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Terminal and control tower at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos at dusk, Nigeria, 2000

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Nigerian Journey

Nigeria · West Africa · Route 04

Approximately 1,200 miles overland between Sokoto, Kano, Jos, Kaduna and Abuja, plus the flights over the Gulf of Guinea.

Approximately 1,200 miles by road across northern Nigeria: Sokoto, Kano, Jos, Kaduna and Abuja, with the harmattan lifting fine dust over the mud-brick walls.

Kano is a city of mud and trade: its earthen architecture still stands, and its markets set the rhythm of the day. The two flights to Lagos and Port Harcourt complete the route over the Gulf of Guinea.

Cartography

Map of the route through Nigeria linking Sokoto, Kano, Jos, Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt — Map of the route through Nigeria linking Sokoto, Kano, Jos, Abuja, Lagos and Port HarcourtOriginal map retains Spanish and English labels, distances and travel times

Photographic archive of the expedition

A documentary record of the journey through Nigeria. 39 preserved photographs, arranged by geographical stop.

Transit · London

The preceding stopover. 1 photograph

Stopover in London with two Yeoman Warders at the Tower of London before the Nigerian Journey — With the Yeoman Warders at the Tower of LondonPersonal presencearchive

01

Lagos

The gateway. 4 photographs

Terminal and control tower at Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos at dusk, Nigeria, 2000 — Lagos, Nigeria · Airport terminal and control tower.Documentarchive

Portrait in traditional robes inside a residence in Lagos during the Nigerian Journey — With Umma at the Ambassador’s ResidencePersonal presencearchive

Busy city market in front of a mosque in Lagos during the Nigerian Journey — The city’s open-air marketDocumentarchive

Aerial view of Lagos beside the water, with a bridge, port and industrial facilities, during the Nigerian Journey — View of the industrial area and financial district on Lagos IslandLandscapearchive

02

Port Harcourt

The south and the delta. 5 photographs

Aerial view of the industrial port terminal on Bonny Island, among channels and coastal vegetation, during the Nigerian Journey — Port Harcourt, Nigeria · Bonny Island port terminal on the Niger Delta.Landscapearchive

Dancer wearing a spiked headdress and body paint during a celebration in Port Harcourt on the Nigerian Journey — Traditional dance of the Igbo peopleDocumentarchive

Portrait of a dancer wearing a fibre headdress and amulets in Port Harcourt during the Nigerian Journey — Port Harcourt, Nigeria · Portrait of a ceremonial dancer.Documentarchive

Smiling dancer on a motorcycle surrounded by children in Port Harcourt during the Nigerian Journey — Port Harcourt, Nigeria · Dancer and children on a motorcycle.Documentarchive

Aerial view of an extensive palm plantation in southern Nigeria during the Nigerian Journey — Port Harcourt, Nigeria · Palm plantation seen from the air.Landscapearchive

03

Abuja

The capital. 5 photographs

Sheraton hotel terrace in Abuja at dusk, with its pool, awnings and illuminated tables, during the Nigerian Journey — Abuja, Nigeria · Arrival in the capital: the Sheraton terrace at dusk.Documentarchive

Welcome by staff in traditional red uniforms in Abuja during the Nigerian Journey — Abuja, Nigeria · Welcome on arrival at the accommodation.Personal presencearchive

Meeting two women in traditional dress on an avenue in Abuja during the Nigerian Journey — Abuja, Nigeria · A meeting on an avenue in the capital.Personal presencearchive

Grand mosque in Abuja, with a golden dome and four white minarets, during the Nigerian Journey — Abuja, Nigeria · The grand mosque of the federal capital.Documentarchive

Institutional meeting in a wood-panelled room with Nigerian officials in Abuja during the Nigerian Journey — Minister Akiga, Dr Speranza, Senator Piedrafita, Dr Morante, Dr Pena, Engineer Borra and Engineer RodrigoPersonal presencearchive

