₦airaland Forum

"I know Serena Williams she played in that other court one time, my daddy took me to the game and I watched her play. She is big(gestures) I want to be like her when I grow up"

"I'm 9 and she is 7, we are best friends, people think we are sisters. We are always together, I play tennis better than her and I beat her all the time. 7 year old cuts in, its lie, I beat her sometimes too" #HumansOfLagos #LittleHumans

"Uncle let's show you our pose" #HumansOfLagos #LittleHumans

Wealthyone:
Just seeing this oh! So happy for u + congrats. Anyway, I also just added my vote even tho.....doesnt count anymore.

Thanks a lot.

UjSizzle:
Tochiphotos,

How do you get these people to talk to you about their lives?



And maybe you should consider contacting Brandon (HONY) so you two can partner. This could become some major international ish ya know, and partnership makes that happen faster.
**Just a suggestion

Good job. And I'm still tripping for that camera biko (what's the cost?)

I just walk up to them, tell them about the humans of Lagos and what it's all about if I get lucky, I'll get the chance to discuss with the person and I usually start from something that is not personal and as the person gets comfortable enough, they start opening up and I've come to realize most people are always willing to talk just that no one cares enough to ask them.
That aside, it hasn't been an easy ride to be honest, I've had so many challenges, from been nervous to approach people to getting shut down by people I approach some rude and some wouldn't even care to let me finish explaining to them at some point I've felt like abandoning it, The first day was the most challenging. That morning I walked over 18KM without getting a single person to talk to, I walked hopelessly from Orile to Bode Thomas to Ojuelegba then Yaba and finally Akoka, I was afraid to approach people and when I did my nervousness would show and I think that made them uncomfortable too. I was dejected and had made up my mind to give up and was going to get soft drinks and start going home when I met the first person I talked to, Mr C. along Unilag faculty of SS, I said hi, introduced myself and told him about the project and he agreed and we got talking and before I knew it, I had spent more than 20 mins talking to this stranger who I just met and believe me anyone who saw us would think we've known each other for years, we were just talking about random things, football etc and one thing led to another and we got into personal things and he told me about how his Aunty had brought him to Lagos and put him on the street instead of sending him to uni as she promised his parents etc I spent more than 30 mins with him and that was my first post. Talking to him made me forget all the past rejections made me believe I could actually do it and motivated me to continue I think that was the turning point. I still get nervous but I've come to understand that not everyone will say yes or willing to let a stranger into their personal life and I've come to make peace with that so when people tell me no I don't let it weigh me down I just think about the amazing people that have said yes and the people they've motivated and that keeps me going.
Yesterday I met one of the most interesting people I've been blessed to talk to in this project, Ahmed the sponge seller, I met Ahmed sitting on bench facing the lagoon in cms and I walked up to him and told him about the project, and he agreed to talk to me What got my attention was how he was knitting the sponge, I always thought they bought it like that so that was how we started our talk and he told how he had escaped boko haram, at a point he was close to tears, telling me about his friends that might have been killed he kept praising God for saving him and blessing him with this new life, it was an emotional encounter. He told me about his plans for the future and how he plans to expand his business, he really loves the business. The hour I spent talking to Ahmed has been one of the best things that has happened to me, it was so inspiring. Sometimes when I feel like giving up, I think about Ahmed's story and the rest of them and realize there are many more people out there with stories that will inspire thousands and that's what keeps me going. So Uj, that's how I get them to talk to me about their lives, you see? you asked me a "simple questions and see what it has led to, that's basically how it happens outside there, most of those people I talked to, I think that's the first time someone has taken time to ask them something like that just as you've been the first person to take time and ask how I get the stories. People are willing to share but no one cares enough to ask or listen Thanks Uj, I'm really glad you asked. About the Camera its a mid-range(prosumer) camera you could get body only around 60k I guess but it jumps to 6 figures with the lens. Please do follow on instagram http://instagram.com/thehumansoflagos and facebook https://www.facebook.com/humansoflagosng tag your friends and repost and help us build this community biko and also tag your Nl buddies who might find this thread interesting and if you or anyone have ideas on how to improves and make this project better please send an email to thehumansoflagos@gmail.com or pm here.... thanks and do have a great week.

UjSizzle:
Hah! So we've been showering with local mosquito nets all along

Lol I was surprised too but he said mosquito nets are the original ones and last longer but there is a local one that is common that's the one they mostly buy cos its cheaper.

