it’s a proper soup out there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. twenty-seven point oh one degrees, feels like almost thirty. pressure’s steady, but the air is thick enough to chew.
I’m a freelance photographer, and I was chasing light, honestly. Heard whispers of incredible street scenes, vibrant markets, and a pulse that just…thrums. And it’s all true. It’s intense. My camera roll is overflowing, but it still feels like i barely scratched the surface.
I spent a lot of time in *Yaba, which is apparently the place to be for art and creativity. Found this amazing little gallery tucked away - check out their stuff on TripAdvisor if you’re into that. The energy there is… palpable. Like everyone’s buzzing with ideas.
Someone told me that the traffic is legendary. Legendary is an understatement. It’s a full-blown, multi-layered, horn-honking opera. I downloaded a local transport app - Yelps Lagos Transport - which helped a little, but honestly, just brace yourself.
Food. Oh god, the food. I ate jollof rice every single day. Every. Single. Day. And I’m not even a little bit ashamed. I found this woman, Mama Fatima, who runs a little stall near the National Stadium. Her jollof is… transcendent. Seriously. I overheard a couple of guys arguing about whether hers or Mama Chioma’s is better. It’s a serious debate, apparently. You can find some reviews on Lagos Foodie Forum.
“Don’t even think about drinking tap water. Seriously. Just don’t.” - Drunk advice from a guy at a suya stand.
I also spent a day wandering around Ikoyi. It’s a completely different vibe - much more upscale, leafy, and quiet. Felt like stepping into another world. If you get bored, Ibadan and Shagamu are just a short drive away.
My gear list, because apparently that’s a thing people want to know:
*Camera: Sony a7iii (obviously)
*Lenses: 35mm prime (for street stuff), 85mm (for portraits, though those were harder to come by amidst the chaos), and a zoom for landscapes (which, let’s be honest, mostly involved photographing traffic).
*Drone: DJI Mavic Air 2 (got some amazing aerial shots of the city - just be careful about airspace restrictions!)
*External Hard Drive: Crucial, trust me.
*Power Bank: Multiple. Lagos will drain your battery faster than you can say “jollof.”
*Mosquito Repellent:* Seriously. Don’t forget this.
“Watch out for the ‘area boys.’ They’re usually harmless, but it’s best to be aware of your surroundings.” - Something a local warned me about.
Honestly, lagos is not for the faint of heart. It’s loud, it’s chaotic, it’s overwhelming. But it’s also incredibly vibrant, full of life, and bursting with stories. It’s a place that gets under your skin and stays there. I’m already planning my return trip. Maybe next time i’ll try learning some Yoruba.
Check out some more travel tips on Wikitravel Lagos.
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