Fela's Shrine

Located inside the Afrika Shrine is a grove dedicated to Fela himself. Hanging is the prototype shirt he wore during his playing days. Also dedicated to him are his saxophone and statues of some of the deities he worshiped. Incense is regularly burnt at his altar by minders of the shrine as the man in this photo is doing.

Even in death, Fela is still an enigma. He is Africa's Elvis, Bob Marley and John Lennon all rolled into one. Like Graceland, fans of Afrobeat flock to the Afrika Shrine every night to bask in the splendour of the music while they revel in the unfettered opportunity to indulge in weed smoking.

The Afrika Shrine is a bohemian paradise in its full glory.

The New Afrika Shrine

Located in the Ikeja central business district, the New Afrika Shrine is the commune where Afrobeat music lives. Patterned after Fela's original Afrika Shrine, it is a meeting place for progressives and music groupies.

American rapper Mos Def once described Fela thus: "Fela Anikulapo-Kuti was James Brown, Huey Newton, Rick James, Bob Marley, Duke Ellington, and ODB all rolled up in one black African fist..."

Femi Kuti at Felabration 2010

Afrobeat star Femi Kuti speaking at the Felabration 2010 Fela Debates at the Afrika Shrine in lagos. His father Fela was the iconic creator of Afrobeat and Femi has taken the music a notch higher. He has been twice nominated for the Grammy Awards.

Gani Fawehinmi

A year after the passing of famous Nigerian human rights lawyer Gani Fawehinmi, the Lagos government immortalised him with this statue last month. Situated at the Ojota quadrangle junction, it stands as a brilliant testimony to the brave fight fight put up over fifty years by Gani (a.k.a Senior Advocate of the Masses) against military tyranny and despotic leadership.

Well done Gani and may the issues you fought and lived for become things of the past in no time.

Burglar fencing

A common sight in Lagos homes, burglar proof fencing is meant to deter would-be assailants from forcing their way into peoples' houses.

Idanre Hills

This is the town of Idanre from atop the Aghagha Hill. It's a view that takes one's breath away. When it rains, mist covers the hills like a heavenly umbrella shrouding the town.

Holiday makers can find some nice hotels to stay in while they explore the many beautiful features of the hills. The town is also home to a large cocoa growing community. Its restaurants make some of the best pounded yam meals in the country.

According to guides, it takes between four days and a week to fully climb all the hills and see the impressive works of nature.

Idanre is located in Ondo State, about four hours from Lagos by road and 30 minutes by air from the Akure airport.

Idanre Hills

Signboard announcing the world famous Idanre Hills. There are 662 steps to climb to the landing of the hill where several amusements await as this sign shows.

Giant Maltina

Saw this 35 foot Maltina bottle during a recent trip to Idanre, Ondo State where my friends and I went rock climbing (Idanre is famous for its rocks).

You can my friend Seun posing beside the huge replica. Her 6"2 frame is dwarfed by its sheer size.

Ferry ride

A passenger strapped in life vest riding on a ferry across the Lagos Lagoon towards Apapa.

I took a joy trip just to be able to snap photos and my last few posts have been a result of that.

It is only my second ever ride across the channel. The first time was six years ago and I'm happy that the owners have improved on the boats now.

They are a lot better than back then, lighter and much safer.

Theme Day: Open Air Market

This open air market is in Ibadan. I passed by last weekend and shot this frame from the comfort of a car.Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Navigator

A ferry's navigating compass. Notice where the pin is pointing, NW; reminds me of the Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint movie North By Northwest.

Boatman

A boatman guides his boat into the Apapa quays.

Barges

Everything comes in two just like yesterday's ferries. These barges are anchored on the Apapa quays.

Ferrries

Two ferries are anchored at the jetty on the Lagos Lagoon.

Central Business District

Another view of the Lagos Central Business district. Many of Nigeria's banks have their head offices in these high rise buildings.

Lagos Business District

Shot this frame of the Lagos Island business district from the Apapa quays today. In the middle of the image is the highest building in Nigeria, the Stallion Plaza owned by the Union Bank.

Our president dies...

Nigeria's President Umaru Yar Adua died last night in Abuja after prolonged illness. It's a sad time for the nation and we're in seven days mourning now.

I say may his soul rest in peace.

His prolonged illness had almost polarised the country and pushed us to the brink of collapse. Perhaps it is best we finally got a closure on this matter. God knows best why things happen.

So we now have a new president, the former Vice President Goodluck Jonathan was sworn into office this morning.

Long live Nigeria!

Theme Day: Statue The African Renaissance Monument

I was recently in Dakar, Senegal where the country launched this huge monument called the African Renaissance to mark its 50th independence anniversary.

Standing at almost 50 metres tall on a 100metres high hill in the Oukam district of Dakar, the renaissance monument which overlooks the Atlantic Ocean is a testimony to the taste of Senegalese in high art.

It depicts a woman, a man and a child emerging on top of a hill. It is very breezy on top of the hill and it gives a wonderful view of the whole of Dakar. It is something many Senegalese will be very proud of many years to come.

Cape Town's Table Mountain

I was in Cape Town, South Africa last week where I photographed the world famous Table Mountain from the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront. It is such an awesome sight to behold and it has a pride of place in Cape Tonian culture.

I plan to go on a hike to the mountain next time I visit the city during the World Cup.

Lagos Carnival

Lagos held a carnival on Easter Monday as part of activities to mark the Black Heritage Festival. It is part of a bid at turning the metropolis into a preferred tourism destination.

Colourful floats with beautiful costumes paraded the streets of Lagos Island and converged at the Tafawa Balewa Square for a spectacular finale.