"I'm from Adamawa, Boko haram attacked our town and I was lucky to escape. I came to Lagos with only my mosquito net and no money. One day I was walking round Ajah market and saw one of my friends that we grew up in Mubi, he was selling mosquito net he was happy to see me and took me to his house and the following day he gave me his market and I sold everything and I realized the business was good so he taught me everything about the business. I raised my capital by cutting the mosquito net I came with and sold it, mosquito net is foreign and better than the local net we buy here. That's how I started my sponge business and I've done it for 4 months now and I'm doing well." #HumansOfLagos

"I didn't even know big(rich) men use this kind of sponge till I started selling it, even those that have range rover they buy it too and they always buy plenty like 7 and they are good, they always tell me to keep the change. All the area boys here like me, I give them sponge for free and they respect and protect me." #HumansOfLagos

"Do you know my song? It's popular in the bars I play at night, let me play it for you. Do you know that ikpuche ijaye track Flavor released that time? Its mine but I gave it to him for free. I will release an album soon I already have 6 tracks it remains small" #HumansOfLagos

"People think we don't do our job, they think we only know how to say there is no water. I used to think like that till I joined the fire service a year ago, we've put out lots of fires and saved many lives. Last week, we went to put out a fire in Bariga, we saved the man and his family and it feels really good to be able to help, I finally feel like my life has meaning" #HumansOfLagos

"I built my first guitar 23 years ago, couldn't afford one then so I went and put a few things together this one on my neck, I built it too." #HumansOfLagos

enigmang:
AWESOME thread OP.... i think you should create a blog for this, because the comments might get too long and we wouldn't be able to follow your postings... You can create a blog and be running this thread concurrently

I have an instagram and facebook page too, you could follow there cos comments won't get in the way. http://instagram.com/thehumansoflagos and http://www.facebook.com/humansoflagosng will create the blog or website soon. Thanks for the support.

"I like reading a lot, I read novels, story books, newspapers I read everything. Now I'm reading my daughter's Yoruba book, that one doesn't like reading her books at all, once she comes back from school she will throw her bag on the chair and run outside to play. I'm reading it now so I can help her do her assignment when I close market." #HumansOfLagos

"I've finished working on my mix tape and I brought it to school to show my friends, it has 2 tracks 'Oh my God and my baby' the whole class was hailing me and making noise and it nearly got us punished. I'm bigger than all my classmates and I used to like it but now I hate it, I'm still in Junior secondary and I hate that I'm older than my class mates" #HumansOfLagos

"Today is sports day, we played a game. I didn't score many points but I played well. My dad still doesn't like me playing sports, he said it will distract me from studying" #HumansOfLagos

Thanks for the support guys, your kind words keep me going. I actually didn't plan for it to get to the front page at this stage cos its still in its early stages but I guess is still good. Expect more updates, this is just the beginning.

"I've been painting since 1996, I've trained a lot of boys and they are all doing well. I've painted big big houses and it gives me joy looking at the finished work. I will show you some of them, I snapped it on my phone" #HumansOfLagos

"I work night shift at a factory, just finished my shift this morning and went straight to the court, basketball is my life, I can't miss training for anything, my brother has gone pro and I want to follow in his footsteps." #HumansOfLagos

"My agbalumo is very sweet and natural, I buy it direct from Ibadan and Ilorin, it's better than those ones they import from Benin Republic, they use chemical on those ones" #humansoflagos

"There is this girl I really like but I can't tell her cos I'm 14 and we are too young but each time she is around, my heart starts beating faster I don't know why" #humansoflagos

Thanks for the support guys, your kind words keep me going.

UjSizzle:
Biko what camera are you using?

Nikon D5100.

"I love drawing, I'm at my happiest with a pencil in my hand. It's a hobby but I hope to take it serious and get better at it" #humansoflagos

"My year got off to the best possible start, got this job first week of January, it doesn't pay much and I haven't gone home since I started cos I can't afford tfare but its better than staying idle. I'm grateful and it gives me hope this year will be good for me" #humansoflagos

pickabeau1:
nice..

i expected sharper pics though

less of poses and more of spontaneity

Thanks a lot, I'll improve on that. It's going to be an interesting ride, and you guys are welcome on board.

onegig:
Following . Nice work you doing and some beautiful pics you got.

Can we post pictures we took?

And why the focus on the "bad" stories alone? There is always a bright side you know.

I don't have a criteria for selecting the quotes I use, I talk to them and pick an interesting quote from my conversation with them. about posting your pictures, I'm not entirely sure about that now, it could still evolve into that but for now no. But you could join me on the streets one day, I'm sure you'd find it interesting and I'm looking forward to shooting with you.
Glad you like the pictures. Thanks.

veave:
Encore please...

The project is still evolving, will post more as I go out on the streets and meet more people. Just started this past weekend. Follow us on instagram too and other social media platforms and please do tag those you think might like this. Thanks a lot for following.