|
www.bradt-travelguides.com Nigeria: chaotic, corrupt, impoverished, awful, an environmental nightmare and run by a government that is largely incapable of controlling the largest population in Africa.
Nigeria: fascinating, appealing, vibrant, warm-hearted, the world’s fourth largest democracy (140 million) and sixth largest provider of crude oil, home to the world’s second largest city – Lagos – and 250 ethnic groups.
Half empty or half full - the choice is yours. Whatever preconceptions you may have regarding Nigeria, Bradt’s new guide will shed light on a West African super-state that is still largely unknown by westerners.
Author Lizzie Williams offers a succinct insight, saying, “By the same token that Philip Briggs, my colleague at Bradt, describes Ghana as ‘Africa for beginners’ I would call Nigeria ‘Africa for the very experienced.’â€Â
Certainly Nigeria is extreme - in one instant you’ll see the highest concentration of people using modern picture-phones anywhere in the world - and then in the next women sweeping up termites to fry after a rainstorm. Surmounting the creaking infrastructure is only the beginning, there is no equivocation about the fact that Nigeria is simply one of the world’s most difficult places to travel within.
However, for an adventurous spirit with an open mind and and a friendly demeanour the highlight is the overwhelming experience of meeting its culturally rich people. Williams reports, “Practically any person in any corner of Nigeria will offer a moment of their time to say ‘welcome’ - they are colourful, intelligent, curious, creative, imaginative, and generous.â€Â
Bradt’s Nigeria is the first complete travel guide to the country and will be a useful companion for both adventure travellers and those arriving in the country to work. History and geography sections provide context whilst transport, from bush taxi to rail and car, is complimented by a choice of accommodation. The sometimes baffling sights and sounds of Ibo art, music and culture in general are presented against a wealth of background information.
A liberal sprinkling of reassuring wisdom from an experienced Africa-hand suffuses the text, particularly evident in the chapter on planning and preparation for overland entry. A final language primer offering handy words, in three languages (Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo), together with some choice Nigerian English phrases will surely be enough to make most local people smile.
Williams signs off her introduction saying, “Nigeria’s a destination that’s not about Eiffel Towers or Serengeti Plains, but about a conversation or a unique moment… I hope this book will greatly assist any travel to Nigeria and help to quell its awful reputation as a travel destination. It’s a unique and compelling country with enormous personality.â€Â
Lizzie Williams is a freelance writer and regular contributor to Travel Africa magazine. She has travelled extensively in Africa, both independently and in her role as overland expedition leader. | 
