"SLC-S25/W3 | Community World Tour: Landscapes & Sacred Sites"

I am excited to have taken this adventure, not just abot the tour but about the experiences, exposure, insight and beautiful thoughts about a place.

Now,,, let's get on a tour to Bariga waterfronts jetty landscape.

Emotional connection and heritage of Bariga waterfronts Jetty landscape

The Bariga Waterfront Jetty landscape, located in the center of Lagos mainland. As a meeting point of land and water, the jetty signifies transition, movement, and connection both in a physical and metaphorical sense. It acts as a vital link for Bariga’s residents, allowing them to reach other areas of Lagos by water, particularly to places like Ikorodu and Lagos Island. However, the Bariga Jetty is more than just a transit point; it is rich in layered meanings.

Culturally, Bariga has historically been a hub for performance arts, poetry, music, and visual storytelling. Artists such as Segun Adefila and the Crown Troupe of Africa have utilized the space around the jetty to present performances that reflect social realities, historical memories, and local pride. Therefore, the jetty is not just a physical structure, it is a stage, a canvas, and a voice for a community that expresses itself dynamically through art.

Emotionally, the jetty represents daily life, resilience, and survival. For many who depend on water transport for their economic activities or to access education and services, it symbolizes hope and continuity. It is a gathering place for daily interactions, farewells, reunions, commerce, and informal exchanges, making it deeply resonant in the collective memory of its users.

Spiritually, water holds sacred importance in Yoruba cosmology and broader African spiritual traditions. The jetty, acting as a boundary between land and water, becomes a space filled with metaphysical significance. It calls to mind the presence of deities like Yemoja, the goddess of the sea, transforming it into a site where the physical and spiritual worlds intersect, where offerings are made, and where ancestral ties are honored.

In conclusion, the Bariga Waterfront Jetty is more than just infrastructure it symbolizes cultural expression, emotional life, spiritual richness, and community identity.

Local legend, history and personal significance of Bariga waterfronts Jetty landscape

Bariga started as a small fishing and farming community where the Yoruba-speaking Ilaje and Egun people lived by the lagoon, relying on its resources. Its key position on the mainland close to the Lagos Lagoon made it a vital point for water travel, even before bridges and roads were common in Lagos. Families built stilt houses and wooden walkways along the shore, blending into the water.

In the early 20th century, during the colonial era, Lagos Island became the main administrative and commercial hub, while the mainland, particularly Bariga, was seen as outlying. Due to the lack of colonial investment, Bariga grew informally, driven by the creativity of its residents. The waterfront was shaped not by planners but by necessity, turning into a center for canoes, makeshift docks, and informal trade as locals found innovative ways to reach economic hubs across the lagoon.

When lagos population surged, it heightened the demand for the waterfront as a transport and livelihood point, emphasizing its significance. The waterfront evolved into a lively blend of cultures, languages, and economic activities. Despite being overlooked by urban planners, it flourished as a place of resilience and innovation.

For many people living in Bariga, the jetty has deep personal significance. It’s the spot where kids first experienced the vast lagoon, where older folks go to think, where couples meet, and where daily activities kick off. For some, it’s a place where their parents used to fish, or where they created childhood memories—getting on wooden boats, listening to songs from ferry operators, or enjoying street shows at sunset.

The jetty often serves as the first and last stop of the day, making it a reliable presence in a life that is always changing. It acts as a personal anchor in a rapidly moving city—a location for both leaving and coming back.

Steematlas Pin

[//]:# (!steematlas 6.528388 lat 3.399802 long d3scr)

Google map

A sketch of Bariga waterfronts Jetty Landscape

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"The Jetty, where yesterday and tomorrow shake hands in silence hums with memory"

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I invite @mariami @pandora2010 @sergeyk

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