Driving through Lagos 70´s

A drive through Lagos 1971-72 filmed by Bertil Westin

[@ADE-of-LAGOS]

Truely nostalgic. Some of the streets in early part of the video are just right in the neighbourhood i was born in the early 70s, in the brazilian quarters on Lagos Island. From Bamgbose Street, Tinubu Square, and Broad Street. Most important was trip to see Father Xmas at Kingsway shopping mall on Marina Street. I remember those public taps for homes that did not have taps in them. Life was simple and fun.

[@markr28m]

My best friend Sven and his sister Marie, filmed by their father, Bertil, visiting AIS on Victoria Island. Great memories!

[@Official_GG]

Hello Sir I'm doing research on the 1970s and I would like to get in contact with your friend. Can you help please?

[@markr28m]

@@Official_GG My pleasure. Send me an email to [e-mail].

[@adeb4250]

As others have said, great film. My family left in 1976 and I have been looking to find such films of Lagos. Brings back great memories, we used to know the people who owned and ran the shops like UTC and Kingsway. When I was about 12 our driver used to take me into the back end of Lagos on his way to pick up my father after work. He knew everyone. always a safe place to be, first (and last) taste of a cola nut! I did enjoy the shots of Maria drive with the Elder Dempster building - that company used to run the Aureol from Lagos to the UK and also 3 day trips out to the Equator. last thought, swimming at The Ikoyi Club.....Happy times. ....

[@obinnaigboeli6686]

The good old days..... Everywhere so clean and well arranged.... Nigeria will be great again

[@samthecreator10]

Good old days? You think?

[@user2024-o4z]

Where is the clean ?

[@OreoluwaShodayo]

oh wow...i was not born in the 70's, i'm a 90's baby but i can almost see the similarities and recognize some landmarks....this is really awesome, makes me to wonder what life what have been like back then....

[@Rachietutu]

The 70s were a truly wonderful time in Nja. You could travel anywhere; the Naira was twice the value of the dollar...

[@ashiedususan2734]

Honestly,I wondered how life was like then...

[@graphicsRat]

Observe the roads. No pot holes.

[@akinjoaquim1013]

Fond memories. With a population of a little over 500,000 people….my secondary school era

[@seniowoajetv9246]

Wow..Wonderful blast from the past........lots of buildings I could identify with..Great job!

[@Bio54633]

The Lagos that I remember from my childhood. It's striking how few the people on the streets are in the video and how light the traffic is, even on usually busy roads like the Marina, Broad Street and Tinubu Square. Those places were busier than this even then. It might have been on a Sunday or a public holiday that the scenes were shot, as Leventis and Chellarams even had their shutters down. These are all very familiar scenes from my childhood.

[@SimonDelucca]

Yes, very striking. In fact, this looks like Lagos before the 70s

[@wekulomisaiah6434]

The fact that there are many ghosts in the clip 😢is what makes me want to cry 😭

[@harrytunes60]

Thank you for posting this precious footage, which reignited my memories of Lagos when I first travelled there as an adolescent in September 1971 and lived in the city until mid 1973. Although I had the opportunity to see Lagos again a few times many years later, my memory of the first experience is the sweetest. It was different then and I miss the old Lagos of the early 70s.

[@markr28m]

Hi Harry. Did you go to AIS on Victoria Island?

[@harrytunes60]

Hi@@markr28m, no I attended LCS in Yaba for two years at the time, but I remember the soccer match against AIS. I was only 12 at the time, but the memories are vivid all these years later. Did you attend AIS?

[@markr28m]

@@harrytunes60 yes, from 1970-1973 (7th - 9th grade).

[@classicalretroback]

Thanks Camilla Westin for posting this neat & memorable archive footage of Lagos in 70's. Without the whites who keep records so well, a big part of our history would have been lost .😇

[@cmink12]

What a stupid and servile comment to make

[@MelvinJ64]

Very true. We owe them a lot.

[@samueltaiwo6327]

Where did we miss it oh Lord?! See roads!!!

