Overview of Makoko, a floating slum in Lagos, Nigeria
We would like to share with more people about the Makoko region, where we source the African fabric "Ankara" used by KARL&C, so we would like to give you an overview.
Geographical Features
Makoko is an informal settlement located across the 3rd Mainland Bridge in Lagos, Nigeria. It takes about 23 hours to fly from Japan (Narita) to Lagos on Ethiopian Airlines (via Seoul Incheon Airport and Addis Ababa Bole Airport).
One-third of the community is built on stilts along the lagoon, while the rest is on land. Nicknamed the "Venice of Africa," this floating settlement has also been described as the "world's largest floating slum."
Photo: Uhurulabs/africanDRONE/CfAfrica
Historical background
Makoko dates back to the 18th century and was founded as a fishing village. It became established in the early 19th century and gained prominence when fishermen from Benin, Togo, and Ghana began to migrate here in search of good fishing grounds, followed by immigrants from other parts of Nigeria attracted by the growth of Lagos.
Population and living conditions
Makoko is home to an estimated 250,000 to 1 million people, most of whom live in difficult conditions: around 40% of residents live on less than US$1.25 a day, making the settlement a space of inequality, social segregation and disparity.
Relations with the government
The government treats Makoko as an informal settlement and does not acknowledge the existence of its inhabitants. In July 2012, the government invaded the low-lying coastal community and demolished many floating homes and other illegal structures.
2015 Photos:fire Outbreak In Makoko. by olascojojo
Initiatives of each organization
In recent years, community-based digital mapping projects have been underway to clarify residents' rights, and some organizations are helping residents assert their rights.
Sustainable regeneration plans are also being considered, and various discussions are ongoing about the future of this unique floating community.
Our vision and goals
In light of these facts, rather than positioning Makoko as "simply a miserable area," we aim to utilize the strengths of each community to elevate it into a truly independent and self-respecting environment.
Specifically, we aim to build a collaborative partnership by utilizing the Ankara products they handle and using Japanese technology to create high-quality products.
We also donate a portion of our profits to support community development through these two pillars, striving to keep the world moving in a more positive direction.
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We tend not to be interested in things that do not directly affect us or events that are far away, but perhaps it is necessary to take a step forward from being a bystander and take action, no matter how small, to change the world.
Reference sites
*1. How Makoko, Nigeria's floating slum went digital with new mapping project
By Oluwatosin Adeshokan, for CNN
*2. Makoko: The City on Stilts
By Scott Beyer
※3. https://participedia.net/
