Three part doc on Lagos on the Beeb
The first part was shown on BBC2 last night. Did anyone see it? What is it with all these documentaries on Lagos all of a sudden?
Meanwhile, I met a teacher last night who comes from Shrewsbury. That's only a few miles from where from. He told me he met someone who is from Shifnal who is based in Abuja. That's even closer to my ancestral village. It all feels like Nigeria is increasingly getting connected to the world. Perhaps my village should 'twin' with a Nigerian village and be done with it?
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Why is it not on Iplayer? This is very distressing for me!
I think you got the wrong date. It starts on BBC 2 next thursday (15/04/2010)
I couldn't watch the clip. It says, "not available in your area".
But I can imagine what the video is about. Some dirty parts of Lagos and the people in it. These oyinbo people like our dirty laundry no be small.
No, the first episode will air on Thursday 15 April.
I was asking myself the same question, what is it with all these Lagos documentaries.
I don't think it has aired yet, the first episode will be aired next thursday. It looks interesting.
I know, there seems to be a strange interest.
If you live in the Uk it will be shown on BBC2 by 9pm on the 15th, 22nd and 29th. It is a 3 part doc series.
You guys should not be surprised. There are under G moves, Nigeria is doing something right.
@ Jeremy, are you sure there is no mix-up. I believe that the first part of the programme is supposed to be shown the coming week not this one past.
Welcome to Lagos BBC2 April 15th "A look at the life in the Olusosun rubbish dump, where around 1,000 people live on top of the rubbish in houses built from scrap".
For f's sake! How convienient they don't care to have a look at the well-heeled communities of Victoria Garden City in Lekki.
Poverty exists yes but it is disingenuous and inbalanced only to show only this side. The west always has an axe to grind when portraying Africa.
Why the bemusement?. With it being Nigeria's jubilee anniversary, Nigeria's on the radar for international programme makers. Over the last year or so, numerous creatives would have presented various 'Nigeria Ideas' to the BBC for funding.
Maybe if the NFC, NTA or the Rebranding Nigeria department invested effort, money and good sense into quality film/TV education and production, there might be room on the international scene for programmes produced by Nigerians creatives. Until then, our stories will continue to be told by visitors.
My bad. It starts next Thu.
@Tay I don't see the issue. Programmes like this one shed light on problem areas. Frankly I do not care about the fabulous lives of Lekki/Ikoyi faux yuppie residents.
Meanwhile, whatever happened to "Naij: A documentary"? Several years after the trailer came out, noone i know has gotten a chance to see it (the trailer on youtube had even had the audio removed).
Somehow, the documentaries we REALLY want to see get buried, and instead we keep getting the same recycled stuff about niger delta and oil,traffic and filth in Lagos, and big spending rich-kid repatriates.
@Mogaji
The programme is "Welcome to Lagos" not "Welcome to the crap parts of Lagos". Thus show EVERYTHING - show the GOOD as well as the BAD.
You may like to see just the bad but I and others would love to see the yuppie set doing well for themselves not just the slums.
MsMak,
Naij: A documentary was screened at various venues in London in 07 and 08.
Tay
I'm certain you haven't seen the programme yet maybe you should wait till it's been broadcast before you condemn it. BTW, it's not a doc about Lagos, it's a look at how resilience and resourcefulness win out over unbelievable difficulty.
From my research, resilience and ingenuity appear to be the most common qualities Nigerians attribute to themselves and I believe this doc celebrates that.
..I don't need another documentary showing the depressing aspects of Africa - I can tune into CNN, Sky News and BBC to see that at any given moment.
@MsMak
Naij: A Documentary was one of the best films I've seen in a long time. If I remember correctly, the producer said at the screening that he would be aiming for a wider release at the 50th anniversary of Nigeria's independence, which is this year.
Tay, the yuppie set need to watch this and realise that it is not enough to 'do well' only for yourself whilst living oblivious or choosing to ignore the extreme poverty around you. Where is your sense of social justice? These stories need to be told so that change can be brought about.
saw the documentary today..i thought it was hilarious...although there was a bit of mockery going on there but all in all it was fun to watch, it felt real and the people invloved were real enough to tell the story being told about that part of life in lagos..
i guess the part of mockery was on the individuals making a fool of themselves but it made it all fun to watch..especailly when the other guy went "dancing like a genie after selling his goods... we do indian dance..very funny...
a clip from the next episode very funny as well when the the guy said "no smell here even when you shit " got to laugh at that definitely be watching the next one
thank goodnesss it didn't emphasis on the unbearable fakery that the city has become i really hope they don't show any of that .......
i meant to say emphasize not emphasis..lol..
This is how the BBC described the programme from the onset: 'Three part observational documentary series which explores life at the sharp end of one of the most extreme urban environments in the world: Lagos, Nigeria'
The aim was always to tell the story of the neglected people of Lagos, there is no issue of balance?
At the slightest problem, Nigerians will call for the North to be separated from the South but when Gadaffi says it Nigerians call him a mad man.
Nollywood produces a mass of stereotypical nonsense which is celebrated in Nigeria yet when foreigners produce District 9 or Welcome to Lagos everyone makes a fuss.
Nigerians wish to hold foreigners to standards they don’t uphold themselves.
Is the London based Nigerian-owned BEN Television not afforded the same international platform as the BBC or CNN, yet they waste it promoting government propaganda and charging guests to appear on substandard shows? I almost vomited when Henry Bonsu (formerly of the BBC) asked Alistair Soyode (owner of BEN Television and member of the rebranding Nigeria committee)during a TV interview to mention some of the places to visit in Nigeria, his response was that Nigeria has the best to offer in Africa but that he couldn’t mention any right now.
Are the BBC or CNN meant to serve as media tools for Nigeria? NO
Has Welcome to Lagos fabricated the slums? NO.
The documentary is a story of poor and neglected Nigerians who have chosen hardwork and innovation over 419. This should be an opportunity for Nigerians to reach out and work towards addressing some of the problems these men and women face, their efforts should be celebrated and I applaud the BBC for amplifying the voices of those who’ll never be able to afford to pay to feature on BEN TV or NTA or the other Nigerian TV platforms who won't invest the money and skill in making Nigerian documentaries.
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