Scorpion King: Poison, Protection, and Power

In northeastern Nigeria, danger isn’t just avoided—it’s carried in a plastic bucket. In this episode, we meet Usman Maikunama, the self-proclaimed Scorpion King of Gwoza, who makes his living breeding, handling, and selling some of the region’s most venomous black scorpions. This is no stunt: it’s a family craft passed down through generations, complete with homemade herbal antidotes he insists neutralize the sting. From crafting potions to ward off sorcery to clearing homes of snakes, Maikunama’s work sits at the crossroads of tradition, mysticism, and survival. And his clientele? They range from rural households to Nigeria’s elite Guards Brigade, which proudly carries the black scorpion as its mascot. What does it mean to turn one of nature’s deadliest creatures into both a business—and a legacy?https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/02/23/a-nigerian-trade-in-insects-that-bite