The story of the Nigerian railway started in the second half of the 19th century. For decades, it served as a backbone for the country’s development. Markets and settlements developed along the railway tracks, both in Lagos and the rest of Nigeria. Nowadays, the railway has lost its economic relevance, although the infrastructure still remains.
The Running Shed at the Ebute-Metta railway compound is a living reminder of the past, as it shelters old trains and wagons that were once actively serving the Nigerian railway. One of the trains that has no carriage on top provides a space for an open platform, whose purpose is to provide insight into the railway heritage that is still present in Lagos and Nigeria. 12 maps, printed on fabric, which represent various time periods and on three different scales, are suspended on a string over the platform, while the floor is equipped with a long, continuous bench that becomes a shared stage for community use. Hopefully one day, this platform and the story it tells will be put on tracks moving all through the routes of Nigeria.
