Slave trade continued to flourish and, during the reign of Oba Adele, Islam was established in the area.īecause of this victory and with the backing of the British, Akitoye was restored to the throne in January 1953. Through petty and grand intrigues, inter-tribal wars, and changes, Isale Eko grew and changed. He also established the hereditary titles of Eko chiefs. The power and influence of Oba Ologunkutere effectively quelled rebellion over tributes from within and even averted an invasion by Dahomey in Badagry. Beans, palm oil, and palm kernels were exchanged for spirits, tobacco, gunpowder, and cloth, among other things. By the time of the next king’s reign, the Ijebu’s had begun to trade their produce in Eko. With friendship ties and trade firmly established among all the parties involved, it was a peaceful time and the influence of Isale Eko as the power capital of the new trading centre grew. The palace walls of Iga-Idunganran had their foundation laid at this time, and the roofing was done with tiles that were gifts from the Portuguese slave dealers. This established the slave trade in Eko, which flourished as a trading centre, increasing her influence and dealings with her neighbours, including Badagry. In 1704, Oba Akinsemoyin invited Portuguese slave dealers to Eko. His son, Ado, would become the first king of Lagos, with his lineage beginning that of the Obas of Lagos to this very day. He was also given the Royal Drum (Gbedu) beaten by the Obas of Lagos to this day. For his good deed, the Oba rewarded him by appointing him to govern Iddo Island. A man named Asipa then took his body back home to Benin. Going on to war with other neighbouring towns, he got as far as Iseri where he eventually died. Returning to the Oba, they reported their conclusions and he, assuming a challenge, sent them back on the attack with reinforcements.Īseru, a war chief sent as reinforcement by the Oba, stayed back in Iddo Island after the defeat and capture of Olofin. The men who arrived by canoe mistook, from a distance, fishing paraphernalia on the banks for signs of war readiness. The Oba sent emissaries in response to Aina’s request for him to investigate the dispute. Aromire’s farm settlement, which was the first home of the inhabitants of Isale Eko, is today known as ‘Iga Idunganran’ (The Pepper Palace), the palace of the Oba of Lagos.ĭue to a badly handled case between the chief’s men and a wealthy woman called Aina, the Oba of Benin came to be involved in the affairs of Iddo Island. Isale Eko started as the home of Aromire, a pepper farmer who was one of the sons of Olofin, an Awori settler, who was the chief of Iddo Island and the first Idejo (landowner) of Lagos Island. Isale Eko, which translates to ‘bottom of Eko’, was so named because of its location south of the area called ‘Eko’ (later called Lagos).
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