Living in Lagos Nigeria is like listening to non-stop music. Sometimes the music is hard like rock and sometimes soft like jazz. It can make you laugh or cry. There is never too little drama or too much quietness. It's everything and nothing imagined unless experienced. For over five years, the city has continuously provided never ending stories. More than any other state in the country. And I just love it. You can get caught up in all the noisiness of the traffic during the week, dance non-stop at the club on weekends or just decide you need to escape to some quiet beach, close your eyes and for some hours forget you are still in Lagos. But if you decide quiet is not your thing and you want to take in the sounds and sight, then that's fine. Lagos can be anything you want it to be. Evidently seen with the Eko Atlantic project; new coastal city being built on reclaimed land. I managed to catch a glimpse of the ongoing work recently but that's a story for another day. Today is about an interesting sport that is gradually becoming popular in Lagos. Surfing.
The first time I came across the story online, I knew instantly it was a story we needed to do. I could just imagine watching the story on television-the end result. That's always the starting point for me. How would the story play out on television? That's what I think of when a story idea comes to mind. The process involved in arranging the shoot was a short one. The stars were aligned in our favour I would say if one considers the challenges sometimes faced in pinning down people for interviews. Thanks to one of my go-to persons for contacts, this was an easy deal. Godpower Pekipuma, fast rising surfer was our man for the day and he was more than willing to take us through the entire process despite partying late into the night the previous day.The only hitch was trying to get a boat to Tarkwa Bay, the location for surfers in Lagos. The boat drivers argued for over an hour. They all wanted to take us. No surprises there. With the present economic situation in Nigeria, many people are really struggling. Thankfully all was resolved and we were well on our way to the beach.
Why Tarkwa Bay for surfing? The reason was simple. I had been told years back by a friend the first time I witnessed surfing live that the water at Tarkwa Bay was just perfect for surfing. The man-made shipping inlets helped to create naturalistic swells. At the time I had been worried sick with the idea that he might just drown. This time around I was excited especially seeing young children surfing. They have high hopes of representing Nigeria at international competitions.
Like in many African countries, surfing is still a budding sport in Nigeria, but Pekipuma is hoping to change that. Growing up near Tarkwa Bay beach in Nigeria's commercial capital Lagos, Pekipuma used to spend hours playing on the beach. He knew nothing about surfing, but later became curious after watching a movie about the water sport as a little boy. Now with 15 years of experience surfing, Pekipuma has started a training program for young people, charging 5,000 naira (16 US dollars) per hour for those without surfboards, and 3,000 naira (9 US dollars) for those who come with their own boards.
Pekipuma says interest and popularity in the sport has grown in recent years, attracting both young and old.
The young surfer says surfing still has a long way to go in Nigeria, lack of equipment like surfboards in the country already keeps many away from the sport.
I had absolutely no regrets at the end of the day. Wait. I did have one. Just one. My phone totally disappointed me. I was unable to take any pictures but do check out the video in the link below.
Have a great weekend!
