Naija Tourism, Culture and Games #Lagos Monopoly

This series shall feature games that someway and somehow have something to do with culture and tourism in Nigeria, and we’re starting with the new Lagos Monopoly game.

The Lagos edition of the Monopoly game hit Nigeria’s socio-cultural milieu with a bang last year December; and despite the fast-paced and busy life of Lagosians, which allows the people little or no time for such time-consuming board games, the demand for the new board kept soaring. We can only pray that the ‘Aba’ version will not infiltrate the market soon.

Many individuals, families and groups of friends can be seen in public places around town flashing their copies of the game. Even Social Media Week Lagos featured a Lagos Monopoly competition (hosted by Lost in Lagos) where the winner got N50,000 cash prize and a monopoly board. The fame of the new edition of the game is gradually spreading like wildfire.

I got my own copy of the Lagos monopoly some days after the launch. It was a Christmas gift from an awesome friend. As I opened the box and brought out the board and the accompanying pamphlets, a surge of nostalgia swept over me. I remembered good childhood days when my neighbours often came to my house on weekends to play the monopoly game with my brothers and I. We had great moments together. I remember how my elder brother and I used to secretly steal money from the monopoly bank when we’re about to go bankrupt so as to avoid the shame of losing and getting ridiculed/booed at by our opponents. I laughed silently as I shook my head in pity of our cunning ways and antics back in the days.

On opening the board and spreading it wide on my bed, something on the board caught my eyes immediately. It’s the magnificent photo of the Lagos Island waterfront at sunrise. The lights from the buildings glowed in golden tones as a hundred beautifully-poised skyscrapers towered across the skyline and the Apapa creek waters sprawling in a soothing navy-blue gradient across the foreground. The base of the picture was then feathered into the picture of the Lagos Civic Centre and Five Cowrie Creek at dusk. I uncontrollably fell in love with the board, and swept my eyes through the various landing sites on the board. The ones that interested me most were Banana Island -because it is the most  expensive property on the board, Ilashe Beach– because it’s on my list of “must-visit” Island-getaways in Lagos; the Lagos Yacht Club- because of the amazing patterns and colourful arrays formed by the spear-shaped sails of the yachts as they drift graciously on the wavy Apapa waters;  and Makoko- because it’s the cheapest, yet most inspiring and thought-invoking site on the board.

The Lagos Monopoly game unconsciously builds and enriches our knowledge of Lagos as well as emphasises the worth of its various location segments. It appraises the high-brow areas, and simultaneously reminds us of the areas that needs more protection and development. The more you play the Lagos monopoly, the more you’ll fall in love with this beautiful city and will want to explore its length and breadth.

– The Lagos Monopoly pack.

– The card rack.

– “Chance!!”

– A landing site you don’t wanna be! loll

– Family playing the Lagos Monopoly over drinks at Terra Kulture, Lagos.

– Winner (in green) of Lagos Monopoly game competition held during Social Media Week Lagos, hosted by Lost in Lagos.

Favourite landing sites on the Lagos Monopoly board:

– “Ilashe beach… because it’s on my list of island getaways in Lagos I want to visit…” (Picture source: www.casailashe.com)

– Ilashe Beach. (Picture source: www.casailashe.com)

– Yachts docked at the Lagos Yacht club.

– “…the amazing patterns and colourful arrays formed by the spear-shaped sails of the yachts as they drift graciously on the wavy Apapa waters…”

– “Makoko… because it’s the cheapest, yet most inspiring and thought-invoking site on the board.”  (Picture source: www.localyte.com)

– “Banana Island -because it is the most  expensive property on the board.”

– Banana Island, Ikoyi. (Picture source: www.business-travel-nigeria.com)

Board Game, Game, Lagos Monopoly, Monopoly Game