A personal reflection with cultural background It took me a long time to bring myself to write this text. Because a question like “Why do Nigerians lie?” can quickly sound like judgment. But that’s not what this is about. What I want to share is an honest look at my own experiences, at conversations with…
I spent a few days with an incredibly warm-hearted family in a village in Nigeria. A family belonging to the middle class. No misery, no slums – but also no electricity. And that had been the case for several months. The reason was a faulty transformer belonging to the electricity company. In Nigeria, it can…
A real-life experience from Nigeria – recorded directly on a public bus. When mistrust becomes a matter of survival I was sitting in an ordinary minibus in Nigeria, somewhere between everyday life and adventure, when a man suddenly got on and began telling me his story. Not out of small talk. But from a deep…
We are sitting in the small bar of the hotel. It’s often empty. But today, a family with four children is here. Their few belongings are stacked outside in plastic bags — neatly, cleanly, almost carefully arranged. Everything they own fits into a few bags. You can feel it: this family carries a heavy burden,…
Travel experiences in Nigeria: Microbus rides, music, and humanity on the road back to Lagos When traveling in Nigeria, you need three things: patience, humor – and absolutely no fear of tight spaces. My adventure began at the Motor Park in Benin City, one of those bustling places where buses, people, and luggage merge into…
Some stories stick with you – especially the ones sparked by imagination and a late-night cigarette. Today, I’d like to share a quirky memory from my early days in Lagos, Nigeria. I was staying at a lovely hotel, double-fenced, with all the bells and whistles when it comes to security. Basically, Fort Knox with palm…