Lagos, Nigeria — A historical controversy has re-emerged following a recent statement by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, during a courtesy visit to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu. The Benin monarch claimed that his ancestors founded Lagos, sparking intense debate across Nigeria’s political and cultural spheres.
Oba of Benin’s Claim: “Benin Founded Lagos”
Speaking at the Lagos State Government House, Marina, the Oba asserted:
“It is in the history books that the Binis founded Lagos… Perhaps not all of what we now call Lagos, but certain areas—maybe the nucleus—were founded by my ancestors.”
This claim, however, has drawn strong reactions from historians, scholars, and traditional stakeholders who argue that historical records do not support the Benin origin narrative.
What Do the Oldest History Books Say?
Respected columnist Lasisi Olagunju responded by examining authoritative texts that trace Lagos’s early beginnings. He emphasized that the Yoruba, specifically the Awori people, are widely credited with founding Lagos.
Citing books such as:
Iwe Itan Eko by John B. Losi (1913)
History of Lagos (1914) (English translation of Losi’s work)
A History of Lagos, Nigeria: The Shaping of an African City by Takiu Folami (1982)
Olagunju pointed to Ogunfunminire, a hunter of royal Ile-Ife descent, as the original settler of Isheri, considered the cradle of modern Lagos.
He further noted that Jacob Egharevba’s Short History of Benin (1933) was published two decades after Losi’s work, undermining claims that Benin’s historical documentation predates Yoruba accounts.
Lagos: A Conquest, Not a Founding
According to Olagunju, historical texts and oral traditions suggest that:
The Awori settled in an area they called Oko, covering modern-day Lagos Island and Iddo.
In 1603, the Benin Kingdom invaded, seized control, and renamed the territory Eko, establishing a tributary system.
This action, historians argue, reflects military conquest, not founding.
“You don’t conquer a land that doesn’t exist. Benin’s attack proves the Awori were already established in Lagos,” Olagunju wrote.
He also referenced Robert Smith’s The Lagos Consulate, 1851–1861, which records Oba Dosunmu of Lagos rejecting a 19th-century request from the Benin monarch to reinstate exiled King Kosoko. Dosunmu declared that Lagos was no longer under Benin authority.
Diverging Views Even Within Benin Royal History
Olagunju cited historian G.A. Akinola’s 1976 paper, The Origin of the Eweka Dynasty of Benin, which recounts how Oba Akenzua II admitted Lagos was “conquered,” not “founded” by Benin. This contradicts the current Oba of Benin’s narrative that Lagos was a creation of Benin ancestors.
Scholars and Leaders Dispute the Benin Claim
Professor Ayodeji Olukoju also weighed in through his 2017 paper Which Lagos, Whose (Hi)story?, confirming that Lagos evolved through layers of migration, conquest, and trade, with the Awori-Yoruba as the indigenous settlers.
Dr. Paul Akanmidu, a historian from Adekunle Ajasin University, said:
“Lagos was founded by the Aworis from Abeokuta. Others, including Benin, Ilaje, and Nupe people, came later to benefit from the thriving settlement.”
In a similar tone, Abisoye Oyeyemi Oshodi, the Balogun of Eko, publicly responded:
“With all due respect to the Oba of Benin, sir, Lagos was never founded by the Benin.”
The Verdict from History
While Benin influence on early Lagos is undeniable, especially during its pre-colonial militaristic expansions, historical evidence overwhelmingly supports that Lagos was originally founded by the Awori people, who trace their roots to Ile-Ife.
The Benin Kingdom may have exercised control over Lagos for a period, but the narrative of founding the city lacks grounding in historical texts and archaeological findings.
As Lagos continues to evolve as a global city, debates like this reflect the richness—and complexity—of Nigeria’s intertwined cultural and political histories.
