In the heart of Nigeria, Makoko comes alive as a vibrant spectacle unfolds over its waters—an extraordinary procession of puppet animals gliding into the sprawling floating slum on the Lagos lagoon. A collection of vivid cardboard animal puppets including a gorilla, leopard, elephant, wildebeest, giraffe, and donkey sets sail, each marvelously animated by puppeteers clad in black. Once on the water, the animals spring to life in a fascinating display: the gorilla hoots, the donkey brays, while the leopard dips its neck, pretending to drink from the lagoon’s surface before curiously taking in its surroundings.
This unique event is part of “The Herds,” a global theatre tour focusing on raising awareness about the climate crisis. Originating in Kinshasa, Congo, the tour casts a spotlight on the urgent need to reconnect with nature by journeying over 20,000 kilometers from Africa’s Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle. After the stop in Lagos, the Senegalese capital of Dakar hosts the next chapter of this eco-conscious expedition. As the narrative unfolds, it paints a picture of animals being displaced northward from their natural habitats due to the impact of global warming, collecting new companions along the way.
The slum of Makoko, with its historical resilience to climate challenges, serves as an apt backdrop for this narrative. Known as the Venice of Africa, this community has adeptly adapted to frequent flooding and shifting sea levels, emblematic of a broader spirit of endurance seen across the global south. “We are on the edge of the greatest global crises, and this region has immense resilience and wisdom to offer,” articulated Amir Nizar Zuabi, the artistic director of “The Herds,” as he emphasized the critical role of the Southern Hemisphere in the climate discourse.
As the spectacle unfolded beneath Lagos’ Third Mainland Bridge, the streets reverberated with awe and curiosity. Residents peeked out from windows, children and women gathered on their makeshift porches, eyes wide with wonder at the surreal sight of these mythical creatures navigating the maze-like waterways. Among the captivated audience was Samuel Shemede, a young Makoko local, who expressed his amazement, “It looked so real. I had never witnessed anything like that before.”
The show did not stop as it moved from Makoko to the busy streets of Yaba, where crowds were enthralled by the puppet parade high above the cacophony of Lagos traffic. Joining the larger animals, smaller primates playfully leaped and danced, adding an animated layer of excitement. Local performers, wrapped in sackcloth and straw hats, interjected the parade with powerful choreographed nosiness that mimicked confrontation with the puppet animals.
Throughout the journey, soulful Hausa language chants echoed through the streets, translating loosely to “We have started,” capturing the sense of urgency. Amid the backdrop of African economies losing up to 5% of their GDP annually due to climate impacts, “The Herds” strives to translate complex climate science into an accessible human story. “Scientific terms often elude ordinary understanding,” Zuabi noted, “I wanted to weave a tale of beauty and primal wonder, one that exposes the reality of what we stand to lose.”
The symbolic passage of these giant animals through urban landscapes serves as a stark metaphor for the abnormal becoming commonplace in the era of climate change. As the world grapples with an escalating crisis, “The Herds” seeks to ignite dialogue about the irreversible loss faced if humanity continues its relentless consumption of fossil fuels.