There is no such thing as the capital of Africa. Africa
is a continent of 54 sovereign countries each with their own independent
institutions of government, and of course a capital from where these institutions
normally operate from.
However, when a particular African city put itself at
the back, forth and center of the continent’s commerce, entertainment, and technological
advancement, it’s safe to start referring to that city as the capital of Africa.
the back, forth and center of the continent’s commerce, entertainment, and technological
advancement, it’s safe to start referring to that city as the capital of Africa.
This is the case of Lagos, Nigeria’s former capital and
the continent’s largest city. With GDP bigger than that of important African
countries like Ghana and Kenya, twenty-one million strong population of young
and very vibrant people, and a booming entertainment industry that has become
very influential in the lives of individuals and households across the
continent, Lagos seems to be on an unstoppable march towards acquiring for
herself a very domineering status on the whole of the continent.
the continent’s largest city. With GDP bigger than that of important African
countries like Ghana and Kenya, twenty-one million strong population of young
and very vibrant people, and a booming entertainment industry that has become
very influential in the lives of individuals and households across the
continent, Lagos seems to be on an unstoppable march towards acquiring for
herself a very domineering status on the whole of the continent.
Below we take a look closer at Lagos’s growing
influence on the continent’s culture, business, and diplomacy. Who knows, we
might all eventually agree that this crowded island on the Atlantic has indeed become
the capital of Africa.
influence on the continent’s culture, business, and diplomacy. Who knows, we
might all eventually agree that this crowded island on the Atlantic has indeed become
the capital of Africa.
Lagos as the economic
capital of Africa
Lagos is
Africa’s 6th biggest economy, behind only the continent’s most prosperous
countries like Egypt and South Africa. It has for a while been the centre of
commercial activities in the whole West Africa sub-region, with traders from
Ghana, Cameroon, Benin Republic and Ivory Coast thronging its major activities
shoping for both locally-produced and imported goods to ship to their different
countries.
Africa’s 6th biggest economy, behind only the continent’s most prosperous
countries like Egypt and South Africa. It has for a while been the centre of
commercial activities in the whole West Africa sub-region, with traders from
Ghana, Cameroon, Benin Republic and Ivory Coast thronging its major activities
shoping for both locally-produced and imported goods to ship to their different
countries.
Now Lagos
seems to be spreading its tentacles. It is gradually moving from where just
only West African countries meet for business to where the whole of Africa meet
to trade on Oil and Gas, clothing, and to close investment rounds for the
continent’s next unicorn.
seems to be spreading its tentacles. It is gradually moving from where just
only West African countries meet for business to where the whole of Africa meet
to trade on Oil and Gas, clothing, and to close investment rounds for the
continent’s next unicorn.
More and
more economic studies continue to speak of a more influential Lagos while
pointing at its hegemonic future. The economy of Nigeria, Africa’s largest
economy will continue to revolve around Lagos.
more economic studies continue to speak of a more influential Lagos while
pointing at its hegemonic future. The economy of Nigeria, Africa’s largest
economy will continue to revolve around Lagos.
Who knows,
there might come a point in near history when the economy of the whole
continent will revolve around Lagos.
there might come a point in near history when the economy of the whole
continent will revolve around Lagos.
Lagos as the culture
capital of Africa
You can
argue all you like against the bland storylines, un-artistic cinematography,
and general uninspiring performances of the ladies and gents running the
Nigerian movie industry which is also dim-wittedly referred to as Nollywood, but
the truth is that the rest of Africa watch Nollywood, and they love it.
argue all you like against the bland storylines, un-artistic cinematography,
and general uninspiring performances of the ladies and gents running the
Nigerian movie industry which is also dim-wittedly referred to as Nollywood, but
the truth is that the rest of Africa watch Nollywood, and they love it.
You can
also bluster all you want about how Nigerian musicians can never win the
Grammy, and how Wizkid’s songs ooze meaninglessness, and how Tekno is all beats
and no lyrics, but the fact also is that the rest of Africa are dancing
gleefully to his beats.
also bluster all you want about how Nigerian musicians can never win the
Grammy, and how Wizkid’s songs ooze meaninglessness, and how Tekno is all beats
and no lyrics, but the fact also is that the rest of Africa are dancing
gleefully to his beats.
Nollywood
is at the centre of Africa’s cultural rennaissance. It’s shaping how Africans
dress, speak, and interact with themselves, in a very big way.
is at the centre of Africa’s cultural rennaissance. It’s shaping how Africans
dress, speak, and interact with themselves, in a very big way.
Lagos is
where Nollywood has its base, so it is safe to say that Lagos is the motherland
of this rennaissance.
where Nollywood has its base, so it is safe to say that Lagos is the motherland
of this rennaissance.
For
musicians across the continent, collaborating with a Lagos-based act is the
endorsement they all crave for to break into continent-wide music scene.
Nigeria, after all has the continent’s largest population of young people, so
to get more people listening to your song or watching your video, you need to
capture first the huge Nigerian market.
musicians across the continent, collaborating with a Lagos-based act is the
endorsement they all crave for to break into continent-wide music scene.