[@Relevance4life]

It was clear from the video that there was no plan for growth. Some of those roads are too small

[@tmajec]

As time went, more people spent an insane amount of time shouting God, lord and miracles. In doing so, they decided to forgo reality and their community

[@samthecreator10]

​@@tmajeceveryone has the right to believe in whatever they want to believe in. I don't see how that has got anything with the leaders not doing their jobs right.

[@OladeleOsinuga]

A blast from the past shows how much over the years the public infrastructure in Nigeria has deteriorated. Today's Lagos can't compare to this.

[@zookat]

Mega thanks, Camilla for posting this!! This is the Lagos that I left in 1976... I still dream of those scenes!

[@fredahoney6555]

It's a pity we all can't see that peaceful lovely calm Lagos again 😔

[@easyware]

Thanks for posting this. Brilliant. And the music , too. Reminds me of my childhood. :)

[@philipbeeley7583]

Just wonderful: so many memories of driving around Victoria, and Lagos Islands from home in Ikoyi in the early 1970s: especially seeing Chellarams, John Holt, and the ED building again on the Marine with the Aureol steaming away in the background, looking across to Apapa is breathtaking. Thank you for putting up this video.

[@Bjcrypto545]

Nostalgic! I was born in Ibadan in the 70s

[@godwinogabo5122]

Great film I know how my country looks like back then 90s baby

[@akinjoaquim1013]

Awesome, bring back fond memories growing up ….. early schooling days when Lagos was not overpopulated and polluted

[@nmasspace7916]

Ok. This is so nice. Living in lagos now for 9 years now. 1. The population has increased lol. 2. No okada and keke 3. No noise from honking 4. Many companies were in lagos but not anymore. BP., Barclays. , etc. Those buildings have been occupied by SMEs 5. Did you notice the UBA house? I wonder what it was used for those days and the carpark was fallow then. How did the population increase? Is there a hope of restoring the beauty of Lagos?

[@emmanuelojo2013]

Wooow 💕💖👍🏼✌🏽👍🏼Back then when Lagos was still very green like Accra & unpopulated with crazy folks 🤣 Lovely 💕💖💕💖 thanx a million for posting 💕💖 that music at 06:00minutes though 👍🏽✌🏽😂😂🔥🔥🔥

[@wale1974]

Way before 419, kidnappers, Boko Haram, GSM and DSTV...................Good Old days in lagos

[@tajikistan55]

Babangida gave all 419 upper hand....

[@tajikistan55]

Look how beautiful Lagos high court looks...

[@tajikistan55]

King's college still retain part of the fence

[@tajikistan55]

When NEPA was ECN (Energy commission of Nigeria now PHCN

[@ikennaenwelum7798]

There were still 419ers although not in the modern internet sense, read the story about pen-pals in Achebe's Choke and the River to get an idea

[@gloriatochi506]

What an amazing and organized society then.

[@retro1937]

Beautiful

[@kennethmbaegbu4868]

See how time flies

[@joeparton9162]

I'd suggest listening to Tony Allen - Road Safety whilst watching this video. Get the full Lagos experience

[@debayous]

Thank u so much

[@maureenoputa3208]

Thank you for posting this. I really enjoyed watching just how beautiful Lagos was.

[@kenmarcus6183]

Well done Camila 👍🏿

[@tundeolaoyefilmmaker]

great stuff!

[@PETERPAUL24]

Thank you for this beautiful video. Seeing 'Chellarams, Leventis, Lagos boat club, the old Marina, Onikan, Ikoyi hotel, etc, brought back sweet memories of Lagos (in particular), and my dear country (in general). There's one video I have been searching for and I don't know if your grandfather recorded one - it's the video of 'Ikoyi Park' before it was destroyed to make way for residential buildings in the early '80s. We used to have picnics there back then, and the place was later allowed for seasonal parties like Easter. Thank you once again. Best regards.

[@E180TEKNO]

c'est moi ou j'ai la sensation que LAGOS dans les année 70's était propre moins détérioré que aujourdhui 2020 ?

[@taiwoayomide5647]

I now understand why my parents said there was no reason to travel abroad 😔😔😔 Painful now

[@tmajec]

True. Even in the 80’s that I witnessed, it was still a lovely place to be. Today? Well….. 😏

[@aoruene]

ANYONE REMEMBER UTC MEAT PIES AND SCOTCHED EGGS ? OF COURSE IKOYI CLUB WAS THE BOMB !

