5 Books That Capture Lagos in Some of Its Beauty and Madness

Every time I’m in an Uber trying to catch up with work, church or an event, my thoughts always get occupied with the “human potpourri” that is Lagos.

Endless traffic, multiple road sellers, excessive markets that seem cheap but would have you spending all your salary in less than thirty minutes, a variety of food, from the amala vendor to the perfectly placed, aesthetically appealing Chinese restaurant at Admiralty, Lagos, is a city that you can’t just understand entirely.

If you’ve ever found yourself in Lagos, whether it’s the grinding traffic of the mainland or the glittering skyline of Victoria Island, you’ll understand why no film could truly capture its essence. Lagos is chaos and beauty, love and madness, and it changes you. 

But there are some books that come close to offering a true reflection of this dynamic city. 

Ghostroots is  a unique collection of stories that pulls you into a city where the supernatural is hiding right under the surface of daily life. Whether it's a trip to the market or a simple chat, each story in "Ghostroots" adds a spooky twist to the ordinary.

Aguda has a knack for weaving together Lagos’ bustling everyday reality with something eerie, capturing that same blend of curiosity and nervousness you might feel if you wandered the city streets at night.

The gritty streets of the city meet ancestral spirits, and in that meeting place, the author examines how the people of Lagos are always caught between their past and their present. It’s suspenseful, captivating, and sometimes genuinely chilling—this book gives Lagos a haunting yet strangely familiar feel.

Lagoon offers a daring new perspective on Lagos, weaving together African futurism and an alien-invasion narrative. The plot kicks off when a spaceship crashes into the city's lagoon, sparking events that dramatically alter Lagos forever. 

What really makes Lagoon unique isn't just its science fiction elements; it's how Okorafor uses the alien visitors to explore complex themes such as identity, colonialism, and social issues. Following marine biologist Adaora, rapper Anthony, and soldier Agu, the story isn't just about battling extraterrestrial forces. It's also about confronting the very real, down-to-earth problems of Lagos, things like gender inequality and class differences.

In a city that never seems to stop moving, Lagoon captures Lagos' incredible diversity and toughness with an energy that matches the city's own wild spirit.

READ ALSO: Damilare Kuku Writes Lagos Like a Loaded Gun in Women Rent Men and Secrets Here

Welcome to Lagos perfectly captures the wild yet enchanting spirit of the city. The book tells the tale of Chike, a soldier who flees his duty after being told to harm innocent people, making his way to Lagos, hoping to start over. Along the way, he encounters others who have also run away from their pasts, and they join forces, becoming a close-knit crew that gets tangled up in the city's shadowy political dealings.

What makes Welcome to Lagos feel so authentic is its honest portrayal of the city as a place that offers both chances and heartache. Lagos isn't just a setting here; it’s a main player in its own right, showcasing the mix of dreams and difficulties that come with life in one of the planet's most energetic metropolises.

Lagos is like a carnivorous city, a place that swallows, changes, and uses up anyone brave enough to try and live there. Toni Kan's book, The Carnivorous City, really runs with this idea. 

When Abel goes looking for his missing brother, he finds himself right in the heart of Lagos, facing off against the city's greed, the struggles people have figuring out who they are, and the non-stop push to get ahead that makes it what it is. Kan takes us from Ikorodu to Victoria Island, painting a picture of this huge city that’s both unappealing and impossible to ignore. He looks closely at all the different neighbourhoods, from the tough streets of Mushin to the fancy ones in Ikoyi, without pulling any punches. 

The book doesn't hold back from showing the grimy side of Lagos, the messy, painful mix of love, family, and greed that feels incredibly real, even when it’s heartbreaking.

Every Day Is for the Thief brings to life Lagos through the eyes of someone returning after years away, a man who, despite his roots, feels like a complete stranger in his own land. The book unfolds in pieces, much like the city it portrays, as the main character moves through a broken, complex urban environment. 

It reads more like a collection of fleeting glimpses and brief scenes, each offering insights into both the city and the narrator’s growing sense of disconnection. From his perspective, Lagos appears familiar yet foreign, a place that’s neither entirely home nor truly alien. 

With his poetic writing, Cole paints the city as a mix of opposing forces, modern yet ancient, lovely and harsh, welcoming and unforgiving. Ultimately, it’s a place that challenges you to confront your identity and your origins.

READ ALSO: What "Only Big Bum Bum Matters Tomorrow" Says About The Battle for Approval

Nearly All the Men in Lagos Are Mad offers readers a candid, sometimes tough look at dating in Lagos. The stories inside explore the different types of men and women they might meet when they’re looking for love, whether it’s a man who’s afraid of settling down or one who’s still tied to his mother. 

Kuku’s clever sense of humour and her sharp understanding of how crazy modern dating can be make this a book you should definitely pick up if you’ve ever tried to figure out the tricky love scene in Lagos. 

The stories don’t hold back when it comes to showing the frustrations and difficulties of dating in a city that’s always moving fast and changing quickly. But Kuku isn’t just focusing on the men; she also shows how strong and tough the women are who have to deal with all this romantic drama.

Who Drove Nearly All The Lagos Men Mad? is a fiery exploration of Lagos ’sizzling love lives. Through eleven short stories, Ugonna delves into the tangled and often steamy relationships that heat the city daily.

From the wife of an Afrobeats star to a girl swiping right for a hook-up and finding love, Ugonna presents a series of love stories that force us to confront the complex emotions that govern Lagos’ dating scene. It’s raw, it’s unapologetic, and it’s as steamy as the Lagos nights themselves.

These books capture the soul of Lagos in a way no movie has, because they don’t just let you see the city, they make you feel like you’re actually living there. With every story, whether it’s filled with magic, futuristic elements, or a passionate romance, you get to experience Lagos in all its vibrant chaos. It’s a city that’s always changing, where every street corner seems to hold a new adventure just waiting to unfold.

The writers don’t just give you a quick look at Lagos; they pull you right into its heart. So, if you’re truly curious about Lagos, set aside the films and grab one of these books; you’ll find yourself completely drawn in by a city that’s as intricate as it is unforgettable.