Makoko, Waterfront settlement in Lagos Mainland, Nigeria
Makoko is a waterfront settlement on Lagos Lagoon with houses built on wooden stilts arranged in dense clusters. The layout creates narrow waterways between homes where boats become the main path through the community.
The settlement started in the 18th century as a fishing village and grew when the Egun people migrated from Badagry and Benin to the area. This migration shaped the community's fishing-based economy and cultural roots.
The name comes from Akoko leaves, which play a role in traditional fertility ceremonies and chieftaincy coronations among the Egun people. You can see these plants in daily rituals and celebrations throughout the community.
Getting around relies on canoes and boats, which serve as daily transport and also carry traders selling goods. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for wet conditions when moving between wooden structures.
Young residents have used drones and smartphones to document their community through digital mapping projects. This made the settlement one of the first examples of residents mapping their own neighborhood.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