[@tmajec]

UAC?

[@aoruene]

@@tmajec No UTC the store

[@adeolaolatunji9324]

There was UTC snacks and bakery in the supermarket

[@adeolaolatunji9324]

UAC was a company that produce Gala. But UTC had a bakery and cold section for Ham sandwiches etc

[@seunthorpe4944]

Thanks.

[@marcosunde8268]

Now you can only manage to walk through...everywhere is congested .

[@natriac.6092]

What happened to Nigeria now?

[@ceeceeceecee8170]

I miss this old Nigeria

[@obiifiorah4852]

So Lagos was this clean before

[@tanwaliser]

Everything you see is a result of what was done 25 years previously....The groundwork was laid in the 50s....Today's Lagos is 1995's groundwork....

[@1anre]

Which construction company handled the roads back then? The quality seemed to outdo the modern halfbakes we have around in today’s lagos.

[@jani9650]

Who do I contact to use this footage

[@michaeloboh9008]

hi camilla did u ever visit den? so lovely to see these footages

[@seuna.8438]

There was a country. This made me cry. We wasted 50 solid years. We are just giving birth like fowl, no planning, no foresight. We went from 70m to 200m. Tbh, we are the true definition of failure.

[@tmajec]

All to claim “giant of Africa”. Nigeria ought to break up.

[@ShearForce1]

This film must have been made before 1972 when people in Nigeria were still driving on the left hand side of the road.

[@Progressivemilla]

Some of it was filmed right before the switch in 1972. And some was filmed a bit earlier in 1971.

[@targetednigerian1487]

Today's Lagos is far more beautiful..better infrastructure

[@Robio_scorpio]

but public infrastructure is crap and its overpopulated congested and crazy

[@tmajec]

@Targeted Nigerian. Only someone who wasn’t alive then would post the rubbish you just put up.

[@asianfacility5682]

What is that big white building in the begin of video

[@MrBEAR55100]

@6:35 There's a Subaru 360(Japanese epoch making K-car) in the film. That seems impressive for me.

[@kennethmbaegbu4868]

Less corruptions and crimes, today greedy and envy has destroyed Nigeria

[@JohnFekoloid]

... because those who were empowered chose to show off their wealth instead of developing the poor ones. So the poor ones go tempted to "kukuma" steal so they too can show off their wealth. And people stopped asking questions, "how did you get this money"...

[@onyebuchiazubike8354]

Good looking and well-ogranized human and vehicular traffic. Even climate change was not big issue then as Bar-Beach was not inundating as today. It shall be well!

[@gaddafiabdullahi6028]

Pls how can i get ds felas music, wats d title

[@AnkeHolst]

Is that the German school at 3.24? Looks a bit like the German school

[@kennethmbaegbu4868]

1976 Nigeria population was about 70 million.Now 2020, Nigeria population is over 200 million. Over population isn't a blessing to us but a course, Nigerians needs family planning

[@Robio_scorpio]

Honestly it's a big course and lagos over 30 million now considering Ibadon

[@esther2462]

All I see here is Marina part of Lagos. Is there Victoria island and banana island in the 70's?

[@mantabond]

Many thanks for sharing. Well done. At the risk of sounding forward, might we ask: was his Bertil Westin parent of yours?

[@Progressivemilla]

No, but he was my grandfather :)

[@mantabond]

@@Progressivemilla Ah, bless him. Thank you for sharing from his trove. Merry Christ-mas.

[@SimonDelucca]

@@Progressivemilla In fact, this film by grandad, depicts Lagos before the 70s (especially, from the car numberplates)

[@michaelcelestine6662]

Who 20 yrs coming lagos will scattered more than it is currently

[@armana1]

desperate to know the artiste and title of the background song that starts from 5:50 mins can anybody help me please

[@Progressivemilla]

Hello! Sorry for the late response. This is the song: Godwin Ezike and The ambassadors - Torri Wowo

[@armana1]

thanks a million camilla.much appreciated

[@omobanedo9602]

Please research for all the music and please share with me to record. thanks

[@marymartins611]

Who do I contact for copyright permission to use this footage?

