The Oba of Lagos, also known as the Eleko of Eko, is the

traditional ruler A tradition is a belief or behavior (folk custom) passed down within a group or society with symbolic meaning or special significance with origins in the past. A component of cultural expressions and folklore, common examples include holidays or ...

( Oba) of

Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until December 1991 fo ...

. The Oba is a ceremonial

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

sovereign ''Sovereign'' is a title which can be applied to the highest leader in various categories. The word is borrowed from Old French , which is ultimately derived from the Latin , meaning 'above'. The roles of a sovereign vary from monarch, ruler or ...

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 Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

and the largest city in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

. 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 Ashipa, the founder of the Lagos royal dynasty but uncrowned as Oba of Lagos, whom all Obas of Lagos trace their lineage to, was a war captain of the Oba of Benin. Ashipa was rewarded with title of Head War Chief/''Oloriogun'' and received the Oba ...

, a war captain of the

Oba of Benin The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler and the custodian of the culture of the Edo people and all Edoid people. The then Kingdom of Benin (not to be confused with the modern-day and unrelated Republic of Benin, which was then known as Dahom ...

. Ashipa was rewarded with the title of the ''Oloriogun'' (or ''War leader'') and received the Oba of Benin's sanction to govern Lagos on his behalf. Some Benin accounts of history have the Ashipa as son or grandson of the Oba of Benin. Other accounts note that Ashipa is a

corruption of the

Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the nort ...

name ''Aisika-hienbore'' (translated "we shall not desert this place"). Ashipa received a sword and royal drum as symbols of his authority from the Oba of Benin on his mission to Lagos. Additionally, the

deployed a group of Benin officers charged with preserving Benin's interests in Lagos. These officers, led by

Eletu Odibo 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. History T ...

, were the initial members of the ''Akarigbere'' class of Lagos White Cap Chiefs. 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 dto be their King". The defeat of Oba

Kosoko Kosoko (died 1872) 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 (who was Oba from 1829 to 1834/35), Olufunmi, Odunsi, Ladeg ...

by British forces on December 28, 1851, in what is now known as the

Bombardment of Lagos The Reduction of Lagos or Bombardment of Lagos was the British Royal Navy's attacks on Lagos in the fourth quarter of 1851 with the goal of abolishing the Atlantic slave trade and deposing Lagos monarch Kosoko for refusing to end the slave trade ...

Reduction of Lagos The Reduction of Lagos or Bombardment of Lagos was the British Royal Navy's attacks on Lagos in the fourth quarter of 1851 with the goal of abolishing the Atlantic slave trade and deposing Lagos monarch Kosoko for refusing to end the slave trade ...

, or locally as Ogun Ahoyaya or Ogun Agidingbi (after boiling cannons), put an end to Lagos' s former allegiance to the Oba of Benin. Kosoko was therefore the last Oba of Lagos to remit annual tributes from the people of Lagos to the Oba of Benin. Oba

Akitoye Akitoye (died September 2, 1853), 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 an ...

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

The Royal Seat

The official residence of the king, since 1630, is

Iga Idunganran Iga Idunganran is the Official Residence of the Oba of Lagos, situated on Lagos Island. It is also a tourist attraction. History Dating back to the 15th century, the Lagos Island was originally owned by the island's first inhabitant Chief Aro ...

, a castle renovated by the

Portuguese Portuguese may refer to: * anything of, from, or related to the country and nation of Portugal ** Portuguese cuisine, traditional foods ** Portuguese language, a Romance language *** Portuguese dialects, variants of the Portuguese language ** Portu ...

over the course of close to a century. It is today a very popular tourist site.

List of Obas of Lagos

, founder of Lagos dynasty but not crowned as Oba of Lagos (c. 1682-1716) * Ado (1716–1755) first Oba of Lagos (son of

/Esikpa) *

Gabaro Oba Gabaro (original Bini name was Guobaro) 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 of Lagos In collaboration with the ...

