Makoko is an
informal settlement across the
3rd Mainland Bridge
Third Mainland Bridge is the longest of three bridges connecting Lagos Island to the mainland, the others are the Eko and Carter bridges. It was the longest bridge in Africa until 1996 when the 6th October Bridge located in Cairo was complet ...
located on the coast of mainland
Lagos
Lagos ( ; ), or Lagos City, is a large metropolitan city in southwestern Nigeria. With an upper population estimated above 21 million dwellers, it is the largest city in Nigeria, the most populous urban area on the African continent, and on ...
, Nigeria. A third of the community is built on stilts along the lagoon and the rest is on the land. The waterfront part of the community is largely harboured by the
Egun
The Gun people, also rendered Ogũ, Ogun and Egun, is an ethnic group principally found in Lagos and Ogun State regions of southwestern Nigeria, and Ouémé Department in the southeast of the Republic of Benin, who speak the Gun language. The ...
people who migrated from
Badagary and Republic of
Benin
Benin, officially the Republic of Benin, is a country in West Africa. It was formerly known as Dahomey. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north-west, and Niger to the north-east. The majority of its po ...
and whose main occupation is fishing.
Makoko is sometimes referred to as the "
Venice
Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...
of
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...
" owing to its waterways. Its population is considered to be 85,840; however, the area was not officially counted as part of the 2007 census and the population has been estimated to be much higher.
In July 2012, the
Lagos State government ordered that some of the stilts beyond the power lines be brought down without proper notice. This led to the destruction of several stilts on the Iwaya/Makoko waterfront and many families were rendered homeless.
History
Established in the 19th century, much of Makoko rests in structures constructed on
stilts above
Lagos Lagoon
Lagos Lagoon (Yoruba language, Yoruba: Ọ̀sà) is a lagoon found in the city of Lagos, southwest Nigeria, the most populous city in Africa. The name ''Lagos'' means 'lakes' in Portuguese language, Portuguese, therefore ''Lagos Lagoon'' is an ex ...
.
Makoko is a neighbouring community to Iwaya on the waterfront and Oko Baba.
The name Makoko is literally translated from Yoruba to be "Pick Akoko". In Yoruba tradition, "Akoko" leaves are used to aid fertility and also used during Chieftaincy coronation, present day Makoko had the leaf growing in abundance.
In July 2012, Lagos State government under the governorship of
Babatunde Fashola
Babatunde Raji Fashola ( ; born 28 June 1963) is a Nigerian lawyer and politician who served as the federal minister of Works and Housing of Nigeria from 2019 to 2023. He was the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing (Nigeria), minister of Pow ...
ordered that the stilts on the Iwaya/Makoko waterfront be demolished and dozens of stilts were demolished within 72 hours of notice to the residents. Nearly 3,000 people lost their homes to the demolition exercise.
[ Tolu Ogunlesi]
"Inside Makoko: danger and ingenuity in the world's biggest floating slum"
''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'', 23 February 2016.
Two months after the partial demolition, a Serac housing affiliate known as the Urban Spaces Innovation developed a regeneration plan for Makoko that would bring the community together with academics, non-profits, and international consultants. The plan was submitted to the Lagos State Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning in January 2014.
Gallery
1962 Makoko map detail Lagos Nigeria txu-oclc-441966035-lagos-1962.jpg, Detail of map of Lagos, 1962, showing Makoko and Lagos Mainland
Makoko auf dem Wasser (5208472599).jpg
Makoko auf dem Wasser (5209071738).jpg
Makoko auf dem Wasser (5208471435).jpg
CEE-HOPE NIGERIA FOR WIKI LOVES WOMEN"S PROJECT IN NIGERIA 16.jpg, Makoko: A girl and her sister in a canoe
'The People of Makoko Community'.jpg, Boys paddling a canoe is a common view at Makoko
2010 Lagos Nigeria by Rainer Wozny 5342608955.jpg, Makoko, 2010
About to roast makoko.jpg, Fish caught at Makoko
After roasting makoko 3.jpg, Fish roasting in Makoko
After roasting makoko 4.jpg, After fish roasting in Makoko
Fish for sale at makoko Lagos.jpg
Fishers boat after work at makoko Lagos.jpg
Standby canoe.jpg
Women at work at makoko Lagos.jpg
Women at work at Makoko.jpg
Women at work at makoko Lagos 2.jpg
See also
*
Makoko Floating School
*
CEE HOPE
*
Ganvie
References
External links
* {{cite news , author=Iwan Baan , authorlink=Iwan Baan , date=26 May 2013 , title=School at Sea , work=The New York Times Magazine , url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/05/26/magazine/26look-lagos.htm(Photos of Makoko)
Lagos' floating slum Makoko – what's it like to live there?*
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NTIY8Qy2f0 Inside Nigeria's Biggest Slum- video by
Indigo Traveler
Slums in Nigeria
Fishing communities in Nigeria
18th-century establishments in Lagos
Squats