Lagos means “lakes” in Portuguese, the language of the first European immigrants known to visit the Eko settlement from Portugal.
Eko was the original name given to Lagos by Yoruba earlier settlers but changed to Lagos by the Portuguese that claimed Lagos has a similiarities with a city in Portugal.
1. Ike̩ja is an abbreviation meaning Ikorodu and E̩pe̩ Joint Administration. It was coined by colonial administrators for ease of administration. Before military rule in the early in the 1970’s and 1980’s, Ike̩ja was a well-planned, clean and quiet residential environment with shopping malls, pharmacies and government reservation areas.
2. O̩jo̩ta
In the 18th century, the O̩jo̩ta area was military settlement called military range where soldiers practiced their shooting or perfected their shooting skills.
There were several gun firing spots which became known as “Oju O̩ta” which means “Bullet spots” in Yoruba. Later, the name metamorphosed into O̩jo̩ta as it is fondly called today.
3. Oshodi was named after Balogun Landuji Oshodi Tapa, a Nupe boy who was adopted and raised by O̩ba E̩shinlokun of Lagos. Chief Balogun Landuji Oshodi Tapa was an outstanding warrior and a statesman.
4. Lekki was a village on the eastern end of the Lekki Peninsula below refuge island, which was itself named after this village. It was known as Ebute Ileke by the local Yoruba people there.
The natives were originally from Ile Ife and settled down at Ijebu Ode. From Ode they migrated down to Ilara and from Ilara to Epe. Thence, they finally settled at Ileke called Lekki today led by one Lootu son of Labolo, grandson of Oba Alara. Maternally, Lootu was the grandson of Oba Nenuwa/Lenuwa of Ode Omi. Lootu was a great salt panner who engaged in the extraction of edible salt from Brine (Seawater).
Refuge Island in Lagos, known in Yoruba as IDE was a gift given to him (Lootu) by his grandad when he learnt that his daughter had given birth to a male son.
When he grew old and died he was buried in Epe. His eldest daughter Ope had an issue with a man from Imakun Omi by name, one Adejebe. The son of this union Ogundosunmu became the first recognized ruler.
Some other towns and villages on the Lekki peninsula were founded by other personages. Akodo Lekki and Iwerekun right on the beach head coastline were founded by Oyemade Ogidigan father of Oniwonlu.
Eputu Lekki on the other hand was founded by Ogunfayo. Magbon Ilado and Eputu were founded by Onafula and Ogundeko from Orugbo, while Orimedu was founded by an Ife hunter by name: Ladejobi who first settled at Okegun Lekki before the crossing the Lagoon. Magbon Oga was founded by two brothers; Oga and Semade.
Ibeju on the other hand was founded by Agbeduwa Abeju who settled at Ipebi and Ibomido (where I settled)
The majority of the people here are ancestrally Ijebu Yoruba, and from what we know- The history of Lekki and Epe are very closely linked/Interwoven.
5. Oju E̩le̩gba
Ojue̩le̩gba was a forest and the consecrated site for the worship of Ẹ̀s̩ù E̩le̩gbua also referred to as Le̩gba among the Fon people of Benin Republic, Exu in Brazil, Echu-Elegua in Cuba, Papa Legba in Haiti and to some African-American as Papa La Bas.
It was right under the present-day Ojue̩le̩gba bridge that the Aworis who were said to be the first inhabitant of all Lagos area used to worship Láàlu Ogiri òkò – the deity in charge of orderliness and the divine enforcer of natural and divine laws.
The stone which was of lateritic earth with cowrie shells marking the eyes and mouth of Es̩u which worshippers pour daily offerings to appease the god has now paved way for urbanization, the shrine has been moved several times before it was finally settled at its current location, a few steps (to the South) away from the present Ojue̩le̩gba roundabout.
It has on it the inscription ‘Ojú-Ìbọ E̩le̩gba’ from whence the town’s name was coined Ojú-e̩le̩gba (meaning eyes of E̩le̩gba or the Shrine of E̩le̩gba).
In the 1970’s, Ojue̩le̩gba became known for its boisterous night life, partly due to Fela’s shrine which was first located at Empire Hotel near Ojue̩le̩gba and also due to the fact that it is a vital connection point for travellers within the mainland connecting surrounding districts of Surulere, Yaba and Mushin, it also serves as the connecting link between the ever busy Apapa-Wharf shipping yard and Ikorodu and Agege motor road.
Oju E̩le̩gba became famous for its everyday gridlock due to the absence of traffic lights and traffic warden. It was the subject of Fela Anikulapo hit song – “Confusion” in 1975:
“For Ojue̩le̩gba, for Ojue̩le̩gba
Moto dey come from south
Moto dey come from north
Moto dey come east
Moto dey come from West
And policeman no dey for center
Na confusion be dat oo
Na confusion be dat oo”
Peoplesmind
