For a historical overview I would recommend “Lagos: A Cultural History” by Kaye Whiteman. It traces the city’s history from the arrival of Portuguese explorers in 1472 to the British takeover in 1861 and the present. It takes us through the topography of Lagos (the island-mainland dichotomy), the streets and their stories, the city’s nightlife and its film, music, art and literary scenes.

Which books should I bring with me?

Almost Cole’s novel “Every day is for the thief” is designed like a travel report. The nameless narrator has just returned to Lagos from New York after 15 years. He wanders around the city and thinks about it confused Buses, internet scammers, local boys, police officers, music venues and the like. He characterizes the body language of Lagos residents as one of “unadulterated confidence,” whose facial expressions proclaim, “Trust me, you don’t want to mess with me,” all to counteract the local boys. You will find Lagos at its best (its people are warm, stoic, extremely creative) and at its worst (street lynching). There is a sense of decay throughout the narrative, reflecting the feeling of the entire nation. In a poignant episode, the narrator visits the Nigerian National Museum in the Onikan district and finds the exhibitions sparse, the sculptures and memorial plaques “crusted with dust” and “severely moldy.”

Chris Abanis Postmodernism “GraceLand” is set primarily in 1980s Lagos in the swampy slums of Morocco. Elvis, 16, is a high school dropout. He aspires to become a professional dancer. At first he tries to survive by posing as Elvis Presley to white expatriates, wearing a wig and dousing his face with talcum powder. His friend Redemption leads him into crime, with devastating consequences. The novel is sometimes brutal and horrific, but also tender and hopeful in its depiction of deprivation, dictatorship and disillusionment. Additionally, the pastiche narrative includes references to Igbo philosophy and recipes for delicious Nigerian dishes.

Unlike Abani’s Elvis, Enitan is the protagonist of Sefi Atta “Everything good will come,” grows up in the middle class. Born in 1960 Year Nigeria gained its independenceEnitan’s transition to womanhood takes place against the backdrop of the Nigerian civil war, military juntas, and widespread corruption. Despite her privileged position (she works as a lawyer and later as a banker), she struggles to navigate her patriarchal society, the recurring sexism she suffers (even from her father), and the trauma of a friend’s rape. The poignant narrative offers feminist solutions to a troubled nation.

You should definitely try it in Lagos Nigerian food. The classic Nigerian Jollof? The aromatic Suya or Moin-Moin? Whatever your appetite is, “Longthroat Memoirs: Soups, Sex and Nigerian Tastebuds” from Yemisi Aribisala, is built for that. Part memoir, part cookbook, and part epicurean treatise, this fascinating collection of essays uses Nigerian cuisine as a framework for analyzing Nigerian society, culture, and folklore. Important themes include the urban-rural divide, the conflict between tradition and modernity, and the ethics underlying the consumption of controversial foods such as dog meat. Aribisala’s prose is energetic, deft, and a joy to read. The book complements Abani’s recipes “Grace Land.”