3 Reasons Why You Should Visit The Makoko Slums

Makoko is often time regarded as the biggest slum city in Africa, and arguably the world too. A fishing community which is located on the coast of Lagos, the place in 2018 had an estimated population of 85,000 to 100,000 residents, but today I won’t be surprised if it has either reduced or multiplied. The community is primarily inhabited by the Egun people, renowned for their fishing expertise.

Makoko is a connection of waterways and is equipped with an assortment of shops, schools, and social establishments, including bars. Local governance is overseen by a chief. So you should visit Makoko, and here are 3 major reasons why you should.

Home on waters

Makoko is one of Africa’s special inner-city slums, it is a home on water, with a third of the community built on stilts in a lagoon, movement in Makoko is usually by canoe. The rest of the settlement is on a watery mass of land with little cleanliness and few public services. Makoko started as a fishing settlement, with family groups migrating there from the Benin Republic in the 19th century, according to history. When you visit Makoko, you probably will have a guide that will show you the amazing beauties that dwell there. Which will automatically take me to the next point

Stars from the slum

The narrative has changed, and this is because of Onakoya’s recent feat with the Guinness World Record. This success story is a swansong for the ‘beatification of the Area Boy’: His journey from the slums of Majidun and Makoko to the bustling streets of New York has canonised the vision to effect positive change. He simply represents the stars rising from the slums of Makoko.

In the words of Onakoya, he said: “From Majidun, we expanded chess in slums to Makoko, the largest floating slum in the world. It was a lot more challenging because the children in Makoko spoke only Egun, so, it was almost impossible to communicate with them.

It was a proper slum where they lived over stagnant water.

“The children even fall into the water and drown sometimes. I could only live there for three days before falling seriously ill. It was horrible. No one should have to live there.”

But today, over ten kids from these slums will be attending a conference in America next year. Many stars are there, you should go there to see these amazing stars rising from the slums of Makoko.

Makoko is the largest floating slum in Africa (if not the worst). It signifies a lot of positive things, and worst things, too. Contrary to the above, Onakoya showed us the beautiful side of children termed ‘Area boys’. And through partnerships, the group promoted chess.

Awareness

Some travels create the vibes of touring, fun, and adventure and then create awareness of what you have seen, and positively make an impact. While it is a beautiful place to go, the children need help, and government intervention is urgently needed. A lot of reports have been done, and many more are still being currently worked on. However your travel to the slums could be the difference between slums and Sun City.

Residents sit outside their demolished stilt houses, after the metropolitan government begins the demolition of the Makoko riverine settlement on the Lagoon in Lagos August 21, 2011. REUTERS/Akintunde Akinleye (NIGERIA – Tags: SOCIETY)

What do I need to make my journey easy?

Lastly, taking a tour to makoko would definitely be awesome and you would be needing these things, someone to take you around the place, this must be an indigene to avoid embarrassment. A hat or something to protect the sun rays through your journey. And also, water, clean water possibly get some before entering the beautiful city.