Femke van Zeijl
@femkevanzeijl.bsky.social
Dutch #journalist /writer/photographer based in #Lagos, #Nigeria. 4th book, Do-It-Yourself Society: on life in Lagos to be published in Nigeria in 2026. https://www.fvz-journaliste.nl/?lang=en
It took me 13 years to discover the terrace with the best view in Lagos. Unfortunately, it is members only, or by invite from a member. Now contemplating if befriending yaught club members for G&T with a view would be too elitist a move for an anti-capitalist against privatisation of public spaces.
July 28, 2025 at 7:59 AM
It took me 13 years to discover the terrace with the best view in Lagos. Unfortunately, it is members only, or by invite from a member. Now contemplating if befriending yaught club members for G&T with a view would be too elitist a move for an anti-capitalist against privatisation of public spaces.
Relooted - or rather, taking back what's yours- a new video game in which "a crew of Robin Hood-esque thieves staging elaborate heists to take back stolen artifacts from Western museums, and repatriate them to the peoples from whom they were taken." | via @artnews www.artnews.com/art-news/new...
June 27, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Relooted - or rather, taking back what's yours- a new video game in which "a crew of Robin Hood-esque thieves staging elaborate heists to take back stolen artifacts from Western museums, and repatriate them to the peoples from whom they were taken." | via @artnews www.artnews.com/art-news/new...
My favourite Nigerian doctor cum writer @ikeanya.bsky.social about his lovely non fiction book Small by Small, interviewed in The Republic: "I wanted to bear witness to life in 1990s Nigeria." rpublc.com/april-may-20...
May 5, 2025 at 1:52 PM
My favourite Nigerian doctor cum writer @ikeanya.bsky.social about his lovely non fiction book Small by Small, interviewed in The Republic: "I wanted to bear witness to life in 1990s Nigeria." rpublc.com/april-may-20...
Just a quick search for me and my husband's names: bingo. The scale is mind-blowing...
March 21, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Just a quick search for me and my husband's names: bingo. The scale is mind-blowing...
Barely used, these four 'magic' markers are dried out and ready for the bin. Happens all the time here in Lagos. Abeg, does anyone have the secret for prolonged use of these things in the tropics? Should I store them in de fridge or something? I hate throwing all that plastic away...
February 24, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Barely used, these four 'magic' markers are dried out and ready for the bin. Happens all the time here in Lagos. Abeg, does anyone have the secret for prolonged use of these things in the tropics? Should I store them in de fridge or something? I hate throwing all that plastic away...
I don't see a lot of European media doing a much better job at taking the threats to democracy seriously, by the way. Anyway. S¹unday morning rant, let me now water the garden.
February 16, 2025 at 9:42 AM
I don't see a lot of European media doing a much better job at taking the threats to democracy seriously, by the way. Anyway. S¹unday morning rant, let me now water the garden.
Me reporting today for @nrcnl.bsky.social at Igando Market in Lagos, working with a new photographer who surprised me by sending me this picture after we rounded up. Photo credit: Jean Fidéle www.instagram.com/jean__fidele...
February 14, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Me reporting today for @nrcnl.bsky.social at Igando Market in Lagos, working with a new photographer who surprised me by sending me this picture after we rounded up. Photo credit: Jean Fidéle www.instagram.com/jean__fidele...
If you see this, quote with flowers from your gallery. #bloomscrolling (These spider lilies bloomed for about 2 weeks and during that time scented up the entire garden - even managed to mask generator fumes)
January 26, 2025 at 10:15 AM
If you see this, quote with flowers from your gallery. #bloomscrolling (These spider lilies bloomed for about 2 weeks and during that time scented up the entire garden - even managed to mask generator fumes)
Born exactly a century ago, he was one of the first to have an eye for the psychological consequences of colonialism. The Caribbean psychiatrist and thinker Frantz Fanon didn't live past 36, but inspired many freedom fighters with his analyses. My profile @oneworld.nl www.oneworld.nl/mensenrechte...
January 12, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Born exactly a century ago, he was one of the first to have an eye for the psychological consequences of colonialism. The Caribbean psychiatrist and thinker Frantz Fanon didn't live past 36, but inspired many freedom fighters with his analyses. My profile @oneworld.nl www.oneworld.nl/mensenrechte...
The akara lady down the road had to double the price of her akara (because the naira), couldn't go home for the holidays (because insecurity), but she did dash me two because of Christmas. Small - and delicious - mercies. #Lagos
December 30, 2024 at 7:58 AM
The akara lady down the road had to double the price of her akara (because the naira), couldn't go home for the holidays (because insecurity), but she did dash me two because of Christmas. Small - and delicious - mercies. #Lagos
It does remind me of a visit to my Brabant village of Berkel-Enschot in the Netherlands two years ago when I was cycling down a bicycle lane close to my parental house and came across this billboard for a Burna Boy concert. A global village indeed.
