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, the noise vibrates in your bones, and the sheer energy… it’s a lot. a beautiful, chaotic, overwhelming lot. i just checked and it’s a simmering soup out there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. thirty-three point something degrees, feels like forty, and the air is thick enough to chew. i’m pretty sure my hair hasn’t seen a dry day since i landed.
I was here scouting locations for a potential documentary - something gritty, something real, you know? - and honestly, it’s been a sensory overload in the best way. i’ve been wandering around *Yaba, Ikoyi, and Lekki, just soaking it all in. the colors! the smells! the sheer volume of people just existing. it’s unlike anything i’ve ever experienced.
I’m operating on about four hours of sleep a night, fueled by copious amounts of coffee and the constant hum of the city. it’s… exhilarating. i’ve been trying to document everything, but it’s hard to capture the feeling of lagos. it’s something you have to feel.
Someone told me that the traffic is legendary. legendary is an understatement. it’s a slow-motion ballet of honking cars, motorcycles weaving through everything, and pedestrians casually strolling across six lanes of chaos. i’ve learned to just… accept it. embrace the gridlock. it’s part of the experience.
Food. oh god, the food. i’ve been living on jollof rice and suya. seriously, i think i’ve gained five pounds just from jollof. it’s a crime against humanity that it’s not more widely known. i found this amazing little spot in Surulere - you can find it on Yelp if you search for ‘Mama Eka’s Kitchen’ - and the jollof there is life-changing. i’m not exaggerating. i’ve also been trying to be adventurous and sample everything i can. pepper soup, egusi soup, puff puff… my stomach is having a party.
I overheard some guys arguing about the best place to get pounded yam. apparently, there’s a fierce rivalry between two restaurants in Victoria Island. it was intense.
“Nah, man, you gotta go to Tastee’s. Their pounded yam is chef’s kiss. That other place? Overhyped. Tourist trap.”
If you get bored, Ibadan and Abeokuta are just a short drive away. i’m thinking of taking a day trip to one of them to escape the madness for a bit.
I’ve been trying to be mindful of my surroundings, you know? reading up on local customs and etiquette. i don’t want to be that* tourist. i’ve also been using TripAdvisor to find safe and reliable transportation - it’s a lifesaver. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g302232-Lagos_Lagos_State.html
I heard that the nightlife is incredible, but i haven’t really ventured out much after dark yet. i’m a little nervous, to be honest. but i’m determined to experience it all before i leave. i’m also checking out local events on this board: https://www.nairaland.com/lagos
Honestly, lagos is not for the faint of heart. it’s loud, it’s chaotic, it’s overwhelming. but it’s also vibrant, it’s resilient, and it’s utterly captivating. i’m already planning my return trip. i need more jollof in my life. and maybe a little more sleep. check out this blog for more travel tips: https://www.nigerianfinder.com/travel-and-tourism/
and one last thing: someone warned me about the hawkers. apparently, they can be… persistent. just be polite but firm, and don’t be afraid to say no. it’s all part of the game.