Moving in Africa's Largest City, A Mini Photo Series — Comedy Open Mic - Round 32

I have this folder of very random pictures I take on the streets, that are not necessarily themed, and are not the best composed. Not sure how you guys north of the equator do it, but in the Nigerian cities I have lived in and visited, there is always an area boy that will harass you for pointing a camera at people, and they will demand you settle them. So the discreet nature of the gopro comes in handy. Add that it is pretty wide and usually takes more than I need so I can crop later and still retain good resolution.

So in cropping and reframing, I decided to find a theme for these series of photos. What was it? I would think it is movement. "Transportation" would sound a bit mundane, but it's more or less what I mean here. 😜

So what about movement? From primitive to modern man, there has and will always be need to move. In search for food, for the purpose of consummation ("Berger to Ajah" for instance. Hahaha. Just google that phrase and thank me later), to satisfy the craving for adventure. Man has to move. And these means of movement has evolved for many centuries.

Lol. I give up trying to sound intelligent.

I just want to share a few pictures of transportation in Lagos, and offer a few footnotes where I can. Without further ado...

Walking always works. It's the cheapest, albeit most inefficient. And in some cities like Lagos, it is risky, because where there are dedicated pedestrian walkways, hawkers and street sellers would turn it to business premises, leaving pedestrians to share roads with onrushing cars.

Obviously the most popular in Lagos. Danfo. How do you define a danfo? Take a 1975 rickety bus from Germany and have a pair of lunatics drive and conduct it. The latter must have a high pitch voice and can shout at +6 million decibels, beckoning passengers ten miles away to come and board. One who can hang out the door with the car flying at 60mph, and who will serve as the driver's missing right hand side mirror and turn indicator. These guys are the real deal. Must know how to swear in Yoruba. He's the driver's wing man and side kick.

Now have that crew drive a pack of literate, semi-literate, peacefully demeanored (I used that word before anyone), and the pigs of society. In other words, this is the no-pass, no-class mean of moving around in Africa's largest city. It's not for the faint of heart.

When you get inside this bus, look for a row of seat with slender to slim people. There will be four of you on a row of hard bench made from wood or scrap metal. Sitting with fat people won't do much good to your comfort. The seats are just clean enough to not stain your cloth, but I can't guarantee some part of the car won't hook a loose end and tear it. Just be careful what you touch. Everything inside the bus is a blade. There are no cushions. Ask me questions if you don't understand any of those.

The next one is relatively a new kid on the block. With the advent of car ride sharing, someone thought to start a bike sharing company, fusing the newest trend with a mean of transportation that was gradually phasing out. Uber tech + okada tech and you have Gokada. I've not used it. I won't use it. I don't know what to tell you. I'll definitely not sit on a bike on a highway in Lagos.

This is the bus conductor referred to above. It's a tough job, you'll agree.

Then good ole cab. Overpriced shit slowly driven out of business by ride sharing multinationals like Uber, Taxify, Gokada etc.

The last but not the least, the very premium alternative of being tied to your mom's back and going where she thinks you should go. This is a very African way of carrying babies. It's really common among the Yorubas I get tempted to think they invented the practice. In Annang we call it something like wobbo. Pardon me that the main subject of the photo is almost out of the frame. Like I started, I didn't really set out to make a tight composition when I took these photos.

Hey! Like that my post came to an end. I hope you enjoyed the little photo documentary.

Thinking out loud: I should make this a comedy openmic. Yes! Adding tags. @thatdamiguy and @dante31, take up the baton 😝

Till next time...