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Kuwait Times
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Nigeria theme park offers escape from biting economy
Guests poured in through an entry gate on the ground floor of a castle. Inside, vendors dressed as medieval court jesters sold balloons. At Magicland, a privately owned theme park in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, the country's recurrent crises -- from galloping inflation to armed insurgencies -- fade into the background, at least for one afternoon. Nigeria's fragile middle class has been battered by two years of soaring prices amid the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. At Magicland, one content creator from Borno state -- where international headlines typically center on jihadist attacks -- filmed TikTok dances as a brightly colored big wheel towered behind her. Others took to the carnival rides, including 26-year-old public health worker Mary Adeleke, who said she'd once been an adventurous person. 'But as I grew up, with how the country's structured and all the struggles, I lost that part of me,' she said, adding she was on a quest to regain it, one roller coaster at a time. Children hold inflatable guitars at Magic Land amusement park in Abuja. A balloon vendor walks through Magic Land amusement park in Abuja. A content creator dances under a heart-shaped floral archway at Magic Land amusement park in Abuja. Visitors carrying balloons walk at Magic Land in Abuja. Park visitors ride a chair swing ride at Magic Land in Abuja. A park visitor walks past metal sculptures shaped like musicians at Magic Land in Abuja. Amusement park visitors react as they ride a bird shaped carousel at Magic Land. A ride operator waits for guests at the Ferris wheel at Magic Land amusement park. Children exit an attraction at Magic Land amusement park. Visitors sit in front of a swing ride at Magic Land amusement park. A visitor holds a child while riding an attraction at Magic Land amusement park. A child rides a mini truck on a track next to animal sculptures at Magic Land amusement park. A child picks a balloon from a vendor at Magic Land amusement park. A ride operator waits for passengers inside a ride at Magic Land amusement park. A general view of the carousel at Magic Land amusement park. Visitors sit on a spinning ride at Magic Land amusement park. A family sit on a caterpillar shaped ride at Magic Land amusement park. Visitors cycle on a ride at Magic Land amusement park. A park visitor reacts as she sits on a chair swing ride at Magic Land. Park visitors ride a carousel at Magic Land. The west African nation is, by some metrics, a success story: a tech powerhouse, a major exporter of global cultural staples like Afrobeats, and the continent's leading oil producer. But rampant inflation, a cost of living crisis and continued insecurity have proven hard for much of the country's 228 million people. Walking out of a swinging pendulum ride, Victor Bamidele, 28, offered a review. 'I thought it was something that would take my soul out of my body,' the medical device supplier said in typically colorful Nigerian English. 'But it definitely did not,' he added. 'It was quite enjoyable.' Victoria Friday drove 30 minutes from Nasarawa state. She paid the 1,500 naira ($1) entry fee, but seemed less keen on buying ride tickets. In a move relatable to budget-conscious young people the world over, the 20-year-old stylist said she 'just came to snap my friend' -- taking photos for social media among the colorful backgrounds. 'Our prices are still very low,' said park manager Paul Oko. 'Those who don't earn much can still come,' he added, though he admitted the number of visitors has declined.—AFP
France 24
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- France 24
Nigeria theme park offers escape from biting economy
At Magicland, a privately owned theme park in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, the country's recurrent crises -- from galloping inflation to armed insurgencies -- fade into the background, at least for one afternoon. Nigeria's fragile middle class has been battered by two years of soaring prices amid the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. At Magicland, one content creator from Borno state -- where international headlines typically centre on jihadist attacks -- filmed TikTok dances as a brightly coloured big wheel towered behind her. Others took to the carnival rides, including 26-year-old public health worker Mary Adeleke, who said she'd once been an adventurous person. "But as I grew up, with how the country's structured and all the struggles, I lost that part of me," she said, adding she was on a quest to regain it, one roller coaster at a time. The west African nation is, by some metrics, a success story: a tech powerhouse, a major exporter of global cultural staples like Afrobeats, and the continent's leading oil producer. But rampant inflation, a cost of living crisis and continued insecurity have proven hard for much of the country's 228 million people. Walking out of a swinging pendulum ride, Victor Bamidele, 28, offered a review. "I thought it was something that would take my soul out of my body," the medical device supplier said in typically colourful Nigerian English. "But it definitely did not," he added. "It was quite enjoyable." Victoria Friday drove 30 minutes from Nasarawa state. She paid the 1,500 naira ($1) entry fee, but seemed less keen on buying ride tickets. In a move relatable to budget-conscious young people the world over, the 20-year-old stylist said she "just came to snap my friend" -- taking photos for social media among the colourful backgrounds. "Our prices are still very low," said park manager Paul Oko. © 2025 AFP
Int'l Business Times
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Int'l Business Times
Nigeria Theme Park Offers Escape From Biting Economy
Guests poured in through an entry gate on the ground floor of a castle. Inside, vendors dressed as medieval court jesters sold balloons. At Magicland, a privately owned theme park in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, the country's recurrent crises -- from galloping inflation to armed insurgencies -- fade into the background, at least for one afternoon. Nigeria's fragile middle class has been battered by two years of soaring prices amid the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. At Magicland, one content creator from Borno state -- where international headlines typically centre on jihadist attacks -- filmed TikTok dances as a brightly coloured big wheel towered behind her. Others took to the carnival rides, including 26-year-old public health worker Mary Adeleke, who said she'd once been an adventurous person. "But as I grew up, with how the country's structured and all the struggles, I lost that part of me," she said, adding she was on a quest to regain it, one roller coaster at a time. The west African nation is, by some metrics, a success story: a tech powerhouse, a major exporter of global cultural staples like Afrobeats, and the continent's leading oil producer. But rampant inflation, a cost of living crisis and continued insecurity have proven hard for much of the country's 228 million people. Walking out of a swinging pendulum ride, Victor Bamidele, 28, offered a review. "I thought it was something that would take my soul out of my body," the medical device supplier said in typically colourful Nigerian English. "But it definitely did not," he added. "It was quite enjoyable." Victoria Friday drove 30 minutes from Nasarawa state. She paid the 1,500 naira ($1) entry fee, but seemed less keen on buying ride tickets. In a move relatable to budget-conscious young people the world over, the 20-year-old stylist said she "just came to snap my friend" -- taking photos for social media among the colourful backgrounds. "Our prices are still very low," said park manager Paul Oko. "Those who don't earn much can still come," he added, though he admitted the number of visitors has declined. Magicland is an escape from daily frustrations for the Nigerian middle class, battered by an economic crisis, but still alive AFP Numbers of visitors to the park have 'reduced' because of the economic crisis AFP Oil-rich Nigeria has long struggled to spread the wealth and now its small middle class is faced with brutal inflation AFP
