In a historic moment for Nigerian fans and the global sci-fi community, the iconic British series Doctor Who is making its first-ever stop in Africa—right in the heart of Lagos.
For over six decades, the Doctor has traversed galaxies and timelines, but this Saturday’s episode marks a major milestone: the first full storyline set on the African continent, with Lagos serving as the bustling backdrop.
Among the fans eagerly awaiting the episode is Adesoji Kukoyi, a lifelong Whovian from Nigeria who fondly remembers racing to the TV whenever he heard the show’s unmistakable theme in the 1980s.
“Whatever I was doing, maybe cleaning or doing homework, when I heard the ‘oooh-oooh-oooooh,’ I dropped everything,” Kukoyi told the BBC.
Now 44, Kukoyi’s connection to the show runs deep—his phone even rings with the vintage theme music. “He [The Doctor] always spoke to me… like there’s somebody watching out for us,” he said.
The upcoming Lagos episode, teased with the words “Welcome to Lagos, Nigeria” in last week’s trailer, promises to blend local culture with time-traveling thrills. Early previews suggest scenes set in a vibrant market, a Lagos barber shop, and possibly an encounter with Anansi, the mythical West African spider god.
Ariyon Bakare, who stars in the episode as a mystical barber, hinted:
“Expect a time-bending cultural ancestral collision… and hair, lots of hair.”
The episode was written by Inua Ellams, a Nigerian-British poet and playwright, who felt it was high time the Doctor visited Africa.
“In 62 years, a character known to traverse the universe has barely spent any time in Africa,” Ellams noted. “With Ncuti Gatwa now at the helm, new stories are finally possible.”
Ncuti Gatwa, the first Black lead of African descent in the series, brings with him a new dimension that resonates with audiences worldwide—especially in Africa.
“Nigerians are loud, gregarious people,” Ellams added. “The Doctor, in his own way, is just the same—boisterous, mysterious, but always saving the day.”
Nigeria also holds a special place in Doctor Who history. In 2013, nine long-lost episodes from the 1960s were found in a Nigerian TV archive, sparking international excitement.
Yet despite the celebration, challenges remain. The show no longer airs on Nigerian terrestrial TV and is available only via Disney+, limiting access for some fans. Still, Kukoyi believes the legacy is strong and growing.
“There’s a dedicated troop of Nigerian Doctor Who lovers,” he said. “This Lagos episode might finally get my daughters to love the show like I do.”
As the TARDIS touches down in Lagos this weekend, a new chapter in Doctor Who history begins—one that might inspire a whole new generation of African fans to dream beyond time and space.
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