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Giant Animal Puppets Tour Lagos Lagoon Slum to Spotlight Climate Crisis
MAKOKO, Nigeria — Canoes navigated towards Makoko, a sprawling waterfront community constructed on stilts in the Lagos lagoon, Nigeria’s bustling economic center. Aboard the vessels were massive cardboard puppet animals and their puppeteers, all clad in black, embarking on a unique theatrical प्रदर्शन to raise awareness about the climate crisis.
Animals Awaken on the Waterways
Once afloat, the animal figures — a gorilla, leopard, elephant, wildebeest, giraffe, and donkey —animated into life. The gorilla emitted hoots, the donkey brayed and flicked its tail, and the leopard lowered its neck towards the water’s surface as if to drink, pausing just before touching the water and then glancing around its surroundings.
“The Herds” Theatrical Journey Commences in Nigeria
This Saturday marked the second day of “The Herds” theatrical tour’s Nigerian engagement, part of a 20,000-kilometer journey stretching from Africa’s Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle using puppet animals. Organizers stated the tour is designed to focus attention on the urgent climate crisis and to “rekindle our connection with the natural world.”
The tour began the previous week in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s capital, with Dakar, Senegal’s capital, slated as the next destination on its global route.
Puppets Symbolize Climate Displacement
The narrative of “The Herds” revolves around animals compelled to leave their natural habitats due to global warming, journeying northwards, stopping in cities along their path, and accumulating more animal members along the way.
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The expansive community of Makoko — a historic fishing settlement — served as an ideal backdrop to highlight this theme, according to Amir Nizar Zuabi, “The Herds” artistic director. He noted Makoko’s long-standing display of resilience in the face of climate change, frequently innovating adaptations to severe weather conditions.
Makoko: “Venice of Africa” Faces Climate Vulnerability
Referred to as the “Venice of Africa,” the Makoko community is a low-lying area susceptible to increasing sea levels and inundation. Lagos itself frequently experiences the effects of climate change, with roadways and residences throughout the coastal metropolis often submerged during annual floods.
“We stand at the precipice of a major global emergency, and… I believe the global south possesses significant knowledge and resilience,” Zuabi commented, referencing developing nations in the Southern Hemisphere that face lower incomes and higher poverty levels compared to the “global north.”
Community Engagement and Spectacle
Situated beneath the Third Mainland Bridge, a major artery of Lagos, Makoko vibrated with activity as “The Herds” arrived. Residents peered from their windows, marveling at the spectacle. Children and women gathered on the wooden verandas outside their precarious dwellings, observing as the animal puppets navigated through the narrow canals. Some imitated the animals’ movements, while others cheered and waved.
“It appeared incredibly realistic,” remarked Samuel Shemede, a 22-year-old Makoko resident, expressing his awe of the puppets. “I had never encountered anything like it before. Despite being artificial, they achieved an astounding level of realism.”
Tour Moves Through Lagos, Captivating Spectators
As the tour departed Makoko and proceeded to the Yaba suburb, the city’s notorious traffic paused as the puppets towered above people and vehicles. Smaller primates, such as monkeys, had joined the larger animals, hooting loudly, prancing around, and even dancing, adding to the performance.
The procession incorporated dance and choreographed segments performed by a local theatrical troupe. The performers, costumed in beige sackcloth and straw hats, periodically surged towards the puppets as if preparing to confront them.
As they moved through the streets, onlookers were treated to chants from the Hausa language song “Amfara,” which roughly translates to “We have begun.”
Art Bridges Gap in Climate Change Communication
At a time when African countries are losing up to 5% of their gross domestic product annually, disproportionately burdened by climate change impacts compared to other regions, “The Herds” organizers emphasized the importance of simplifying climate change and its consequences for broader public comprehension.
“Much of the climate discussion revolves around scientific data… and scientific terminology lacks resonance for many,” Zuabi, the artistic director, explained. “I aimed to conceive an artwork that communicates about nature, beauty, and the inherent wildness and majesty of animals.”
He clarified that the animals’ “invasion” of cities serves as a metaphor for the normalization of the abnormal as the world grapples with climate change. “And this, hopefully, becomes a vehicle to discuss what we risk losing if fossil fuel consumption persists.”