▷ Trip to Nigeria: Lagos city and Yoruba country

23rd Apr. - 02nd May 2023 (10 d. / 9 n.) / TRIP COMPLETED

Trip to Nigeria specially designed for culture lovers, history buffs and adventurers.

Last Places have designed a trip to Nigeria with the aim of getting to know the worldview of the Yoruba people, as well as the Orisha religion, also known as Voodoo.

The itinerary will begin in the eccentric capital of Lagos, with a visit by canoe to the Makoko neighborhood, which is built on stilts. From there we will travel to Badagry to learn about the sad history of the slave trade in the country.

Our immersion in the Yoruba culture will begin at the impressive Olumo rock, in Abeokuta. This rocky mountain is considered sacred according to the Orisha religion. We will visit sanctuaries that are located in some caves of the mountain. These are decorated with fetishes. We will follow the mysterious stele of Opa Oranmiyan to Ife and visit the Royal Palace of Ora. We will walk through the Yoruba sacred forest of Oshogbo, a UNESCO heritage site. Austrian artist Susanne Wenger (1915-2009) helped protect this forest. We will have the opportunity to witness the dances of the Eyo spirits, the Egunguns and the Gelede masks.

During the course of this trip to Nigeria, we will visit temples and witness ceremonies. We will also enjoy a great diversity of architectural styles: Afro-Brazilian, Colonial and Yoruba architecture. If you want to know the detailed itinerary you can download it through the form that you will find below. Click here to easily reach the form.

The guide for this trip to Nigeria will be Leonardo Paoluzzi, an expert in West African cultures.

Discover the highlights of this trip to Nigeria

Canoe tour of Makoko

During this trip to Nigeria, we will visit the lake district of Lagos. There we will find fishing communities that still maintain ancient voodoo traditions.

We will travel through the Yoruba country during this trip to Nigeria.

Abeokuta

This ancient city (19th century) stands out for the impressive Olumo Rock, the Yoruba royal palace of Alaka, the fetish market and the Afro-Brazilian neighborhood, full of richly decorated historical buildings. Also, during this trip to Nigeria, we will visit the mosque, an Orisha temple and the Itoke market, famous for its textiles and tailors.

Ife

This city was built on the ashes of the ancient Kingdom of Ife. Here the evolved Yoruba agricultural civilization developed in the 10th century, as well as a colorful and mystical universe of voodoo deities. On this trip, we will visit the Oba royal palace, the mysterious Opa Oranmiyan stele and the Oduduwa temple-altar. We will have the opportunity to admire some ancient terracotta objects from about 1000 years ago.

Oshogbo

During this trip to Nigeria, we will walk through the Sacred Forest of Oshogbo (UNESCO World Heritage Site). In it is the pantheon of the Orishas, among which a special place is reserved for the protective and benevolent goddess Osun. We will also observe numerous sculptural works by Susanne Wenger.

Susanne Wenger House

On this trip, we will visit the house where Susanne Wenger, an Austrian-born Yoruba artist and priestess, lived. She was a leading advocate for the preservation and reconstruction of the Sacred Forest.

Oyo

It was the capital of the ancient Yoruba kingdom. In this city, we will witness the dance of the Egungun, the spirits of the ancestors.

Ijebu Ode

In this city we will enjoy the Afro-Brazilian vestiges, the royal palace, British colonial architecture and several extravagant buildings linked to the golden age of the cocoa trade.