People who live in Lagos full time will probably say I love Lagos because I don't live there and I will admit that during my visits to Lagos for between 2 - 4 weeks, I often cannot wait to get back to my home in London ... but I do love Lagos.
- The shortages of electric power and water;
- The horrible traffic;
- The difficulties of getting around if you are not prepared to risk your legs or life on an okada (the motorcycle public transport that weaves its way through traffic);
- The noise;
- The dirt on the ground;
- The pollution in the air and
- The cost of living in Lagos.
So what is there to love about Lagos?
To begin with Lagos is where some of my nearest and dearest live. My mother, Mrs F Ogunsola, was involved in the development of Lagos. There is also the sheer energy that throbs through Lagos. You can sit on most streets of Lagos and be entertained by just watching life going on. The people are gorgeous to look at, most of them are oh so elegant in the clothes they wear, whether its 'bend down' 'recycled' clothes from the west, or African attire in wax prints, laces or plain brocades. All shine in the Lagos sun or brighten cloudy days in Lagos.
Lagos is diverse and multicultural in a way that eschews dominance by any one of the main ethnic groups of Nigeria (Ebo, Hausa and Yoruba). Yoruba is probably the majority culture but Yoruba culture itself is very diverse. Other ethnic groups also have large populations and, while governors of the State have tended to be Yoruba, they have also tended to be Muslim.
If over 300 languages are spoken in the homes of London's school children, in Lagos, over 500 languages are probably spoken in the homes of school children ... and there are a lot of children in Lagos.
These are just some of the reasons to love Lagos.
So if I love Lagos so much, why don't I live there?I am going to save that for another posting on another day.
