Some call Makoko the "Venice of Africa".
But while the intricate
waterways may replicate the layout of the picturesque Italian city,
living conditions could hardly be more contrasting.
Makeshift houses with
corrugated iron roofs balance precariously atop stilts. Down below,
narrow wooden boats act as a form of aquatic taxi ferrying goods and
people around the bustling community.
Nobody knows the exact
population of this slum district of Lagos but it is estimated to be as
high as 100,000. What's sure is that few tourists will come here to take
a romantic gondola trip beneath the night sky, moonlight bouncing off
the water onto informal shacks.
There is little by the
way of a sewer system meaning all sorts of pungent smells are sure to
puncture the nostrils. On top of that, law enforcement agencies rarely
enter the slum with security left to groups of young men known locally
as the "Area Boys."
A lens on home
For photographer Sulayman Afose, however, the muddy waters of Makoko have always been home.
The aspiring 24-year-old was born, raised and continues to live in this
chaotic floating district. As such, it is one of the subjects he feels
most comfortable turning his ever more popular lens on.
"I started my photography here in Makoko," Afose told CNN when we meet at the plush surrounds of the 2014 Lagos Photo Festival.
"It's really inspiring
.... I've been able to get a lot of inspiration in terms of seeing a lot
of things in my community," he added.
Afose's career has
really begun to take off in recent years. After learning his craft in
workshops put on by the African Artists Foundation he went on to study
photojournalism at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.
He's since had photos
exhibited at various national arts and photography festivals as well as
appearing in numerous international magazines and publications.
International collaboration
Afose has even worked alongside the respected Spanish photographer Cristina De Middel.
"(I am) happy to see
some of my work published," he said. "And to see the fact of my name
written on the pictures is something very great."
Yet despite the
international recognition, its the daily hustle and bustle of Makoko
that continues to inspire Afose. He explains that his knowledge of the
local customs, attitudes and the people who live there gives him an edge
over those who may come from outside to document life in the community.
"To tell the story with this (holding up a camera), you have to know who this guy is (pointing to a man in a photograph)."
Just by looking at him, "is he happy or is he not happy? You have to try to know what it is all about.
"You can't just pick up your camera and start shooting," he said.
Here and now
Then there's the skill vital for any photojournalist to develop, the handy knack of being in the right place at the right time.
Afose was rapidly on the
spot when a fire that tore through part of Makoko in 2013. The scenes
were horrific but the images Afose captured told the story and brought
some of the harsh realities of life in the slum to the outside world.
They appeared in numerous publications in print and online.
"The fire was caused by a generator and it burned a lot of houses in the community," Afose explained.
"I had the opportunity
to get there at the right time and try document what the scene was all
about, what caused the scene (and) what caused the fire outbreak," he
added.
It is likely the Makoko
fire wouldn't have garnered as much attention in the national and
international press without Afose's timely and grabbing images.
The experience has made
him even more aware of the importance of having local people tell the
story of the community there. So much so that it has inspired him on to
his next challenge.
"I want to go further, I want to know more," he said.
When pushed on what this
means, he added, "you know, maybe having a university degree (so I can)
come back to the community and teach people ... to become what I am
today."
Maybe then the outside
world will be able to appreciate even more of life in Makoko through the
sharp-shooting eyes of its residents.
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