[@worldwideattentionclips7931]

Mary Martins me

[@ericwelles-nystrom5458]

wow, super cool! @Camilla hur kom det sig att han var i Nigeria??

[@Progressivemilla]

Kul att du frågar! Min farfar Bertil fick ett jobb i Nigeria och flyttade dit med familjen och bodde där under tre år :)

[@ericwelles-nystrom5458]

@@Progressivemilla Åh wow, vad häftigt! Jag jobbar med Nigerianska artister som var som mest aktiva under 70- och 80-talet, så det är alltid kul att se filmer från de åren. De här filmerna är verkligen jättefina!

[@ericwelles-nystrom5458]

@@Progressivemilla vet du förresten om han filmade i andra delar av Nigeria också? och vad jobbade han med??

[@Progressivemilla]

@@ericwelles-nystrom5458 Jag tror att det finns mer filmer men som är mer av privat karaktär. Han ville ta en tur i Lagos för att filma innan de skulle åka hem igen från Nigeria :) Han var någon typ av ingenjör på BP under de åren.

[@ericwelles-nystrom5458]

@@Progressivemilla Ok, tack!

[@knightandlord]

The time stamp seem valid. Notice how the person filming is sitting on the left hand side. The driver would be on the right hand side. Must've been before Nigeria switched to left hand side driving in April of 1972.

[@Progressivemilla]

You are right :) I asked my dad who was about 14 at the time and this was filmed by his father before the switch to right traffic.

[@SimonDelucca]

@@Progressivemilla Forgive me, though, this precious film most likely taken in the 60s

[@Progressivemilla]

@@SimonDelucca Very early 70's, 71 or 72

[@damilolaayo-vaughan5610]

Please how can I get in contact with you to discuss using this for a documentary?

[@Progressivemilla]

Hello! Glad you like it. Please email me at [e-mail] and tell me what your documentary is about and then we can take it from there :)

[@damilolaayo-vaughan5610]

Camilla Westin Great, I’ll email you ASAP with all the details. Thank you very much

[@quincyileh1578]

A white lady doing documentary about my loved country ...wow ...I love Nigeria ...thank God we free from those colonialist that almost made us slaves

[@hembafantilley-gyado9168]

@@quincyileh1578 How have we fared after wards? Terrible!

[@michaeloboh9008]

@@quincyileh1578 yea but we must not let the past define the bright future ahead for us...

[@4cchansemicircle944]

Wow!!!where did they get this video??

[@Progressivemilla]

My grandfather Bertil Westin filmed this in Nigeria in the 70's :)

[@MrOnas007]

@@Progressivemilla God bless your grandfather wherever he is now.

[@ariyocreates]

@@Progressivemilla hello Camilla, please I need your consent to use this footage in my Lagos Documentary. How can I reach you via email. Thank you

[@wysefavor]

Camilla Westin God bless you.. but I weep for my country Nigeria!!!!!!!! But my console is in the Bible.. I cry 😢 our leaders are extremely corrupt!!

[@1anre]

@@Progressivemilla wonder what car he was recording from? Wouldn’t make out whether it was a Ford Thunderbird or what not.

[@maziochendu5258]

What's that music from 6:03 please

[@Joshoid]

The name of the song is Torri Wowo by Godwin Ezike & The Ambassadors.

[@maziochendu5258]

​@@Joshoid thanks bro

[@Viewer4474]

omg lunch hut

[@kingjoe5084]

See rich me cars those days

[@serendipityok6168]

Please sale Nigeria now and give me my share from the 70's.

[@TruthIsBitter9ja]

7:30 Wow, that was TINUBU WATER FOUNTAIN.

[@aoruene]

4.29 SOO REMEMBER IKOYI HOTEL PARKING LOT THE GOOD DAYS

[@lombardo8]

tex o My pops was an accountant at Ikoyi Hotel from 1974 to 1985.

[@aoruene]

scott free that is awesome the good old days ! did you happen to go to primary school in lagos ? i was in St. Saviors school Ikoyi back in the early 70' s

[@JediJide2]

ECN! NEPA'S predecessor.

[@cashino]

:-)

[@1anre]

Would you by any chance be that little girl in the blue dress with her elder brother, inspecting what looks like a grammar school?

