When Shanda arrived in Lagos, she hadn’t planned to visit Makoko. “Isn’t it just a slum on water?” she asked. But curiosity won — and what she found surprised her.

As she glided through the narrow canals in a wooden canoe, she saw a different world. Wooden homes stood bravely on stilts. Children waved from doorways. Women smoked fish over open fires, the air rich with the scent of hard work.

She saw the famous floating school — a symbol of hope rising from water. Then came colorful murals on wood walls, painted by local artists telling Makoko’s story in bold strokes.

“This place,” Shanda whispered, “is alive.”

Tourists visit Makoko not just to take photos, but to witness a community full of strength, culture, and creativity. It’s not just a slum — it’s a living story on water.