04

Jos

The interior and the changing landscape. 5 photographs

Street market with trays of bananas and plantains in Jos during the Nigerian Journey — Jos, Nigeria · Street market selling bananas and plantains.Documentarchive

Rural landscape with vegetation and haze in Jos during the Nigerian Journey — The savannah regionLandscapearchive

Rural settlement with round thatched dwellings, crops and a rocky hill in Jos during the Nigerian Journey — Traditional villages of the Plateau regionLandscapearchive

Passenger-laden vehicle travelling along a rural road in Jos during the Nigerian Journey — Camels also share space in the vehicleDocumentarchive

Lorries carrying passengers and livestock along a rural road near Jos during the Nigerian Journey — Villagers and zebu cattle sharing transport along the routeDocumentarchive

05

Kano

City, tradition and ceremony. 11 photographs

Riders in red robes on horses and a camel during a ceremonial procession in Kano during the Nigerian Journey — Kano, Nigeria · Ceremonial procession of riders.Documentarchive

Rider in ceremonial attire on horseback in a Kano street during the Nigerian Journey — With the mounted guard of the Emir’s PalaceDocumentarchive

Meeting two men wearing turbans and traditional robes in Kano during the Nigerian Journey — With guards of the Emir’s PalacePersonal presencearchive

Institutional meeting and exchange of a gift in Kano during the Nigerian Journey — Receiving a gift from the Governor of KanoPersonal presencearchive

Traditional earthen house with whitewashed finials and blue shutters in Kano during the Nigerian Journey — Kano, Nigeria · Traditional earthen architecture.Documentarchive

Yellow mosque with a green dome and minarets in Kano during the Nigerian Journey — Kano, Nigeria · Mosque and city life.Documentarchive

Children studying texts on writing boards with a teacher in Kano during the Nigerian Journey — Kano, Nigeria · Qur’anic school: reading from writing boards.Documentarchive

Ricardo Adrián Pena at a large public ceremony in Kano during the Nigerian Journey — With Umma at the Emir’s PalacePersonal presencearchive

Rider wearing a turban and leopard-patterned robe during a ceremony in Kano on the Nigerian Journey — Kano, Nigeria · Rider in ceremonial attire.Documentarchive

Rider in white holding a staff beside a caparisoned white horse in front of a building in Kano during the Nigerian Journey — Kano, Nigeria · Ceremonial guard and caparisoned horse.Documentarchive

Two men beneath an arcaded gallery overlooking a field with spectators during a ceremony in Kano on the Nigerian Journey — With Itah in the official stand at the Emir’s PalacePersonal presencearchive

06

Sokoto

The far north. 8 photographs

Group meeting in an institutional building in Sokoto during the Nigerian Journey — With Senator Piedrafita and women entrepreneurs from the agro-industrial sectorDocumentarchive

Giginya Hotel in Sokoto during the Nigerian Journey — With Umma outside the traditional Giginya HotelDocumentarchive

Institutional meeting with men in traditional dress in Sokoto during the Nigerian Journey — With the Minister of Commerce and the Governor of Sokoto StatePersonal presencearchive

Musicians with a drum and traditional trumpets seated on the steps of a colourful façade in Sokoto during the Nigerian Journey — Court musicians of the Hausa peopleDocumentarchive

Percussionists in traditional robes playing drums during a performance in Sokoto on the Nigerian Journey — Sokoto, Nigeria · Percussionists during a performance.Documentarchive

Group of dancers in pink and blue garments dancing beside a masked figure in Sokoto during the Nigerian Journey — Sokoto, Nigeria · Group dance beside a masked figure.Documentarchive

Line of men in red and green robes and red turbans on sandy ground in Sokoto during the Nigerian Journey — Sokoto, Nigeria · Ceremonial formation in red and green robes.Documentarchive

Orange façade with pointed arches and a large central portal, with seated people and a man walking, in Sokoto during the Nigerian Journey — Sokoto, Nigeria · Sudanese-style façade and its monumental portal.Documentarchive

Next expedition

North to Scotland

Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland · Route 06

Read the journey