Lagos -> History

Prior to 1967 and the creation of the States, Lagos comprised of just the island of Eko. The word Eko means ‘wartime camp' in the local language, Bini. Available evidence suggests that the earliest known settlers of the region were the Aworis, whose primary preoccupation consisted of hunting and fishing. These people appear to have landed on the shores at Ebute-Metta, migrating to Eko from Ile-Ife in batches over a protracted period of time. Other tribes began to arrive in the region, the first of them being a substantial number of Benin warriors. They were followed by members of the Yoruba tribes, who had initially settled on the mainland and later fled to the islands of Iddo and Eko, seeking protection from wandering marauders constantly attacking Yorubaland.

Recent migrations to Lagos began in 1851 with the abolition of the inhuman practice of slave trade. Repatriates began arriving in large numbers. The first of them were members of the Saro tribe, who had been held captive in Yoruba itself. They were set free, along with their descendents, along the shores of Sierra Leone and were soon returning to their beloved homeland in successive batches. Most of these returnees had benefited from the influence of Christianity and western culture and, consequently, were able to utilize their skills and experience to educate their countrymen and modernize their country. Specific regions in the Olowogbowo and Breadfruit areas of the island were set aside for them to settle and develop.

Lagos experienced another wave of migrants returning home in the middle of the 19 th century. These were the Aguda from Brazil and the majority were skilled craftsmen – builders, masons, carpenters, etc. – who brought with them the typical Brazilian flavor in architectural styles. They were resettled in the Bamgbose and Campos Square localities and the magnificent buildings in the area reflect the background of its inhabitants.

There are two other major groups of people in the State of Lagos. The first is the Ogu, who are settled in the Badagry area and its surroundings. The second is the Ijebu, who are settled in Ikorodu and the Epe Local Government area.

According to tradition, the Ogu are believed to have migrated here from the ancient land of the Ketu Kingdom – originally a part of the Oduduwa Kingdom. They migrated to Accra in Gold Coast from Ile-Ife during the middle of the 13 th century. They are closely related to the Ga/Ewe (Aja-Ogu) speaking people of modern Ghana.

The traditional form of Monarchy (Wheno-Aholu) and governance in the locality of Badagry has an interesting history that goes back for centuries. The ancient town is divided into eight quarters namely: Jegba, Ahoriko Awhanjigoh, Boekoh, Wharakoh, Pesuka and Ganho and its adjoining villages on both the mainland and island. These areas have traditionally accepted the Kingship – Wheno Aholu Akran – of Badagry, right down to the present Akran, Menu Toyi I. He is the 17 th in succession and was crowned in 1977.

Badagry was initially known as Gbagle, which is a shortened form of the word Ogbaglee that is translated in Ogu as “a farmland near the swamp”. The term ‘Ogu' is very often wrongly spelt and pronounced as ‘Egun'. The town of Badagry has the distinction of having the first multi-storied building in Nigeria. It was built in 1845 and still remains standing on its original site.

The Ijebu population is settled in the Local Government area Epe and Ikorodu. Though their heritage is common to that of their blood relations in the modern state of Ogun, their commercial activities have brought them into close contact with the Nigerian riverine communities that are scattered all along the creeks and lagoons that finally lead to the Atlantic Ocean. This interaction has had a strong influence on the social and cultural fabric of the people. The cunning manipulation of the British resulted in the annexation of all the principal towns and other urban settlements of the two areas into the “colony” by the turn of the last century. With the amalgamation of 1914, the British succeeded in merging Ikorodu with the protectorate.