Lagos is surrounded by historically and culturally significant cities and towns, despite being surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Most of these places, including Lagos, had thriving civilizations prior to the arrival of colonialism. They are also within two hours or less of Lagos, making them ideal for a day trip.
Epe
Epe is the capital of the Ijebu Kingdom (a Yoruba subgroup) and was founded as a port prior to colonialism to trade with the Dutch and Portuguese. It is now known as the largest fish market in the southwest, but getting the best of the market requires leaving early in the morning. Mix with the fishermen, market vendors, and chefs from various Lagos restaurants who buy their fish from the market to get a taste of local life. Exotic freshwater animals are also sold at the fish market (crocodiles, tortoises, etc.). However, Epe’s best-kept secret is its clean and quiet beaches, where the water is ideal for waterboarding and surfing at certain times of the year.
Abeokuta
Abeokuta is another cultural and historical landmark that is a delight to explore on a day trip, named after its rocky outcrops (‘Abeokuta means ‘under the rock’) that served as a refuge from slave-hunters from Ibadan and Dahomey in 1830. The most popular attraction in Abeokuta is Olumo Rock. The rock, which stands 137 meters (450 feet) above sea level, has several caves that can be explored. The caves were used as a hideout by the early Egba settlers from their more aggressive neighbors, and some of the caves are dedicated to Yoruba Gods.
Aside from being the birthplace of some of Nigeria’s greatest thinkers and activists, such as Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Wole Soyinka, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, and others, it is also the home of some of the most colorful masquerades in Nigeria’s southwest, such as the Gelede and Igunnuko. Every year in April, it also hosts the annual African Drums Festival. The Kemta Market, however, is Abeokuta’s best-kept secret. It is the largest and oldest market for Adire fabric art, a skill that has been passed down from mothers to daughters for centuries.
Ibadan
Ibadan, which began as a war camp in the 1800s, has grown to become Africa’s largest indigenous city. Within its borders are historical landmarks such as Nigeria’s first university and Africa’s first television station, gardens and parks such as the Ibadan University botanical garden and Agodi Park, nightclubs, golf courses, the Trans Wonderland amusement park, and many other attractions. The city is surrounded by seven hills, one of which has Bower’s Tower, from which you can see the old city spread beneath your feet.
There are also quaint restaurants (Café Chrysallis and Kokodome, to name a few) and reasonably priced hotels if you decide to stay the night. Ibadan is known for its cheap food, which is typically purchased directly from the farmers’ market and is famous for amala, gbegiri, ewedu, and goat-meat – a meal the city is famous for. You can also go to some of its markets, such as Oje, which sells fruits, vegetables, and organic beauty products, Aleshinloye, which sells clothes, shoes, and perfumes, and Oyo State, the city’s largest secondhand clothing market.
Badagry
Exploring Badagry is like walking in the shoes of the trans-Atlantic slave trade’s men and women – a difficult but necessary journey for anyone seeking to understand history, the self, and humanity. However, Badagry (also known as Gbagle by the locals) is more than just the slave trade; the town is also about its people, who work in fishing, the salt trade, and coconut processing.
Exploring Badagry is like walking in the shoes of the trans-Atlantic slave trade’s men and women – a difficult but necessary journey for anyone seeking to understand history, the self, and humanity. However, Badagry (also known as Gbagle by the locals) is more than just the slave trade; the town is also about its people, who work in fishing, the salt trade, and coconut processing.
