The City in Literature: The Image of Lagos City in Lagos Noir

Abstract

The media plays a key role in positioning places. Movies, music, magazines and books have been used to create images of various cities for both residents and visitors alike. A closer look at literary texts will reveal that cities are a common feature in literature and they play a key role in setting the tone for the character and other elements in the text. Lagos city has been featured in numerous literary works and it is important to examine the representations of the city, to understand how it can impact the positioning of the city in the minds of readers and prospective visitors. This study examines the portrayal of Lagos city in literature by analysing three stories in the fictional collection, Lagos Noir. Leveraging the city brand hexagon model, the various themes observed in these stories were examined using the content analysis method. Findings from this research show that the representation of Lagos in Lagos Noir is based on the socio-economic realities in the city and Nigeria in general. Since literature is mostly a reflection of existing elements of the city, the onus lies on the city administrators to ensure that the socio-economic and infrastructural facilities remain attractive to all its stakeholders, including the literary community.

Keywords: Lagos city, Lagos Noir, City Branding, Place Branding

DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/59-01

Publication date:October 31^st 2021