Oba of Lagos

Last updated

Oba of Lagos
Incumbent
Oba Lagos060602-N-8637R-006 (cropped).jpg
Rilwan Akiolu
(since 24 May 2003)
Details
Style His Majesty
First monarch Ado
Formation1716
Residence Iga Idunganran

The Oba of Lagos, also known as the Eleko of Eko, is the traditional ruler (Oba) of Lagos.

Contents

The Oba is a ceremonial Yoruba sovereign with no political power, but is sought as a counsel or sponsor by politicians who seek support from the residents of Lagos, the financial heart of Nigeria and the largest city in Africa. The Oba has appeared in tourism advertisements on behalf of the city, often stating "You've gotta go to Lagos", among various other ceremonial roles.

The current Oba of Lagos is Rilwan Akiolu, who has held the title since 2003.

History

All Obas of Lagos trace their lineage to Ashipa, [1] a war captain of the Oba of Benin. Ashipa was rewarded with the title of the Oloriogun [2] (War leader) and he received the Oba of Benin's sanction to govern Lagos on his behalf. [3] Some Benin accounts of history have the Ashipa as son or grandson of the Oba of Benin. [4] Ashipa received a sword and royal drum as symbols of his authority from the Oba of Benin on his mission to Lagos. Additionally, the Oba of Benin deployed a group of Benin officers charged with preserving Benin's interests in Lagos. These officers, led by Eletu Odibo, were the initial members of the Akarigbere class of Lagos White Cap Chiefs. [2] Prior to the arrival of the British, the Oba of Benin had "the undisputed right to crown or confirm the individual whom the people of Lagos elect[ed] to be their King". [5]

Tributes continue to flow the way of Benin from Lagos island for many years until around the year 1830 when Lagos stopped it. By this time, the status of Lagos as an independent power in its own right had risen tremendously and it had become too strong to be attacked. The King of Benin therefore had to be content with occasional gifts which were no longer given as obligatory tribute, but rather, as an act of historical sentiment. [6]

The defeat of Oba Kosoko by British forces on 28 December 1851, in what is now known as the Bombardment of Lagos or Reduction of Lagos, or locally as Ogun Ahoyaya or Ogun Agidingbi (literally meaning "boiling cannons"), eventually put an end to all forms of tributary (sentimential or official) and Lagos' former allegiance to the Oba of Benin. [7]

Kosoko was therefore the last Lagos Oba to engage in any form of sentimental gifting from the people of Lagos to the Oba of Benin. Oba Akitoye, who was re-installed to the throne by the British, "seized the opportunity of his restoration under British protection to repudiate his former allegiance" to Benin and rebuffed subsequent tribute requests from the Oba of Benin. [8] [9] [10]

Previous rulers of Lagos have used the titles of Ologun (derived from Oloriogun), Eleko and, most recently, Oba of Lagos. [11]

The Royal Seat

The official residence of the king, since 1630, is Iga Idunganran, a castle renovated by the Portuguese over the course of close to a century. [12] It is today a very popular tourist site.

List of Obas of Lagos

House of Ashipa - (Ashipa dynasty)

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Ashipa 1570-1630 (?)----------A local Awori chieftain from Isheri. Founder of Lagos dynasty of Kings, but not crowned as an Oba of Lagos [13] [14] House of Olofin
Ado 163016691st Oba. The son of Ashipa [15] [16] House of Ashipa
Gabaro 166917042nd Oba. The son of Ado. [17] House of Ashipa
Eletu Kekere
  • Eletu Omo
170417043rd Oba. The only son of Gabaro, nephew to Akinsemoyin. His reign was so brief that it is barely acknowledged by most historians and is sometimes omitted all together. Sources of him being actually crowned an Oba in Lagos are scanty. Not much is known of his reign other than him dying intestate (without an heir). [18] House of Ashipa
Akinsemoyin 170417494th Oba. Another son of Ado, a brother to Gabaro and uncle to Eletu Kekere. [19] Longest reigning Oba in Lagos to date (45 years). He created the Eletu Omo chieftaincy in the Akarigbere class in commemoration of his predecessor. His time marked the end of the Ashipa dynasty through the paternal line of descent. [20] House of Ashipa

House of Ashipa - Alagbigba (Alaagba) dynasty [21]

NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Ologun Kutere
  • Ologun Kuture
d. 1775174917755th Oba. Son of the union between Erelu Kuti daughter of Ado and Alaagba, an Ijesha resident chieftain in Lagos who also served as Babalawo to Oloye (chief) Aromire, and later Akinsemoyin. The Lagos royal dynasty shifts to a line of descent through the matrilineal pedigree of Erelu Kuti. [19] [22] Alaagba dynasty
Adele Ajosun d. 1837177517806th Oba. Second son of Ologun Kutere. First reign. He would return again and reign for a second time as the 10th Oba for two years. Throughout his first reign, he was constantly threatened by his brother Eshinlokun for the title of Oba which he felt should have been his. He fell out with the chiefs and was deposed in 1780. He then left for Badagry with his mother and the skull of his father, Ologun Kutere.Alaagba dynasty
Oṣinlokun
  • Eshinlokun
d.1819178018197th Oba. Son of Ologun Kutere and elder brother to Adele Ajosun. [19] [22] Alaagba dynasty
Idewu Ojulari
  • Idowu Ojulari
d. 1832181918328th Oba. Son of Oshinlokun. [17] Alaagba dynasty
Adele Ajosun d. 1834183218349th Oba. Return of Adele Ajosun who reigned first as the 6th Oba. [1] Alaagba dynasty
Oluwole d. 18411834184110th Oba. The son of Adele. [17] [22] [23] Alaagba dynasty
Akitoye d. 18531841184511th Oba, Son of Ologun kKutere. First reign. He would return again and reign for a second time as the 13th Oba. [17] [23] [24] Alaagba dynasty
Kosoko d.18721845185112th Oba, a son of Osinlokun and brother to Idewu Ojulari. [17] [19] [24] Alaagba dynasty King Kosoko (1845-1851).jpg
Akitoye
  • Akintoye
1851185313th Oba. Second reign. Return of Akintoye who would reign for a further two years. [17] Alaagba dynasty
Dosunmu
  • Docemo
1823-1885
62 Years		1853188514th Oba, Son of Akintoye. [17] [23] Alaagba dynasty
Oyekan I 1854-1900
46 Years		1885190015th Oba, a son of Dosunmu. [17] [23] Alaagba dynasty
Eshugbayi Eleko
  • Eleko
1860-1932 72 Years1901192516th Oba, a son of Dosunmu. First reign. He would return to reign as the 19th Oba. [17] [23] He supported the educated elite of Lagos led by Prince Oluwa and Herbert Macaulay in their struggle against British colonialism. He was exiled to Oyo in 1925.Alaagba dynasty
Ibikunle Akitoye d.19281925192817th Oba, a grandson of Oba Akintoye. [17] [23] First christian Oba.Alaagba dynasty
Sanusi Olusi 1928193118th Oba, a grandson of Oba Akintoye. [17] [23] Alaagba dynasty Sanusi Olusi - 1928.png
Eshugbayi Eleko 1860-1932 72 Years1931193219th Oba. Return of Eshugbayi Eleko who would go on to reign for one year . [17] [23] Alaagba dynasty
Falolu Dosunmu d.19491932194920th Oba [17] [23] Alaagba dynasty
Adeniji Adele 1893 - 1964
70 Years		1949196421st Oba. Grandson of Adele Ajosun [17] [23] Alaagba dynasty Adeniji Adele.jpg
Oyekan II 1911 - 2003
91 Years		1965200322nd Oba. Grandson of Oyekan I. [17] [23] Alaagba dynasty
Rilwan Akiolu 1943
Age 80		2003Incumbent23rd Oba. [17] [23] Alaagba dynasty Oba Lagos060602-N-8637R-006 (cropped).jpg

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Efunroye Tinubu</span> Nigerian aristocrat

Efunroye Tinubu, born Ẹfúnpọ̀róyè Ọ̀ṣuntinúbú, was a powerful Yoruba female aristocrat, merchant, and slave trader in pre-colonial and colonial Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Lagos</span>

Lagos is the largest city of the West-African country of Nigeria, and its former capital; it is the third largest city in Africa in terms of population with about 15.3 million people. It is also the 4th largest economy in Africa.

