Long before the name Lagos became widely known, the island at the centre of the modern city existed as part of a network of lagoon settlements shaped by the Awori Yoruba. This early environment was defined by water routes, fishing, farming, and local trade rather than urban development.
Lagos Island did not emerge from a single founding moment. Its beginnings are rooted in gradual settlement, family migration, and evolving political relationships across the lagoon.
Awori Settlement and the Memory of Olofin
Awori traditions place the earliest settlement history of the Lagos lagoon around figures such as Olofin, who is associated with Iddo and nearby communities. These traditions describe how land was settled and organised among early inhabitants, forming the foundation of life on and around the island.
The Awori presence reflects a period when the island functioned as part of a broader local system of farming, fishing, and community life. It represents the earliest remembered phase of Lagos before the rise of external political influence or Atlantic trade.
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Aromire’s Pepper Farm and Iga Idunganran
Among the figures preserved in Awori tradition is Aromire, often described as a descendant of Olofin. He is associated with farming activity on Lagos Island, especially pepper cultivation. This memory remains important in explaining early use of the land and its connection to later political authority.
The site of Iga Idunganran, now the palace of the Oba of Lagos, is traditionally linked to this early farming activity. The connection between Aromire and the palace site reflects how land, ancestry, and kingship became tied together in the historical identity of the island.
Benin Power and the Rise of Eko
At a later stage, the Kingdom of Benin became involved in the affairs of the Lagos lagoon. As one of the most powerful states in the region, Benin extended its influence westward, and Lagos Island became significant because of its coastal position and access to trade routes.
Traditions connect this period with Oba Orhogbua and the expansion of Benin authority. Lagos traditions also refer to figures such as Ashipa, who is remembered in connection with the establishment of political ties between local leadership and Benin.
This period marked a shift in the political organisation of Eko, with Benin influence shaping kingship, administration, and broader authority structures on the island.
From Eko to Lagos
The name Eko reflects the indigenous and Benin-influenced identity of the settlement. The name Lagos emerged later through Portuguese contact in the fifteenth century. European traders referred to the island as Onim before the name Lagos became widely used.
As contact with Europe increased, Lagos grew in importance as a trading centre. Its coastal position connected it to wider Atlantic commerce, bringing new economic and political changes to the island.
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British Annexation and the Colonial Turn
A major turning point came in 1861, when Oba Dosunmu signed the Treaty of Cession under British pressure. This agreement brought Lagos under British control and marked the beginning of colonial administration.
Following annexation, Lagos developed rapidly as a colonial port city. Its role expanded beyond local trade into regional and international commerce, setting the stage for its emergence as one of West Africa’s most important urban centres.
Why the History Matters
The history of Eko shows that Lagos was never an empty or newly created city. It developed over time through settlement, political influence, trade, and external intervention.
Awori traditions reflect the earliest settlement and connection to the land. Benin influence reshaped the island’s political structure. European contact introduced new economic networks, while British rule transformed Lagos into a colonial centre.
These layers together form the foundation of modern Lagos.
Author’s Note
The story of Eko reveals how cities grow through time, shaped by people, power, and changing connections. Lagos Island carries the memory of early Awori settlers, the authority of Benin influence, the arrival of European trade, and the impact of colonial rule. Understanding these layers brings clarity to how Lagos became what it is today, a city built from history, not from a single beginning.
References
Kristin Mann, Slavery and the Birth of an African City: Lagos, 1760, 1900, Indiana University Press
S. Adebanji Akintoye, A History of the Yoruba People, Amalion Publishing
Encyclopaedia Britannica, “Lagos, Nigeria”
A. G. Hopkins, “Britain’s Annexation of Lagos, 1861”Robert Smith, The Lagos Consulate, 1851, 1861
