How Makoko, Nigeria's floating slum went digital with new mapping project

By Oluwatosin Adeshokan, for CNN

Updated 6:50 AM ET, Wed February 26, 2020

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A fisherman throws out his net on the lagoon's calm waters. Fisherman immigrating from Benin and Togo initially settled Makoko over a century ago. But as the population of Lagos exploded to its current size of at least 15 million, so too did the population of Makoko. Estimates are anywhere from 85,000 to 250,000 people live there.
Photos: Makoko: The Venice of Africa?
A fisherman throws out his net on the lagoon's calm waters. Fisherman immigrating from Benin and Togo initially settled Makoko over a century ago. But as the population of Lagos exploded to its current size of at least 15 million, so too did the population of Makoko. Estimates are anywhere from 85,000 to 250,000 people live there.
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Nicknamed by some as the "Venice of Africa," the floating village of Makoko in Lagos, Nigeria, is inhabited by people who not only live on water, but also also depend on it for their livelihood.
Photos: Makoko: The Venice of Africa?
Nicknamed by some as the "Venice of Africa," the floating village of Makoko in Lagos, Nigeria, is inhabited by people who not only live on water, but also also depend on it for their livelihood.
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Although Makoko dates back to the 18th century, when it was established as a fishing village, the area is still considered an informal settlement with very limited government presence.
Photos: Makoko: The Venice of Africa?
Although Makoko dates back to the 18th century, when it was established as a fishing village, the area is still considered an informal settlement with very limited government presence.
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Young men in Makoko are typically put to work building canoes, in business ventures supervised by elders. Here, one teen sits on a plank of timber as two others work to saw it into pieces.
Photos: Makoko: The Venice of Africa?
Young men in Makoko are typically put to work building canoes, in business ventures supervised by elders. Here, one teen sits on a plank of timber as two others work to saw it into pieces.
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Just like any other bustling town, there's a rush hour in Makoko. Most children appear comfortable steering canoes as it is the only mode of transportation in an all-water community, but they must be careful.
Photos: Makoko: The Venice of Africa?
Just like any other bustling town, there's a rush hour in Makoko. Most children appear comfortable steering canoes as it is the only mode of transportation in an all-water community, but they must be careful.
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Through a wired screen sit convenience items in this Makoko-style corner store. Instant noodles, rice, canned goods, fruits and vegetables are all on sale in a structure that also houses a family.
Photos: Makoko: The Venice of Africa?
Through a wired screen sit convenience items in this Makoko-style corner store. Instant noodles, rice, canned goods, fruits and vegetables are all on sale in a structure that also houses a family.
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