Nigeria

Take yourself to Lagos, the capital. No other city in Africa nurtures such a love of music. The nightclubs are part of the urban landscape and you’ll be unable to stop yourself tapping your feet to the devilish rhythms of Jùjú music (a traditional, percussion-based music), reggae or jazz, filling the air with the fragrance of its warm notes.

Arguably, Lagos offers one of the finest examples of African culture. You will be spellbound by the richness of the collections at the National Museum.  Objects in bronze and ivory and prehistoric artifacts shed light on the history of this sometimes mysterious Africa. Aba, the country’s second-largest city has its own authentic treasures. Younger and more dynamic, this university town is most well known for its traditional market, one of the largest and most diverse in the country. You will be captivated by the sheer number of stalls. Handmade objects and works of art all showcase exceptional craftsmanship. It’s a change of scenery in Kano, in the north of the country. It’s quite a culture shock, with houses made from mud bricks, using traditional Houssa architecture and standing for almost 1,000 years. In the distance looms the mosque, whose green dome serves as a landmark to the thousands of faithful worshipers who go there every Friday. At the end of it all, you’ll be bewitched by the ingenuity of the Nigerian people. Although the country doesn’t have a single movie theater, the Nollywood chain and its local productions entertain the people with screenings shown in bars and restaurants. A wonderful insight into the Nigerian spirit.