STRANGE OLD LAGOS & YORUBALAND
with Pelu Awofeso, editor of One for the Road
Pelu at Osun-Osogbo grove in Yorubaland — around 120 miles northeast of Lagos
Looking for strange attractions in Lagos & Yorubaland? Look no further.
In this episode, we talk to local travel journalist and tour guide Pelu Awofeso.
Pelu is a culture and travel writer and contributor to Lonely Planet and Medium. A winner at the CNN Multichoice African Journalist Awards in travel reporting, Pelu is also the author of several Nigeria travel books — his latest, One for the Road, is out now. He regularly guides tourists around Yorubaland and Nigeria.
In this episode you’ll find out…
Where to pick up monkey heads, snakes and other ‘fetishes’
Why you shouldn’t ask a tour guide to go to Makoko floating village
How an ancient Yoruba city was the place where the world began
…and so much more.
You’ll find all Pelu’s picks on the podcast website: www.strangeoldworld.com
You can read his travel articles about Nigeria on the Lonely Planet website
His books are available in various places. Head to Amazon to buy Nigerian Festivals, Route 234 and Tour of Duty. Visit Rovingheights Books to get White Lagos and 9 Degrees North. And nip across to Paystack for One for the Road
Want to book Pelu as your Lagos tour guide? He’s on Facebook, X and Insta
You can also find Joe on X/Instagram or email info@juniorproductions.co.uk
Listen now
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Picks of the pod
Here’s a list of all the Strange Old Lagos & Yorubaland suggestions of Pelu Awofeso. Attractions marked with an asterisk (*) are included on the map below.
Strange thing to see in Lagos & Yorubaland: Itoku fetish market, Abeokuta* (bonus shoutout: local shrines and temples)
Strange thing to do in Lagos & Yorubaland: Asking a tour guide to visit Makoko floating village*
Strange festival in Lagos & Yorubaland: Igunnuko Masquerade (bonus shoutouts: the Agemo Festival and the — irregular — Eyo Festival)
Strange drink in Lagos & Yorubaland: Agbo herbal mixture — try it on Oba Akran Avenue (bonus shoutout: peppered ponmo)
Strange myth in Lagos & Yorubaland: The deification of real people — visit Koso Rock in Old Oyo National Park to learn about Shango
Stranger Danger™ in Lagos & Yorubaland: Taking photos of people’s colourful clothes
Strange day trip from Lagos & Yorubaland: Northern Nigeria’s palatial architecture — such as Gidan Makama Museum, Kano
Straight-up tips for Lagos & Yorubaland: Tour Downtown Lagos, explore Ile-Ife (where the world began) and try jollof rice, pepper soup and suja
When to visit Lagos & Yorubaland: Between June and August for traditional festivals and between October and December for creative arts events
Strange sight elsewhere in the world: The grand divinity shrines and temples of Benin — visit Iya Abimesa, Porto-Novo (bonus shoutout: Crufts, England)
Joe’s end-of-pod pick: Ado-Awaye Suspended Lake