Tucked on the edge of Lagos Lagoon in Nigeria lies one of the most fascinating yet misunderstood communities in the world Makoko, often called “The Venice of Africa.” It is a settlement where homes stand on stilts, canoes replace cars, and life itself flows with the tides. Makoko is more than a slum; it is a story of survival, resilience, and adaptation to a challenging environment.
The Origin of Makoko
Makoko’s history goes back over a century. It began as a small fishing village settled by the Egun people who migrated from coastal regions of West Africa. They chose this lagoon area because it was rich in fish and close to the main city of Lagos. Over time, as Lagos grew into one of the largest megacities in Africa, Makoko expanded too but without formal urban planning or government recognition.
The community developed in two parts: one on land and one on water. The water section, built on stilts, is the most famous. Wooden poles driven deep into the lagoon bed hold up hundreds of homes, schools, shops, and churches. The land section is equally dense, filled with narrow alleys and tin-roof houses. Today, the population of Makoko is estimated to be between 100,000 and 250,000 people, though no official census exists.
A Floating City and Its Daily Life
Life in Makoko is unique. Wooden canoes glide through narrow water channels instead of cars on roads. Children learn to paddle before they even start school. Women sell fruits, vegetables, and cooked food directly from their canoes, creating a floating market atmosphere. Fishermen set out before dawn to catch fish, which they later smoke and sell in local markets.
The houses are built mostly from wood, bamboo, and corrugated iron sheets. Each house stands about two to three meters above the water. Wooden walkways connect some homes, but most movement happens by boat. Despite the lack of modern infrastructure, Makoko is vibrant. It has churches, mosques, schools, sawmills, and small shops. People celebrate weddings, festivals, and religious gatherings on the water, proving that life here is as full as anywhere else.
Social and Cultural Fabric
Makoko is a melting pot of cultures. Though originally settled by the Egun people, it is now home to various ethnic groups, including the Yoruba, Ilaje, and others from across Nigeria. The community speaks a mix of languages, but Pidgin English is widely used for communication. Family and community ties are very strong. Decisions are often made collectively, led by traditional chiefs and elders who serve as the community’s leaders.
Education remains a challenge, but several local and NGO-run schools operate in Makoko. One of the most famous efforts was the Makoko Floating School, designed to float on water and withstand floods. It became an international symbol of innovation in architecture for poor communities. Though it eventually collapsed due to heavy rain, it inspired new ideas for floating architecture in flood-prone regions.
Challenges Facing Makoko
While Makoko stands as a symbol of resilience, it faces serious problems that threaten its survival and well-being.
1. Lack of Basic Services
The community has no proper sewage system, drainage, or waste management. Many people use shared pit toilets built directly above the water, allowing waste to flow into the lagoon. Clean drinking water is scarce, and residents often buy water from vendors at high prices. Electricity is unreliable, with only a few generators serving parts of the settlement.
2. Poor Health Conditions
Because of polluted water and poor sanitation, residents face frequent outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Access to healthcare is limited, and most people rely on local herbs or small clinics. Malnutrition, malaria, and respiratory infections are also common due to overcrowded living conditions and smoky cooking areas.
3. Legal and Housing Insecurity
Makoko is considered an “illegal” settlement by the Lagos State government. In 2012, parts of the community were demolished during an eviction drive that left hundreds homeless. Since then, residents have lived with constant fear of eviction. Because they have no formal land ownership, they are often excluded from government services or urban development plans.
4. Environmental Threats
Makoko sits at sea level, making it highly vulnerable to flooding, storms, and rising water levels caused by climate change. The wooden structures deteriorate quickly due to humidity and saltwater exposure. During the rainy season, strong winds and tides can destroy homes and boats, forcing families to rebuild every few years.
Resilience and Innovation
Despite these hardships, Makoko is a living example of human creativity and resilience. The community has built a functioning society out of limited resources. Men and women organize cooperatives to support one another. Youth groups participate in clean-up drives and mapping projects that help outsiders understand their geography.
One of the most inspiring projects was the Makoko Floating School mentioned earlier. Designed by architect Kunlé Adeyemi, it used bamboo, recycled wood, and plastic barrels to create a floating platform that could adapt to changing water levels. Though temporary, it sparked global discussions on how architecture can help people adapt to climate change.
Local organizations are also training residents in recycling, carpentry, and boat-making. Women’s groups promote education for girls, while community teachers run informal schools. These efforts may seem small, but they show the power of self-organization and determination.
The Spirit of Makoko
To outsiders, Makoko may appear as a slum. But for those who live there, it is home filled with laughter, family, and identity. Festivals, weddings, and religious events take place with music and dancing echoing over the water. Children play football on small wooden platforms. The community’s rhythm is defined not by wealth or modern infrastructure, but by connection and cooperation.
People here live by the water and with the water. The lagoon is both their lifeline and their challenge. It provides fish, transport, and space, yet it also brings floods and disease. This delicate balance defines the spirit of Makoko a constant struggle between survival and hope.
Urban Lessons from Makoko
Makoko offers lessons for cities worldwide, especially as global warming and urban migration reshape how humans live. It shows that informal settlements, though neglected, are essential parts of city life. They provide housing for thousands who cannot afford formal apartments, and they create micro-economies that support the wider city.
Urban planners and governments can learn from Makoko’s adaptability. Instead of seeing it as a problem, they could collaborate with residents to improve housing, sanitation, and education without destroying the community. Floating architecture, renewable energy, and eco-friendly toilets are some solutions that could make Makoko safer and healthier without displacing its people.
Makoko and Climate Change
In the coming decades, rising sea levels threaten coastal cities across the world from Lagos to Mumbai to New York. Makoko could serve as a model for how communities can live sustainably on water. The idea of floating homes and flexible infrastructure may sound futuristic, but for Makoko, it’s daily life. If properly supported, this community could help shape how future cities deal with flooding and water management.
However, that requires inclusion, not eviction. Authorities must recognize the rights of Makoko residents to live safely and with dignity. Upgrading their settlement with solar power, waste recycling, floating classrooms, and clean water systems could turn Makoko into a symbol of positive urban transformation.
The Human Face of Makoko
Behind every photograph of Makoko’s floating houses are real people mothers cooking on wooden stoves, children paddling to school, elders mending nets, and traders calling out prices across the lagoon. They are not statistics but citizens contributing to the city’s economy and culture. Their resilience deserves respect, not pity.
What makes Makoko truly remarkable is not its poverty, but its perseverance. In a world obsessed with skyscrapers and highways, Makoko reminds us that humanity thrives even in the simplest of settings. It challenges the definition of what a city should be and asks a powerful question: Can we build modern cities that include everyone, even those who live on water?
Conclusion
Makoko is both a symbol of poverty and of possibility. It represents the failures of urban planning, but also the strength of human creativity. The community has turned water into land, challenge into opportunity, and isolation into identity. Though it faces enormous struggles from health risks to eviction threats its people continue to live with dignity, innovation, and hope.
For bloggers, writers, and readers around the world, Makoko is more than a “floating slum.” It is a mirror reflecting the challenges of our time urban inequality, climate change, and the quest for sustainable living. Yet it also offers inspiration: that with vision, collaboration, and respect for community wisdom, even a slum can float toward a better future.
Disclaimer : Content summarized from public sources. Newsaaaptak is not responsible for accuracy; for informational use only
Two side of one coin Maldives and makoko
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