(1755–1760) *

Akinsemoyin 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. According to the Justice J. O. Kassim tribunal of inquiry report of 19 September 1978 ...

(c. 1760-1775) *

Eletu Kekere Oba Eletu Kekere, son of Oba Gabaro, reigned briefly as Oba of Lagos The Oba of Lagos, also known as the Eleko of Eko, is the traditional ruler ( Oba) of Lagos. The Oba is a ceremonial Yoruba sovereign with no political power, but is sou ...

(c. 1775 - 1780) *

Ologun Kutere Ologun Kutere reigned as Oba of Lagos from around the 1780s to around 1803. He succeeded Oba Eletu Kekere who reigned between 1775 and 1780. "Ologun" is the Yoruba word for "War General". Ologun Kutere was the product of the marriage between Erel ...

(also ''Ologunkutere / Ologunkuture'') (1780-c. 1801) * Interregnum between Ologun Kutere and Adele (c 1805 - c. 1810/11) *

Adele Ajosun Oba Adele or Adele Ajosun (died 1837) 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 h ...

(1811-1821) * Oṣinlokun Ajan (''Oshinlokun, Eshinlokun'') (1821–1829) *

Idewu Ojulari Oba Idewu Ojulari (died c 1835) reigned as Oba of Lagos from 1829 to about 1834/5. His father was Oba Osinlokun and his siblings were Kosoko (who was Oba from 1845 to 1851) and Opo Olu, a wealthy and powerful female slave holder. Idewu Ojulari's ...

(1829–1832) or until 1835 *

(second term) (1835-1837) *

Oluwole Oba Oluwole (died 1841) reigned as Oba of Lagos from 1837 to 1841. His father was Oba Adele. Rivalry with Kosoko The genesis of Oba Oluwole and prince Kosoko's rivalry appears rooted in their competing bids for the Obaship of Lagos upon the deat ...

(1837-1841) *

(1841-1845) *

(1845–1851) *

(second term) (1851-1853) *

Dosunmu Dosunmu (c. 1823 – 1885), 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 A ...

(1853–1885) *

Oyekan I Oba Oyekan I (died September 30, 1900) reigned as the Lagos Monarch from March 1885 - September 30, 1900. He ascended the throne about a month after the death of his father Oba Dosunmu. Prince Oyekan vs. Chief Apena Ajasa incident In 1883, Oba ...

(1885–1900) *

Eshugbayi Eleko Oba Eshugbayi Eleko (died 1932), alias ''"Eleko of Eko"'', was the Oba of Lagos from 1901 to 1925, and from 1931 to 1932. His father was Oba Dosunmu. Eleko's struggles and legal victory over the British colonial government symbolized the struggle ...

(1901-1925) *

Ibikunle Akitoye Ibikunle Alfred Akitoye (1871–1928) was Oba of Lagos from 1925 to 1928 during what some historians refer to as the "Interregnum" years of the exiled Oba Eshugbayi Eleko. Ibikunle Akitoye was the first western educated and Christian Oba of Lago ...

(1925–1928) *

Sanusi Olusi Oba Sanusi Olusi (died 1935) was a wealthy trader who succeeded Ibikunle Akitoye as Oba of Lagos from 1928 to 1931 during what some historians refer to as the "Interregnum" years of the exiled Oba Eshugbayi Eleko. Oba Sanusi Olusi was a grandson ...

(1928–1931) *

(second term) (1931-1932) * Falolu Dosunmu (1932–1949) *

Adeniji Adele Oba Sir Musendiku Buraimoh Adeniji Adele II, KBE (13 November 1893 – 12 July 1964) was the Oba (King) of Lagos from 1 October 1949 to 12 July 1964. Life Adele was born in Lagos in 1893 to Buraimoh Adele and Moriamo Lalugbi. His grandfather ...

(1949–1964) * Adeyinka Oyekan II (1965–2003) * Rilwan Akiolu (2003–)

References

*10. Yusuf Olatunji. Volume 17:02

History

The Royal Seat

List of Obas of Lagos

See also

References

Further reading