Total Sci-Fi

It's like landing on a planet left behind, a look at a future where rule as we know it falls apart and finds its own way bit by seperate bit. That in itself has a strange appeal.

Catch you lator...

Not sure it's Ulindi's scene, but this is an example of some of the crafts on display at the Eko Hotel Craft Market. Some wonderful stuff can be found here for bargain prices though - and open markets are open to negotiation.

Bushmeat on the Street

When he realised I was taking a pic he held offcuts up to encourage me to buy some of what the locals refer to simply as bushmeat - nondescript animal meat that more often than not refers to goats. Pounded yam with meat is the meal of choice, and something of a luxury as pounding yam and finding meat both require some skill and celebration. The question isn't what cut of the meat you like or prefer, but rather what parts of the animal you general don't eat.

Road to Nowhere

Visibility is about 100 meters at any time. This highway is under some threat and needs to be revisited in terms of stability - its a vital chain linking VI to the mainland.
What energises you about Nigeria is the feeling of starting again - a place governed by self sustaining villages with no center. Some opinions say that the young democracy will need another 50 years to recover from the wounds left by 5 coups and 40 years of corrupt looting governments. A colleague describes it as the Wild West, with every opportunity to simply try again, build a better world. Looking around, its all that's left...

Hazy shade of Sahara summer

The sky in Lagos is a mustard yellow during summer months as the sand and winds of the Sahara desert blow south east. It makes the city seem surreal, no blue to be seen anywhere; everything is muted in shades of grey and pastel, both night and day. The sun is softened to the point that you can stare at it without flinching, and the air leaves you tasting dust.

Giving you so much more

DStv penetration is the critical factor for success - original african productions exclusive to the channel and highlighting local talent is the strategy to ensure a broader african base of subscribers.

How to get a good shot in Nigeria

Based on the frequency of popular kidnappings, its best to be escourted - in this case, by no less than five military officers armed to the teeth.

Idols Easily Distracted Pop Art Master

Gavin Wratten - Idols Director, living large in Lagos.

We call it Magic; he calls it Mike

Mike Majic - presenter of Idols West Africa. Already master of the first take, Mike delivers his lines effortlessly; much to pleasure of the director, who met him five minutes before their first link. In the background incidently, is a naval ship that was sold to Nigeria without an engine by a schemer who has since been locked away. Our pictures and filming so close to a military base caused an officer to fire warning shots into the air. Mike didn't budge.

We will, we will, rock you...

Nigerians are confident and generally have good singing voices, being well practised in gospel. The talent so far has been pretty amazing - such strong personalities mixed with rich good looks and charismatic, almost ingrown self-assumed celebrity status... this show was made for this nation!

Shooting starts

Nothing prepared the crew for the flood of people once the gates were open to a crowd of 3000 who'd been waiting since sunrise... The crowd shot was intense! A near riot was narrowly avoided by a crew who've done this drill 4 times before - and some strategically placed muscle :-)
Within minutes, civilty resumed and West africa's search for a superstar began.

A River runs through it...

The offramp from the highway creates the bottle-neck based on the condition of this part of the road - and like survival of the fittest, everyone rushes to cross this point first. Hereafter, the traffic smooths out. And this, day in, day out...

Apparently it happened on a public holiday...

True. Just collapsed, only two people were injured. This happened last year Sep/Oct.

Shopping on wheels

By the time you get home you could have decked out an entire entertainment network, kitchen and bathroom - vendors take advantage of the congestion to peddle kitchenware and wallclocks, all kinds of food, dvds (even porn), literature, anything really... Be warned, best to just close your window and refrain from eye contact - these guys are insistent beyond compare.

Feel da Rush

Traffic - everything you've ever heard about it is true. It doesn't move and you can get stuck for hours. Its getting progressivley worse as more people head to the capital, and the roads deteriorate. Potholes are the primary reason for standstill - that and a lack of regulation. Nigerians drive with a set of their own rules and hoot frequently to warn potential turners of their own intentions - a true cacophony of traffic :-)
The production has been struggling to make shooting deadlines - a 15 minute journey after 10pm take 3-4 hours anytime between 5-8pm.

Happiest People On Earth

Wise words from a bank... you look around and wonder at first how it could possibly be true - what could 20 million people (intial census result estimates from 2006; to be official released early 2007, and making it the second most populated city in the world) living in abject poverty and infrastructural and environmental squalor be so happy about? Makes you think, doesn't it :-)
My bags were kindly left by SAA in South Africa to ensure the overbooked and underseated flight wasn't too heavy. They arrived three days after me - so I got off to a funky start.

Nigeria, Lagos: 5-11Jan 2007

Welcome to some of Lagos through my lens - been on a mission to setup Idols West Africa website with a crew from M-Net and Fremantle.