Akitoye, sometimes wrongly referred to as Akintoye, reigned twice as Oba of Lagos; first, from 1841 to 1845, and a second time, from 1851 to 1853. His father was Oba Ologun Kutere and his siblings were Obas Osinlokun and Adele.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iga Idunganran</span> Official Residence of the Oba of Lagos

Iga Idunganran is the Official Residence of the Oba of Lagos, situated on Lagos Island. It is also a tourist attraction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lagos Colony</span> British protectorate from 1862 to 1906

Lagos Colony was a British colonial possession centred on the port of Lagos in what is now southern Nigeria. Lagos was annexed on 6 August 1861 under the threat of force by Commander Beddingfield of HMS Prometheus who was accompanied by the Acting British Consul, William McCoskry. Oba Dosunmu of Lagos resisted the cession for 11 days while facing the threat of violence on Lagos and its people, but capitulated and signed the Lagos Treaty of Cession. Lagos was declared a colony on 5 March 1862. By 1872, Lagos was a cosmopolitan trading centre with a population over 60,000. In the aftermath of prolonged wars between the mainland Yoruba states, the colony established a protectorate over most of Yorubaland between 1890 and 1897. The protectorate was incorporated into the new Southern Nigeria Protectorate in February 1906, and Lagos became the capital of the Protectorate of Nigeria in January 1914. Since then, Lagos has grown to become the largest city in West Africa, with an estimated metropolitan population of over 9,000,000 as of 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iddo Island</span> Island in Lagos, Nigeria

Iddo Island is a district in Lagos Mainland LGA of Lagos. Opposite Lagos Island, Iddo used to be an island, but due to land reclamation, is now part of the rest of Lagos Mainland. Iddo Island is connected to Lagos Island by the Eko Bridge and the Carter Bridge. Prior to the landfill, Iddo was connected to the Lagos Mainland by the Denton Bridge, named after Sir George Chardin Denton, former Lieutenant Governor of the Colony of Lagos. Iddo is home to the Lagos Terminus and was the first and only place in Nigeria to host a tram service - linking Lagos Island through Carter Bridge.

The Treaty of Cession, 6 August 1861 or the Lagos Treaty of Cession was a treaty between the British Empire and Oba Dosunmu of Lagos wherein Dosunmu, under the threat of military bombardment, ceded Lagos Island to Britain, whilst retaining the title and powers of Oba, subject to English laws.

Oba Gabaro who reigned from 1669–1704 was the third Oba of Lagos, son and heir to Oba Ado, and grandson of Ashipa. His siblings were Akinsemoyin, and Erelu Kuti.

Oba Akinsemoyin reigned as Oba of Lagos from around 1704 to 1749. His father was Oba Ado and his siblings were Erelu Kuti and Oba Gabaro, whom he succeeded.

Chief Daniel Conrad Taiwo, alias Taiwo Olowo, was a trader, arms dealer, slave owner, political power broker, philanthropist and community leader in Colonial Lagos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosoko</span> Oba of Lagos

Kosoko was a member of the Ologun Kutere Lagos Royal Family who reigned as Oba of Lagos from 1845 to 1851. His father was Oba Osinlokun and his siblings were Idewu Ojulari, Olufunmi, Odunsi, Ladega, Ogunbambi, Akinsanya, Ogunjobi, Akimosa, Ibiyemi, Adebajo, Matimoju, Adeniyi, Isiyemi, Igbalu, Oresanya, and Idewu-Ojulari.

Chief Oshodi Landuji Tapa was Oba Kosoko's war captain and one of the most powerful chiefs in the Oba of Lagos' court.

Oba Idewu Ojulari reigned as Oba of Lagos from 1829 to about 1834/5. His father was Oba Osinlokun and his siblings were Kosoko and Opo Olu, a wealthy and powerful female slave holder.

Oba Oluwole reigned as Oba of Lagos from 1837 to 1841. His father was Oba Adele.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reduction of Lagos</span>

The Reduction of Lagos or Bombardment of Lagos was a British naval operation in late 1851 that involved the Royal Navy bombarding Lagos under the justification of suppressing the Atlantic slave trade and deposing the King (Oba) of Lagos, Kosoko, for refusing to end the slave trade.

Oba Adele or Adele Ajosun reigned twice as Oba of Lagos; first, from c1811 to 1821, and a second time from 1835 to 1837. His father was Oba Ologun Kutere and his siblings were Obas Osinlokun and Akitoye, thus the Ologun Kutere line has remained the dominant line in the Obaship of Lagos.

Dosunmu, referred to in British documents as Docemo, reigned as Oba of Lagos from 1853, when he succeeded his father Oba Akitoye, until his own death in 1885. He was forced to run away to Britain under the threat of force in August 1861.

Ashipa, the founder of the Lagos royal dynasty but uncrowned as Oba of Lagos, whom all Obas of Lagos trace their lineage to, was an Awori Chieftain from Isheri. Ashipa was rewarded with title of Oloriogun after returning the body of one Asheru, a Benin war captain to Benin and received the Oba of Benin's sanction to govern Lagos. Some Benin accounts of history have the Ashipa as son or grandson of the Oba of Benin. According to the Lagos traditional account however, Ashípa was a local native, an Awori Yoruba chieftain of Isheri.

