Epe

Epe stands on the northern shore of the Lekki lagoon, and its fish market is the reason most visitors make the drive: canoes come in through the morning and the catch is sold on the waterfront, tilapia, catfish, crayfish, prawns and bushmeat alongside, with buyers coming out from Lagos to buy in bulk at prices well below the city. Smoked and dried fish is sold in quantity. The town has a history as a Yoruba lagoon port and was where the exiled Oba Kosoko of Lagos settled in the 1850s. The lagoon behind it is used for boat trips and fishing, and the Epe road passes the Lekki conservation centre on the way out.

History

Before it was called Epe the place was known as Igbo Obo, "forest of monkeys", and tradition says it was settled by a hunter from Ijebu named Uraka; the name comes from Oko-Eepe, "forest of black ants", in the 15th century. In 1851 Kosoko, the Yoruba king ousted from Lagos, settled here (Wikipedia, Epe, Lagos State).

What you'll find

• The fish market - the catch sold on the waterfront from the canoes.
• Smoked and dried fish - the preserved trade sold in bulk.
• The lagoon - the water and canoes behind the town.
• The waterfront - the working landing where boats come in.

When to go

November to March in the dry season. Early morning is when the canoes land and the market is at its fullest; by the afternoon much is over. Weekends bring buyers from Lagos and heavy traffic on the expressway.

What to expect

The market is crowded, wet and strongly smelling, as working fish markets are. Bushmeat is sold openly, which some visitors will not want to see. Traffic on the Lekki-Epe expressway makes journey times unpredictable. Photography should be asked before taking.

Nearby

Lekki conservation centre lies west; Lagos is beyond it.

Key facts