Lagos, the largest city and former capital of Nigeria, is a bustling metropolis with a rich and diverse cultural heritage. But who were the original founders of this city? A recent statement by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has reignited a long-standing debate on the origins of Lagos and its people.
On Sunday, November 21, 2023, the Oba of Benin paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the Lagos House in Marina. During the visit, the Oba said, “It is in the history books that the Binis founded Lagos.” He also expressed his desire to strengthen the historical and cultural ties between the two states.
The Oba’s claim is based on the traditional account that Lagos was founded by a Bini prince named Ado, who became the first Oba of Lagos in the 16th century. According to this account, Ado was sent by the Oba of Benin to settle a dispute between the Awori, a subgroup of the Yoruba people, who inhabited the island of Iddo, and a wealthy woman named Aina. Ado succeeded in resolving the conflict and established his authority over the island and the nearby mainland. He also planted pepper on another island, which he named Eko, meaning “pepper farm” in the Bini language. This island later became known as Lagos by the Portuguese, who arrived in the area in 14722
However, the Oba’s statement has been challenged by some historians and cultural activists, who argue that Lagos was not founded by the Binis, but by the Awori, who were the original inhabitants of the area. They contend that Ado was not a Bini prince, but an Awori nobleman, who was appointed by the Oba of Benin as a vassal ruler of Lagos. They also claim that the name Eko was derived from the Yoruba word Oko, meaning “farm”, and not from the Bini word for pepper
The debate over the origins of Lagos is not new. It has been going on for decades, and has often been influenced by political and economic interests, as well as ethnic and religious sentiments. The question of who founded Lagos is more than a historical curiosity. It is also a matter of identity, belonging, and pride for the millions of people who call Lagos home.
Who are the true Lagosians? Are they the descendants of the Binis, the Awori, or both? Or are they the product of a complex and dynamic process of migration, interaction, and integration of various ethnic groups and cultures over the centuries? What does it mean to be a Lagosian in the 21st century, in a city that is constantly changing and evolving?
These are some of the questions that the controversy regarding who really founded Lagos raises. Perhaps, instead of looking for a definitive answer, we should embrace the diversity and plurality of Lagos, and celebrate its history as a melting pot of cultures and peoples.