Makoko 2035: An EncyclopediaMain MenuAll EntriesHere you find an alphabetical list of all the entries to the Makoko 2035 Encyclopedia.SustainA list of the encyclopedia entries related to sustainability in Makoko 2035.MakeA list of the encylopedia entries related to the maker movement in Makoko 2035.PlayA list of the encylopedia entries related to play in Makoko 2035.EducateA list of the encyclopedia entries related to education in Makoko 2035.ConnectA list of the encyclopedia entries related to connection in Makoko 2035.ResistA list of the encylopedia entries related to the resistance of Lagos in Makoko 2035.Teresa Bosch3e87c9e2407591d6e931949f959b42a7265bbb84Laura Cechanowiczd3ad765e71e0e946eed450145482fb1a6196dad2Brian Cantrell207725969acc57de8bf7777f22e98434e6667e4bGeoffrey Longf029da746e44e30fa56029254e351ce179d3b36fYining Zhouf84eac9fd690cca2a540305d9d7cc1e537863943eduardo oliveira3178cf63b929e7f5f4d47afc3d3b79706e8e84f8Ilani Fay1431632b43ab06ddfc4972c32bc584ad3452ccdeRuslan Akun15e8f6f59b9b8749fd0e9ee98c21e05b935370ceBrandon Scott Cahoond147b42848fc9d43e838d4f8326aa9291d0ab0b8Alex McDowell32d94632da6cc206841c60ebe03ab22e7e596b26World Building Media Lab
1media/AREABOY_LOGO.png2016-03-10T10:49:09-08:00Area Boys20a group of unemployed young people in Makoko, offers their own form of policing: part neighborhood watch, part protection racketplain2016-05-09T12:43:15-07:00 “Area boys” are a group of unemployed young people (mostly male) in Makoko, who offer their own form of policing. It is part neighborhood watch, part protection racket.The area boys are effectively gangs recruited from the legions of unemployed young men who contest parts of the city, controlling "everything" from bridges, TOWER to drugs.
In past times, before Makoko departed from Lagos, the area boys used to be muscle for politicians. They earned money during Nigeria’s election seasons when politicians pay them to make sure that people vote for the right candidate. Meanwhile, paradoxically, they provided protection for Makoko residences away from government's violent demolitions.
Outsiders visiting Makoko are expected to offer some tribute to the area boys. In this sense, area boys play the roles of police, customs.
There are several groups of area boys taking charge of the different neighborhood. "The Chairman" conceal his identity. Only a few senior group leaders know who he is. Cordelia is one of them, the only female leader in area boys.