Nation of people who are mostly located in the Midwestern part of Nigeria,
Western Africa.
The Origin of Eko (Lagos)
There is a lot of traditional history at both
Benin and Lagos ends relating to the origin of what is now Lagos, its ruler and
it's connection with Benin. But perhaps to avoid inadequacies and controversy
which the academics claim surrounds traditional history, we may like to hear
what some modern historians have to say on this subject. Robert S. Smith, in his
book of some principal Yoruba owns, especially in and around Oyo, and the
westward expansion in the 17th century of Benin Kingdom with it's number of
subject towns on or near to the coast, which included Lagos, went on to say this
about Lagos in particular:
"It's name reflect it's past to the Yoruba it's Eko, deriving probably from the
farm (Oko) of the earliest settlers, though alternatively-or additionally-it may
be the Benin word (Eko) for a war-camp...We say Eko is a Benin word that means
camp"
After describing the activities of the armies of Benin under Oba Orhogbua,
culminating in his arrival at what is now Lagos, Smith went on to add:
"Sometime later the Oba appointed a ruler for Lagos to represent the interest of
Benin and to forward tribute there. The man chosen is named in both Lagos and
Benin Tradition as Ashipa"
Smith says that by Lagos account this Ashipa was an Isheri Chief, while the
Benin account says Ashipa was a grandson of the Oba of Benin. We shall come to
this later. Smith was, however, satisfied that Benin had established it's
ascendency in Lagos and had founded a dynasty there at some period before
1700.The dyansty's dependence on Benin, Smith found, was emphasized by the
appointment of another Chief, the Eletu Odibo, who alone had the right to crown
the Oba and who in early times probably maintained close connection with
Benin,.(Eletu Odibo is a corruption of the Edo equivalent Olotu Odibo)
"G.T. Stride and C. Ifeka, in their book titled Peoples and empires pf West
Africa have this to say on the same subject:
Oba Orhogbua was clearly a strong warrior for he enforced tribute payments from
all parts of the empire and in the middle 1550s conquered all the coastal lands
up to Lagos where he left a permanent garrison. Tradition in Lagos says that
their first Oba, the Eleko of Eko, was a son of the Oba Orhogbua of Benin"
It will be seen, therefore, that even if we were to disregard traditional
history there is enough material from modern historians to confirm the fact that
what is now Lagos was founded by an Oba of Benin who also gave it it's first
ruler. But we really cannot disregard traditional history. In Benin tradition,
and we believe the same of Yoruba and other ethnic groups in this country, one
way to establish that an event in traditional history did occur is by the type
of anecdote or adage that evolves from that event . Thus, for instance, We Edo
people say that "Orhogbua gb'Olague,ona y'ukpe abekpen z'umwen rie Edo, meaning
that Oba Orhogbua defeated Olague and used sword to bring his salt to Benin,
This is in allusion of to the exploits of Oba Orhogbua while in his camp (Eko)
from where he over-ran the place known as Mahin with it's ruler whom the Benin
People nicknamed Olague. There Orhogbua discovered the common rock salt and
brought it to Benin who thereby tasted it for the first time.
Now the name "Ashipa has featured quite prominently (and rightly too) in the
history of Lagos. After the Oba Orhogbua returned to Benin from Eko, he
appointed a commander or an administrator, who was called Aisikpa to look after
the skeleton troop left in the camp(Eko) until he returned again from Benin. He
could no longer return having seen the situation at home. The name "Aisikpahienvoborre"
which means "people do not desert their home-land. "This is how Aisikpa, whom
the Yoruba now call Ashipa, came into the Lagos (Eko) history. Eko is still
there as the traditional Benin name for Lagos; Ashipa has been retained as a
senior traditional chieftaincy title while his descendants now retain the modern
name of Oba of Lagos. The interaction of Edo people with others in distant lands
must have inevitably resulted in cultural exchanges.
Excerpts From a Lecture on the Evolution of Traditional
rulership in Nigeria given under the auspices of the University of
Ibadan, Institute of African studies on 11th September,1984 by Omo
N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Erediauwa.