December 26, 2024 at 2:19 PM
It does remind me of a visit to my Brabant village of Berkel-Enschot in the Netherlands two years ago when I was cycling down a bicycle lane close to my parental house and came across this billboard for a Burna Boy concert. A global village indeed.
The past week a Dutch movie staged in Flandres and the Southern province of Brabant where I was born and raised has been in the top 10 of most watched movies in Nigeria. I wonder what impression Nigerians will get from my village, listening to Frank Lammers' Brabant accent connected to xtc and coke.
December 26, 2024 at 2:15 PM
The past week a Dutch movie staged in Flandres and the Southern province of Brabant where I was born and raised has been in the top 10 of most watched movies in Nigeria. I wonder what impression Nigerians will get from my village, listening to Frank Lammers' Brabant accent connected to xtc and coke.
My Dutch colleague Olivier van Beemen visits Nigeria to talk about his book Heineken in Africa: The Dark side of Heineken's African Beer Empire. In Lagos at Roving Heights VI on Nov 22nd from 5PM, and in Abuja at Roving Heights Garki on the 23rd from 5PM. Btw, he's a great guy to have a beer with.
November 18, 2024 at 2:11 PM
My Dutch colleague Olivier van Beemen visits Nigeria to talk about his book Heineken in Africa: The Dark side of Heineken's African Beer Empire. In Lagos at Roving Heights VI on Nov 22nd from 5PM, and in Abuja at Roving Heights Garki on the 23rd from 5PM. Btw, he's a great guy to have a beer with.
Found this hairy little creature enjoying my basil... But I forgave it because eventually it will turn into a marvellous citrus swallowtail butterfly. #liveandletlive #garden #Lagos #Nigeria
August 28, 2024 at 8:51 AM
Found this hairy little creature enjoying my basil... But I forgave it because eventually it will turn into a marvellous citrus swallowtail butterfly. #liveandletlive #garden #Lagos #Nigeria
Uncle Tam was remembered on Friday in #Lagos' #FreedomPark. "Stubborn as a mule", "an incredibly generous colleague", "an independent spirit till the end" were ways people described him. They say when an old person dies, a library disappears. In Uncle Tam's case, that library was also audio-visual.
August 19, 2024 at 12:48 PM
Uncle Tam was remembered on Friday in #Lagos' #FreedomPark. "Stubborn as a mule", "an incredibly generous colleague", "an independent spirit till the end" were ways people described him. They say when an old person dies, a library disappears. In Uncle Tam's case, that library was also audio-visual.
Now in bookshops in the Netherlands: my fourth book. Do-It-Yourself Society, about Life in Lagos. #doehetzelfmaatschappij #DIYsociety #nonfiction boekenwereld.com/femke-van-ze...
August 16, 2024 at 11:15 AM
Now in bookshops in the Netherlands: my fourth book. Do-It-Yourself Society, about Life in Lagos. #doehetzelfmaatschappij #DIYsociety #nonfiction boekenwereld.com/femke-van-ze...
'Everytin don cost for dis #Nigeria o', the ambulant vegetable seller apologised as he charged me 50% more for his tomatoes than last week. He can't help it and it is all around: every time I go shopping, prices of essentials like bread, drinking water and rice have gone up again. #inflation #naira
February 22, 2024 at 11:22 AM
'Everytin don cost for dis #Nigeria o', the ambulant vegetable seller apologised as he charged me 50% more for his tomatoes than last week. He can't help it and it is all around: every time I go shopping, prices of essentials like bread, drinking water and rice have gone up again. #inflation #naira
'Read Your Way Through #Lagos', the list of books that according to novelist Stephen Buoro make sense of the megacity of extremes. Number 1 under books that take you behind closed doors comes warmly recommended by me. But I might be biased. www.nytimes.com/2024/02/07/b...
February 22, 2024 at 11:12 AM
'Read Your Way Through #Lagos', the list of books that according to novelist Stephen Buoro make sense of the megacity of extremes. Number 1 under books that take you behind closed doors comes warmly recommended by me. But I might be biased. www.nytimes.com/2024/02/07/b...
Now in bookshops in the Netherlands: my fourth book. Do-It-Yourself Society, about life in Lagos. #doehetzelfmaatschappij #DIYsociety
www.boekenwereld.com/femke-van-ze...
www.boekenwereld.com/femke-van-ze...
February 22, 2024 at 10:32 AM
Now in bookshops in the Netherlands: my fourth book. Do-It-Yourself Society, about life in Lagos. #doehetzelfmaatschappij #DIYsociety
www.boekenwereld.com/femke-van-ze...
www.boekenwereld.com/femke-van-ze...