IS LAGOS A REAL PLACE??

 Are you crazy? Are you unhinged? Congratulations, you’re halfway to surviving Lagos.

If you ask me about Lagos, I'll probably say it's a crazy place. But if you buy me a hot plate of abula from the iyalamala across the street, washed down with a “mortuary standard” Pepsi,  I'll tell you how unreal a place it is. One of the things that makes Lagos so unpredictable is that every outing is an adventure.  As someone who doesn’t go out much, every time I step outside, Lagos greets me with something unexpected.  

Lagos houses some of  the biggest markets in Africa, so market madness is inevitable. Take the day in October when I went to the market. It seemed like a normal day—until I saw a whole family of five: father, mother, two sons, and a daughter, in a full-blown wrestling match with a vendor. Or the first time I went to Lagos Island market alone and experienced the infamous 'marriage by change'.  The danfo driver gave me and another passenger a single ₦200 note, told us to find change ourselves and sped off. It felt like a scene out of a skit—confused would be an understatement. 

And when I thought the day couldn’t get any wilder, on my way back, a man jumped into my moving keke and started fighting the driver—while we were still in motion! I was the only passenger, so I did the only logical thing: I jumped down for my life. Random? Absolutely but just another day in Lagos.

 Speaking of  random , how do I even explain the time that someone stopped in the middle of the road, causing traffic just to ask for my Instagram handle??  Lagos is full of crazy experiences like these, I could keep listing my crazy experiences but  we'd never end. 

I have always believed that by virtue of being in Lagos, you can not be 100 percent sane. It takes some form of insanity to survive in this megacity—the ability to change it for anybody, at any time, in any place. Being a passenger in Lagos is an extreme sport, but I believe driving takes it to another level. It’s not just about knowing the roads; it requires a little more than insanity, it requires "iwa werey" AKA crase  — that touch of madness needed to navigate the city. I can't wait to experience it for myself because even as a passenger, I am riled up. I grew up watching my mom and uncle switch gears from polite to fierce in  Yoruba or pidgin in Lagos traffic, they always knew when to sweet-talk or show crase  whether it was to danfo drivers or lobbying police officers. Sometimes i was scared and other times just in amusement of the situation. 

Is it really Lagos if you don't talk about the traffic??Traffic in Lagos isn’t just a situation; it’s a lifestyle. Driving here isn’t the stress relief you’d imagine. You might set out hoping for a calm, reflective drive, only to find a danfo swerving to overtake you or end up stuck in a frustrating “hold up” on Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge. You’ll want to wind down your windows to save fuel—because, let’s be honest, who can afford to waste all their fuel on  AC in Tinubu’s economy?—only to have one car's exhaust pipe  just emitting  fumes you didn’t even know existed. but then you find solace in the radio. Lagos radio in the evenings? Pure gold. It’s like they know you're stressed and want to soothe it with laughter, banter, and  great music. 

But Lagos isn’t all chaos and fumes. When the sun sets, the city transforms. Lagos throws the best parties and has the most vibrant nightlife. From the music to the food, there’s an energy that pulls you in. It’s the kind of place where you can lose track of time, dancing and laughing under neon lights with "oblee" playing till dawn. No party like a Lagos party, Lasgidi for a reason. 

What fascinates me most about Lagos ,though, is the  resilience and creativity of its people. The hustling spirit of Lagosians is one to be inspired by.  Lagosians are hardworking dreamers who can turn anything into a business. Stuck in traffic? You’ll find hawkers selling everything—from snacks to dogs, artworks, phones, and even "Birkin bags." Sometimes I wonder if there’s anything they don’t sell in Lagos traffic. 

Some of Nigeria’s biggest creatives move to Lagos to hustle, carving paths in music, art, tech, and fashion. The hustle culture here is relentless, almost infectious. And the style? Unmatched. Lagosians don't just wear clothes, they make statements, flaunting everything from elegant attire to Alté aesthetics, streetwear, and Afro-fusion fits. Fashion in Lagos isn’t just about looking good—it's a mood, a vibe.

I don’t think I’ve even scratched the surface of what Lagos has to offer, and yet, every day feels like a lifetime of stories. If you ask me how I feel about Lagos, I’ll say it’s cool. But if you dig deeper, I’ll tell you the truth: nawa o, Lagos cannot be a real place.

Lagos is a paradox—a city where frustration meets fascination, where madness coexists with magic. She's small but mighty, chaotic yet inspiring, frustrating yet exhilarating. She’s the city that never sleeps, where dreams are made—and sometimes lost—in traffic, the city where dreams collide with reality in the most unpredictable ways. She may be chaotic, but that's her charm. Lagos isn’t just a city; it’s an experience.

And honestly? I wouldn’t have her any other way.

I have barely experienced  ten percent of Lagos living and I am so ready for it. In the spirit of all the crazy Lagos adventures I recommend  you  read "Nearly all The Men In Lagos" by Damilare Kuku .I hope you enjoyed seeing Lagos from my perspective, have you had any crazy Lagos experiences? I’d love to hear them in the comments. 

Till next time, remember I love you and there's always enough madness to go round in the city of Eko,

Lots of love,

IMAX💕( Your favourite Sisi Eko)