Epe Town: Livelihoods by the Lagos Lagoon

Thanks to the men and women who fish for a living in Epe, this small town is unique and epitomises Lagos as a water-front city.

Monument At The Entrance of Epe (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Welcome to Epe, the largest home of fish in Lagos and, arguably, Nigeria

Epe is a town and Local Government Area (LGA) in Lagos State, Nigeria, located on the north side of the Lekki Lagoon. It is a Yoruba town located next to the Lagos lagoon with 294 rural and 24 semi-urban communities. Epe is known for its fish market which feeds off the hard work of those men and women whose lives depend on the lagoon – and the fish inside it.

People riding in a canoe (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

The water-front town

Epe lies on the north bank of the coastal Lagos lagoon and is a collecting point for the export of fish. It is no surprise then that fishing is the major occupation of its locals, including men, women and children.

Woman beside Lagos lagoon (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Surveying the lagoon

The lagoon is over 50 km long and varies from 3 km to 13 km wide. Thus, its banks can be mostly seen from either side. It is fairly shallow and is not plied by ships but by smaller barges and boats. This makes it possible for subsistence fishing to be carried out in it.

A View of Epe Fish Market (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Woman Cleaning Out Her Boat (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Everyone fishes

Both men and women engage in fishing. While more men than women go deep offshore to catch fish, the women also have their fair share of deep fishing activity.

Boy submerged in water (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Livelihood and leisure

The lagoon is both a source of livelihood and leisure. Children bathe and swim close to the shore. Shrimps and other small fish are caught there too.

Back view of Epe fish market (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Fisherman fishing in Epe Waters (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Catching fish among the lilies

For some fishermen, it is sufficient to remain close to the shore where the water lilies fill the surface. These are known as private fishing areas.

Fisherman and his tool (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Simple tools for simple fish

Beneath the water plants are small fish which can be caught using simpler fishing tools than dragnets.

Man showing fish caught (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Epe Private Fishing Area (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Woman fishing for crayfish (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Setting fish traps

For those who don't go deep offshore, traps can be prepared for catching smaller fish like shrimps and crayfish. This woman set off with her boat to to pick up the fish traps she had planted at different points in the lagoon.

Woman preparing crayfish baskets (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Placing baskets into the water (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Pulling the trap from the water

The traps are made with thin strips of wood which are tied together at one end. When the fish find their way into the trap, they are unable to get out and remain there until the trap is retrieved.

Woman crayfish trader (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

All smiles after the day's job

Whether they're catching fish in the deep, by the shore or in private fishing areas, the people of Epe earn their livelihood on the lagoon. Fishing is life, and there's always a reason to be happy about it.

Ready to sail (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Getting set for the deep

Beyond the private fishing area demarcated by bamboo sticks is the wider body of Lagoon water. Fishermen, often stripped for work, go there with their boats and dragnets to catch larger fish.

Man rowing canoe (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Man working on fishing nets (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Preparing the fishing net

The fisherman goes into the deep portion of the lagoon with his boat and net. The fishing nets are made of mesh usually formed by knotting a relatively thin thread. The size of the net could vary up to about four meters in diameter.

Fishing net floaters (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Man casting fishing net over waters (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Man Setting His Fishing Net (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Casting the net

Weights are attached to the net so that they float on the surface and are seen by the fisherman. The net is thrown by hand in such a manner that it spreads out on the water and sinks. Fish are caught as the net is hauled back in.

Fish in a basket (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Fishing Baskets Hung On The Bridge Rails (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Baskets with a purpose

On the shore, baskets are hung on the rails of the bridge behind the market where the lagoon meets with traders. The baskets serve various purposes: for catching fish, for buying fish from local fishermen and for preserving fish for sale.

Demarcated area of Epe fish market (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Fish Preserved In A Basket To Be Sold (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Keeping the fish alive

For some of the women traders, the baskets are used to keep captured fish alive by submerging the baskets, with the fish in them, halfway into the water. That way, the fish do not escape.

Selecting Fish From The Basket (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Fresh fish

When the fish are ready to be sold, the traders (usually women) remove the baskets from the water and take out the fish which, at this stage, are still fresh.

Fresh fish (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

Ready for the market

Some of the fish caught are taken to the home of the fisherman or woman, but most are sold in the market either as fresh fish or as grilled fish that can be roasted.

Fishing neighborhood in Epe market (2019) by The Centenary ProjectThe Centenary Project

The heart and soul of Epe fish market

The fishing community is the heart and soul of Epe fish market. Skilled fishermen and women pass on their skills to the next generation, keeping the tradition and expertise alive.

Credits: Story

Curator: Patrick Enaholo
Research: Omotunde Omojola
Photographs: Chris Udoh
Text: Patrick Enaholo
Text editor: Munachim Amah

Special thanks to:
The men and women of Epe fish market community

© The Centenary Project

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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