LAGOS
the largest city and former capital of NIGERIA and the largest mega
city in the AFRICAN continent , it’s also the 4th largest economy
Africa. Modern-day Lagos is now a state in south western Nigeria. It
bounded on the west by the Republic of Benin, to the north and east by
Ogun state with the Atlantic Ocean providing a coastline on the south
the largest city and former capital of NIGERIA and the largest mega
city in the AFRICAN continent , it’s also the 4th largest economy
Africa. Modern-day Lagos is now a state in south western Nigeria. It
bounded on the west by the Republic of Benin, to the north and east by
Ogun state with the Atlantic Ocean providing a coastline on the south
AREA
Lagos has a total of 3,577 square kilometers; 787 kilometers
is made of lagoon and creeks including; Lagos lagoon, Lagos harbour,
Five cowrie creek, Ebute-metta creek, photo-novo creek, New canal,
Badagry creek, kuramo waters and Lighthouse
is made of lagoon and creeks including; Lagos lagoon, Lagos harbour,
Five cowrie creek, Ebute-metta creek, photo-novo creek, New canal,
Badagry creek, kuramo waters and Lighthouse
Creek.
FOUNDING LAGOS
According to the oral history of Lagos, at some point
around the 13th-14th century , the Oba (king) of Benin empire heard
from one his traders complaints about being mistreated by Awori who
lived in the area of current day Lagos. The Oba of Benin then sent a
trade expenditure by sea to engage the Awori people who nontheless
declined to engage and attacked the mission sent by Benin.
around the 13th-14th century , the Oba (king) of Benin empire heard
from one his traders complaints about being mistreated by Awori who
lived in the area of current day Lagos. The Oba of Benin then sent a
trade expenditure by sea to engage the Awori people who nontheless
declined to engage and attacked the mission sent by Benin.
Upon
hearing this as the mission returned to Benin City, the Oba of Benin
commanded the assembling of a war expedition, led by Ado a prince of
Benin, which headed to the settlement of the Awori in current-day Lagos,
then called Ékò by the Benin people and demanded an explanation.
hearing this as the mission returned to Benin City, the Oba of Benin
commanded the assembling of a war expedition, led by Ado a prince of
Benin, which headed to the settlement of the Awori in current-day Lagos,
then called Ékò by the Benin people and demanded an explanation.
On
getting there, Ado and his army were more than well received, the Awori
from Lagos ask the Benin prince Ado to stay and become their leader.
Ado agreed, on the condition that they surrender their sovereignty to
the Oba of Benin, to which the Awori people Lagos applied.
getting there, Ado and his army were more than well received, the Awori
from Lagos ask the Benin prince Ado to stay and become their leader.
Ado agreed, on the condition that they surrender their sovereignty to
the Oba of Benin, to which the Awori people Lagos applied.
Upon
hearing this, the Oba of Benin gave his permission for the Prince Ado
and the expedition to remain in Ékò with the Awori. The Oba of Benin
then later sent some of his Chiefs, including the Eletu Odibo Obanikoro
and others to assist Ado in the running of Ékò.
hearing this, the Oba of Benin gave his permission for the Prince Ado
and the expedition to remain in Ékò with the Awori. The Oba of Benin
then later sent some of his Chiefs, including the Eletu Odibo Obanikoro
and others to assist Ado in the running of Ékò.
THE TRIBUTARY TO THE BENIN EMPIRE
From
the crowing of Ado as Oba, Lagos (then called Ékò) served as the major
center of slave-trade, from which the Oba of Benin Ado and all other
successors for over four centuries supported until 1841, when Oba
Akintoye ascended to the throne attempted to ban slave-trading.
the crowing of Ado as Oba, Lagos (then called Ékò) served as the major
center of slave-trade, from which the Oba of Benin Ado and all other
successors for over four centuries supported until 1841, when Oba
Akintoye ascended to the throne attempted to ban slave-trading.
Local
merchants strongly opposed the intended move and disposed and exiled
the king and installed Akitoye’s brother Kosoko as Oba
merchants strongly opposed the intended move and disposed and exiled
the king and installed Akitoye’s brother Kosoko as Oba
At
exile in Europe, Akitoye met the British authorities, who had banned
slave-trading in 1807, and who therefore decided to support the dispose
Oba to regain his throne. With the success of the British intervention,
in 1857 Akitoye was reinstalled as Oba of Lagos. In practical terms,
however, British influence over the kingdom had become absolute, and ten years later, in 1861, Lagos was formally annexed as a British colony
exile in Europe, Akitoye met the British authorities, who had banned
slave-trading in 1807, and who therefore decided to support the dispose
Oba to regain his throne. With the success of the British intervention,
in 1857 Akitoye was reinstalled as Oba of Lagos. In practical terms,
however, British influence over the kingdom had become absolute, and ten years later, in 1861, Lagos was formally annexed as a British colony
NAMES OF LAGOS
Lagos
means “lakes” in Portuguese. Language of first European settlers known
to visit the settlement, then already inhabited by Awori in 1472. From
the first contacts with the region until the early 20th century, another
Portuguese nome for the city that was interchangeably used was “onim”
finally abandoned in favor of Lagos.
means “lakes” in Portuguese. Language of first European settlers known
to visit the settlement, then already inhabited by Awori in 1472. From
the first contacts with the region until the early 20th century, another
Portuguese nome for the city that was interchangeably used was “onim”
finally abandoned in favor of Lagos.
Modern-day was founded by the Bini in the 16th century. It was later called Ékò. The Portuguese explorer Ruy de sequeira who
visited the area in 1472, named the area around the city “lago de
curamo”. Alternate explanation is that Lagos was named for Lagos,
Portugal- a maritime town to which at the main center of the of the
Portuguese expedition down the Africa coast and whose own name is
derived from the Celtic word Lacobriga.
visited the area in 1472, named the area around the city “lago de
curamo”. Alternate explanation is that Lagos was named for Lagos,
Portugal- a maritime town to which at the main center of the of the
Portuguese expedition down the Africa coast and whose own name is
derived from the Celtic word Lacobriga.
