In the Nigerian metropolis of Lagos, motorcycle taxi drivers, or okada drivers, contend with harassment, chaotic streets, and gnarly accidents. But without them, the city of 20 million would grind to a halt. For the Proof in this month’s issue, photographer and National Geographic Explorer Victor Adewale captured their world. 

Adewale was born and raised in Lagos. His father, who rode okadas for 25 years, used the same bike to take the family to church and the market, and to drop off Adewale and his brother at school. His whole family rode on the back of the motorcycle, which was a marker of lower social class. At the time, he felt ashamed and would get off the okada a short distance from school so his classmates wouldn’t see him. But that shame has now evolved into pride as Adewale has watched the riders navigate these new challenges: “They refuse to be erased from the city.” 

This picture shows armored plates on the spectacularly complete fossil of an ankylosaur named Borealopelta markmitchelli. The lighter bands represent more flexible tissue between this dinosaur’s tough defensive exterior. Discovered in 2011 at an oil sands mine in the Canadian state of Alberta, the fossil bears a crack from the impact of a tractor shovel. Thankfully, it was rescued from the mining machinery before more damage occurred. The incredible image is part of a collection of the most striking examples of dinosaur fossils from the National Geographic archives.

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter, which was edited and curated by William O'Connor with the help of National Geographic’s photo team. It was produced by Amanda Petty. Did someone forward this to you? Sign up here to catch next week’s Photo of the Week newsletter.