The invisible labor building Lagos' skyline is forged in murky water
In short: Beneath the rapid expansion of Lagos lies a dangerous, manual economy. This video explores the high-risk life of sand divers who provide the raw materials for the city's concrete growth.
In the Bariga district, an entire local economy revolves around the extraction of sand from the Lagos lagoon. Divers perform the grueling task of scraping sand from the bottom of the water without any protective equipment, filling wooden boats bucket by bucket to supply the city's construction needs.
The trade operates under a strict hierarchy involving divers, carriers, and team leaders, though women also play significant roles as boat owners and managers. As the industry shifts from traditional sails to mechanized engines, these workers stand at a crossroads between ancestral labor practices and modern industrial progress.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Human Cost Behind Lagos’ Endless Construction | SLICE EARTH | FULL DOC
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