The Eletu Odibo of Lagos is the traditional nobleman that has historically served as the principal kingmaker of the Oba of Lagos. As head of the Akarigbere class of chiefs, the Eletu Odibo also serves as the prime minister of the Oba.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orhogbua</span> Oba of Benin (1550 AD–1578 AD)

Orhogbua was the seventeenth Oba of the Benin Kingdom who reigned around c. 1550 AD – c.  1578 AD. He was the son of Esigie and the grandson of Ozolua. Orhogbua was educated in a Portuguese colonial school and was baptised as a Catholic. He was able to communicate in Portuguese, both spoken and written. He established a military camp on Lagos Island, which served as a strategic location for empire expansion and trade control. He also introduced the use of native cooking salt in Benin.

References

  1. 1 2 Mann, Kristin (2007). Slavery and the Birth of an African City: Lagos, 1760-1900 . Indiana University Press, 2007. p.  45. ISBN   9780253348845.
  2. 1 2 Herskovits Kopytoff, Jean. A Preface to Modern Nigeria: The "Sierra Leoneans" in Yoruba, 1830 - 1890. University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 64–65.
  3. ↑ Folami, Takiu (1982). A History of Lagos, Nigeria: The Shaping of an African City. Exposition Press. p. 22. ISBN   9780682497725.
  4. ↑ Smith, Robert (1 January 1979). The Lagos Consulate, 1851-1861. University of California Press, 1979. p. 4. ISBN   9780520037465.
  5. ↑ Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons (1852). Accounts and Papers of the House of Commons. Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, 1852. p. 97. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  6. ↑ Burns, A. C. (1929). "History Of Nigeria (1929)". Archive.org. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  7. ↑ Oloruntoba, C.I. (1992). Sociocultural Dimensions of Nigerian Pidgin Usage (Western NigerDelta of Nigeria. Indiana University. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  8. ↑ Ryder, Alan Frederick Charles. Benin and the Europeans: 1485-1897. Front Cover Alan Frederick Charles Ryder Humanities Press, 1969 - Benin. pp. 241–242.
  9. ↑ Smith, Robert (1978). The Lagos Consulate, 1851-1861. Macmillan. pp. 6, 27, 90, 102. ISBN   0333240545.
  10. ↑ Ryder, Alan Frederick Charles. Benin and the Europeans: 1485-1897. Humanities Press, 1969 - Benin. pp. 241–242.
  11. ↑ Robert Sydney Smith (1988). Kingdoms of the Yoruba. Univ of Wisconsin Press 1969. ISBN   9780299116040 . Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  12. ↑ Smith, Robert (January 1979). The Lagos Consulate, 1851-1861. University of California Press, 1979. p. 8. ISBN 9780520037465.
  13. ↑ Aimiuwu, O.E.I. Ashipa: the first Oba of Lagos. Nigeria Magazine, Issues 100-104, Government of Nigeria 1969. pp. 624–627. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  14. ↑ Slavery and the Birth of an African City. p. 29.
  15. ↑ Plainsail. "Erelu Abiola Docemo Foundation". eraffoundation.org. Archived from the original on 19 June 2019. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  16. ↑ "LAGOS". iinet.net.au. Archived from the original on 17 May 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Adewunmi Elegbede. "Kingdoms of Nigeria, The Nigerian Database of Rulers, Kings, Kingdoms, Political and Traditional Leaders". kingdomsofnigeria.com.
  18. ↑ Shodipe, Uthman Ademilade (1997). From Johnson to Marwa: 30 Years of Governance in Lagos State. Malthouse Press. p. 245. ISBN   978-978-023-069-2 . Retrieved 1 November 2023.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Slavery and the Birth of an African City. p. 46.
  20. ↑ Timothy-Asobele, S. J. (2001). "Langbasa". Brintview Communications Limited. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  21. ↑ Kotun, Prince Bolakale (10 September 2008). History of the Eko Dynasty. Allentown Limited. p. 37. ISBN   978-978-901-955-7 . Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  22. 1 2 3 Ojo, Olatunji; Hunt, Nadine (15 September 2012). Slavery in Africa and the Caribbean: A History of Enslavement and Identity Since the 18th Century. I.B.Tauris. ISBN   9781780761152.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Slavery and the Birth of an African City.
  24. 1 2 Slavery in Africa and the Caribbean. p. 95.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.