[@Progressivemilla]

Nope that is my aunt and the boy is my dad :)

[@1anre]

@@Progressivemilla Oh my days, that’s so cool. They experienced some of the cool and swaggiest periods of being in Nigeria. I always told my Dad that if I had a time machine, I’d like to go back to the 70s and live like they used to, wear bellbottom trousers, keep my Afro & open a couple of extra buttons on my shirt while having a good time. Hope you & him have visited a couple of times of recent, to see the transformation both aesthetically & economically too.

[@ashiedususan2734]

@@Progressivemilla wow...you can keep records

[@ashiedususan2734]

@@1anre just one moment in time 😁😁

[@helenacole4530]

so sad the state and country hasnt changed much over the years , only thing that has changed is the way people dress .. now we got big boys and slay queens lol

[@adrianude5189]

Jungle

[@destinyschild.9103]

I was born 21st October, 1964. I saw the good old days of Nigeria. Nigeria should be divided now period.

[@ADE-of-LAGOS]

And then what happens after?

[@Robio_scorpio]

@@ADE-of-LAGOS it would be way better that way amalgamation is the biggest problem in Nigeria

[@stibej]

I doubt if we would've a Lagos with this low population density again. Look at how clean and less dense Marina was.

[@arvinehosa1902]

Roads was even more okay then than now na who do us ?

[@tmajec]

Who did this? The same people who decided to wait for God to exact punishment, instead of going about it themselves. With time, they lost the idea of what governance meant and how they hold one another accountable.

[@rccgconvention]

The road is quiite empty and less busy beacuse there are no street traders

[@youme1414]

No scrap vehicles on the roads then. Our leaders need to be reminded of their inabilities.

[@idongesitrobert6987]

Lagos as been been develop not today

[@augustineakiba3186]

foreigners shopping in the open,without escorts.

[@jondoe1310]

Augustine Akiba no color tv in Nigeria and why is this film not in black and white?

[@agnesjohnson2587]

@@jondoe1310 technology has changed, now any pictures or films from hundred years ago can be viewed in colours.

[@alibabasupplier4558]

The way it looks even lagos was tourist attraction for the white people. So beautiful and calm , you don’t need visa to go anywhere then

[@wysefavor]

I was born 1971...ebutte metta and surulere.....sad Sad sad why is 1970 Lagos more beautiful and cleaner than 2019 Lagos... corruption, over population , poverty and no fear of God of the Bible!

[@aghonelego2379]

1:00 Yoruba PHD In Partying. 🙂😊😜

[@youme1414]

All these streets are now littered with plastics and dirt.

[@naijanaija3686]

Tinubu really destroyed Lagos and some mumus said he built Lagos.

[@preciousezekwereonye750]

Yeah. Tinubu was the one who built Lagos and develop it even before 1970s😂😂😂

[@rgbphotomediaprod.2384]

Nigerian Leaders have no focus and lack of ability to maintain government infrastructure as a result of their greediness, nonchalant attitude, self centredness, above all, lack of love for the masses.

[@jimmyjimmy6315]

Before the Igbos started developing Lagos...We Igbos can't wait to own Lagos very soon...We are trooping to Lagos in masses...

[@gr8son494]

An agent of The destroyers of Unity, peace and progress spoted. I doubt if you're even Igbo. I am proudly one, but I think your comment reeks of sheer negatively daft exuberance. You need divine healing and rehabilitation.

[@christopherathekame2679]

@jimmy jimmy why are you causing more problem for igbo people in lagos and nigeria at large pls stop those comment and respect original lagos people.

[@jimmyjimmy6315]

@@christopherathekame2679 Which Original people?? Lagos is a no man's land......

[@rukkyolawunmi9752]

@@jimmyjimmy6315 ok we shall see Igbos are enemies of their self so you want you Igbos brothers that has suffer to invest in Lagos state to loss all their struggle

[@jimmyjimmy6315]

@@rukkyolawunmi9752 Nah we will own Lagos soon...We are buying up your land,houses and chasing y'all down from Lagos to Osun,Ogun ,Ekiti,Osun,Ondo and Oyo state etc...