Nigeria, after all has the continent’s largest population of young people, so
to get more people listening to your song or watching your video, you need to
capture first the huge Nigerian market.
Musicians
across the continent thus put into consideration what Nigerians like when they
go into the studio, and as we are all aware of, what Nigerians love is what
Lagos is cooking.
across the continent thus put into consideration what Nigerians like when they
go into the studio, and as we are all aware of, what Nigerians love is what
Lagos is cooking.
Lagos as the tech capital
of Africa
Africa’s
tech industry is booming, and nowhere else is this taking shape like in Lagos.
According to findings by Techpoint, Nigerian tech start-ups, most of which are
Lagos-based raised over nine million dollars in foreign venture capital funding
in the first quarter of 2018, bigger than any other African country.
tech industry is booming, and nowhere else is this taking shape like in Lagos.
According to findings by Techpoint, Nigerian tech start-ups, most of which are
Lagos-based raised over nine million dollars in foreign venture capital funding
in the first quarter of 2018, bigger than any other African country.
Away from
the huge capital in flow, Lagos has proven to be one of the best places for a
tech startup in the continent, and tech entrepreneurs from all over the
continent are well aware of this fact and are judiciously exploiting it. Its
economically-active population are everly ready to reward innovations in any
field. And its skyrocketing population means that there are a lot of problems
needing to be solved with tech.
the huge capital in flow, Lagos has proven to be one of the best places for a
tech startup in the continent, and tech entrepreneurs from all over the
continent are well aware of this fact and are judiciously exploiting it. Its
economically-active population are everly ready to reward innovations in any
field. And its skyrocketing population means that there are a lot of problems
needing to be solved with tech.
Solving
Lagos’ myriad problems could mean building an
app which commuters can use to manoevuer their way in the city’s
legendary traffic congestions, developing a smart method of disposing the
mountain of filths on the city’ streets, or an effective way to book venues for
social gatherings. Whatever problems they might be, Lagos has them, and Lagosians
are developing techy means to solving them, and they are getting handsomely
rewarded.
Lagos’ myriad problems could mean building an
app which commuters can use to manoevuer their way in the city’s
legendary traffic congestions, developing a smart method of disposing the
mountain of filths on the city’ streets, or an effective way to book venues for
social gatherings. Whatever problems they might be, Lagos has them, and Lagosians
are developing techy means to solving them, and they are getting handsomely
rewarded.
Developing
techy means, and getting handsomely rewarded than most of their peers on the
continent.
techy means, and getting handsomely rewarded than most of their peers on the
continent.
Lagos as an
important centre of African diplomacy
Lagos might
no longer be the capital of Nigeria, but it has remained the place where
serious diplomatic rounds involving the country and the continent are held. Those
who seek to get to the heart and minds of Nigerians come through Lagos.
no longer be the capital of Nigeria, but it has remained the place where
serious diplomatic rounds involving the country and the continent are held. Those
who seek to get to the heart and minds of Nigerians come through Lagos.
Addis
Ababa, the Ethiopian capital and African Union headquarters is where Africa’s
political and business leaders meet when it’s time for big talks about fighting
diseases and putting an end to wars. It’s where the US President would chose to
deliver a speech lecturing Africans on the good of their democracy, where the
Premier of the People’s Republic of China would stand and try to convince
Africa’s leaders to open up their countries to Chinese businesses as they are
no threat to their countries’ sovereignthy or way of life.
Ababa, the Ethiopian capital and African Union headquarters is where Africa’s
political and business leaders meet when it’s time for big talks about fighting
diseases and putting an end to wars. It’s where the US President would chose to
deliver a speech lecturing Africans on the good of their democracy, where the
Premier of the People’s Republic of China would stand and try to convince
Africa’s leaders to open up their countries to Chinese businesses as they are
no threat to their countries’ sovereignthy or way of life.
However,
when it’s time to convince Africans on the dangers of wars and diseases through
languages they understand: music and dance, drama, and even religion, Lagos is where
this naturally finds some strong feet.
when it’s time to convince Africans on the dangers of wars and diseases through
languages they understand: music and dance, drama, and even religion, Lagos is where
this naturally finds some strong feet.
Lagos’s big
pastors, like Prophet TB Joshua play big parts in settling disputes and solving
problems across African households everyday, making them to be very important
— yet unsung, figures in Africa’s diplomatic circle.
pastors, like Prophet TB Joshua play big parts in settling disputes and solving
problems across African households everyday, making them to be very important
— yet unsung, figures in Africa’s diplomatic circle.
No other
place in the continent has such more of such angels of diplomacy than Lagos,
and none of the continent’s career diplomats who keep holding rounds upon
rounds in Addis Ababa achieve throughout the lifetime of their careers what
these Lagos figures achieve in a year through counselling, deliverance, fasting
and praying.
place in the continent has such more of such angels of diplomacy than Lagos,
and none of the continent’s career diplomats who keep holding rounds upon
rounds in Addis Ababa achieve throughout the lifetime of their careers what
these Lagos figures achieve in a year through counselling, deliverance, fasting
and praying.