Every year, thousands travel to take part in Nigeria’s legendary party scene. One company is as passionate about nightlife as it is about safety and respect.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Lagos, Nigeria is famous for its nightlife.
00:03During the festive season, people come from all over to just party.
00:07But how can you explore the clubs, bars and dance floors safely?
00:10Hi, my name is Uzo Ume. I'm the co-founder of EXP Lagos.
00:14Welcome to First Friday!
00:17Every four weeks, Uzo Ume takes around 40 people on a party ride through Lagos.
00:24Welcome to the last First Friday of 2024!
00:28The music is loud, the colours are bright and the dancing is dynamite.
00:33But Uzo Ume still manages to make safety a top priority on every party tour.
00:40As a woman, going out in Lagos every year progressively gets a little bit worse.
00:45Because of the safety elements of it.
00:46We want to make sure that people come to a space and they're around people who respect them,
00:51who have love for them and who show them dignity.
00:54The tour introduces party goers to Lagos' vibe.
00:57Cramped danfo buses, low lighting and strong spirits.
01:03Look at Lagos. On a Friday night you see so many cars moving around.
01:07There's always traffic on Friday.
01:09So instead of getting 40 people to drive around in 10 cars,
01:12we're getting 40 people to drive around in 2 buses.
01:15The bus rides are cheap and open to all.
01:18Uzo usually takes her crowd to a variety of popular clubs and dance halls.
01:22But she always starts at a bespoke address.
01:25If, for example, you came to Mimou House today,
01:27you would have entered a danfo bus for the first time,
01:30you would have come to a speakeasy for the first time
01:33and you would also be trying Palm Spirits, Koko Goro, for the first time.
01:37The party bus comes with lots of positives.
01:40A great group dynamic, a support system and a way to separate safe venues from sketchy ones.
01:45Massive pluses in a country where 1 in 3 women have experienced physical violence
01:50and at least 70% of professional women report experiencing sexual harassment.
01:57What makes this experience so unique is the inclusivity.
02:01EXP is a place where we have a hashtag that says no for me.
02:05Come as you are, be whoever you are and we don't judge you.
02:09Anyone can board Uzo's bus.
02:11And we do mean anyone.
02:13As long as they're up for a great night out.
02:17Men, they, them, she, he, we don't care who you are.
02:21Come out here and you will feel welcome and we will make sure that your experience is safe.
02:27We make sure that you don't feel uncomfortable and no one makes you feel uncomfortable.
02:31Lagos is not generally the safest city, but I felt really safe.
02:35Everybody was really well behaved, even though me and my female friends, we came on our own.
02:40So there was no harassment, there was no disturbance.
02:43We were even protected, you know.
02:44I feel safe on the bus.
02:45There was no, like, incident with police or one chance or any of Lagos' regular stewards.
02:51So, yes.
02:52When you get to Trinidad Fort, being with people there, everybody's shouting.
02:59Judging by the faces of the people on this party bus, this seems to be the perfect night out.
03:04EXP Lagos has hit the right groove.
03:07An inclusive space for a hot night out on the town.
03:12And in the early morning hours, before everyone says goodbye, Uzo Ume has one final request.
03:18First time in Lagos, already in Lagos.
03:20See you soon.
03:21We can't wait to have you on the bus.