In brief
Baba Bala, a 68-year-old watch-repair artisan in Kaduna, Nigeria, expresses sorrow over the decline of his craft amidst rising smartphone usage that has nearly eradicated the demand for wristwatch repairs. Once a bustling hub for watch repairs, his small shop now echoes with silence, with some days yielding no customers at all.
For over five decades, Baba Bala has repaired watches, a skill passed down from his renowned horologist father who traveled across West Africa fixing timepieces. Despite past glories that allowed him to build a home and provide for his children, today’s youth see no need for traditional watches, relying instead on technology.Though competitors have succumbed to changing times, Baba Bala refuses to abandon his shop, cherishing his connection to the craft and hoping for a resurgence. As he reflects on the evolution of horology, his commitment serves as a poignant reminder of the value of tradition in an increasingly digital world.In a world shifting towards instant digital technology, Baba Bala, the veteran watch-repair craftsman from Kaduna, Nigeria, clings to his love for horology as his once-bustling shop now stands as a quiet testament to a vanishing art amidst evolving times. Amidst dwindling customers, the elderly artisan continues to foster his passion for fixing the timepieces left behind—an inheritance from his father and a lifelong dedication that he hopes will find a renaissance in the future.
