Juxtapoz contributing photographer Chris Osburn recently stayed in the Nigerian mega-city of Lagos. By his account, it was one of the most visually stunning experiences of his life.

In his own words, “For every photo I took during my visit, there were countless more images that simply zoomed by too quickly or presented themselves at moments that just didn't seem like the wisest times to pull a giant DSLR from my backpack. 

Lagos is relentlessly full on and requires the utmost concentration to even walk down the street. While rambling around with my camera, I witnessed dozens of car crashes and even watched a guy get run over by a motorcycle (he got up, brushed off his shirt and walked on down the road).

Despite the hazards, I managed to take a few shots worth sharing.  Here are a few pics representing some of the more interesting graphics, advertisements and street art that I noticed.”

--Chris Osburn

Churches (and mosques) and references to God and religion are ubiquitous in Lagos. Here's a hand painted multilingual sign for a church in the shantytown of Makoko.
Makoko is a makeshift and profoundly impoverished village on stilts sprawling from the Nigerian Mainland and into the dark and mucky (read: open sewage) of Lagos Lagoon. Even among these squalid conditions, cell phones rule as this advert suggests.

Champion League Final. Football (soccer) is the sport of choice in Makoko

A host of ads for a choice of bevvies in Makoko

Mama Americano curtains in Makoko

Church of God, Jehovah and Jesus Christ in Makoko

Despite the rather unfortunate name, the Jazzhole on Awolowo Road in the central Lagos neighborhood of Ikoyi offers top rate shopping for some of awesomely hard to find jazz titles on vinyl as well as a brilliant selection of art books and the best of Nigerian, African (and African American) contemporary music. With a good cafe in the back, it's a cool place to hang and chat with local musicians and artists.

0010:  Chop shops sell cheap grilled meat on the streets. Bob's Chop Shop is located at the Tarzan Jetty on Victoria Island.

0040:  Giant, slightly out of touch advert in Lagos

Movies are big money in Nigeria. They've even got their own film industry, dubbed Nollywood. Just make sure to leave all dangerous weapons at home when attending a screening.

On the beach at Tarkwa Bay

Sunday afternoon at the mall: The Palms is a massive Western-style shopping complex on Victoria Island

Drinks, BBQ and pepper soup at the G-Spot

Entrance to the Eko Hotel compound on Victoria Island. There's a nifty little handicrafts market inside. Expect to haggle.

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