USA Africa Dialogue Series - Re: [krazitivity] Image and the Lagos Airport

Dear all,

An article in which I moan and bemoan the state of security and
well-being in Lagos, particularly at the international airport.
Aesthetics finds a way into it, but its most disturbing motivation is
the reality of just how rock-bottom we've finally reached in pretty
much everything.

http://www.ktravula.com/2012/08/image-and-the-lagos-airport/

Regards.

--
Kólá Túbòsún

Kola,

 

Interesting commentary there on the state and culture of our airports, many thanks for sharing. As I mused on Facebook and Twitter, I wonder if it is not more complicated than this. I enjoy the drama of Nigerian airports as much as I detest the clinical aridity of Western airports. Sure there is the corruprtion and the unnecessary drama, but as you show in an unintended touching and tender scene, there is the humanity and compassion. Last year, visiting Nigeria, I was treated better in the airports and I thought the airlines were more professional than American local airlines. I enjoyed the attention ;-) I do think part of the problem that you miss is that the airports' designs are eurocentric and ignore indigenous Nigerians' needs and habits. There should be a more welcoming hall for Nigerians for instance. As in most everything else, we ere simply trying to squeeze our lives into Western standards that were not built for us. And we are miserable. The unintended consequence may be to amplify our self-loathing. Good morning.

- Ikhide