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The Nigerian wristwatch repairer lost in time in Kaduna

BBC
Summary
Nutrition label

79% Informative

Baba Bala Muhammad's watch-repair shop in Kaduna , Nigeria , has been closed for years .

He worries that his skills - taught to him and his brother by their father - will die out.

The 68-year-old blames mobile phones and technology for the decline in his trade.

His father would travel all over West Africa for six months at a time fixing timepieces.

Baba Bala returned from Abuja to Kaduna to set up his shop about 20 years ago .

He says he considers himself a doctor for sick wristwatches - plus he is not getting any younger.

His tight-knit family remain loyal to his profession - his wife and all his five children wear watches.

VR Score

78

Informative language

75

Neutral language

51

Article tone

informal

Language

English

Language complexity

37

Offensive language

not offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

medium-lived

Affiliate links

no affiliate links