Almost people
of all Nigerian ethnic groups are found in Lagos State. These ethnic groups
range from the usual suspects like the Yoruba, the Igbo, and the Hausa, to the
not-so famous ones like the Eggon, the Obanliku, the Dukawa, and the Afizere.
Lagos State
is also home to several foreign ethnicity. Foreign ethnicity in Lagos State
include the Han, the Malay, the Zulu, and the Mandiba among several others.
is also home to several foreign ethnicity. Foreign ethnicity in Lagos State
include the Han, the Malay, the Zulu, and the Mandiba among several others.
Debates
over the indigenous ethnic composition of Lagos have however been raging in
recent times. Different groups and individuals have been making bold claims and
counter-claims, the most prominent being that by Oba of Lagos himself in which
he set the record straight on the ownership question that has been hanging on
Lagos’ neck.
over the indigenous ethnic composition of Lagos have however been raging in
recent times. Different groups and individuals have been making bold claims and
counter-claims, the most prominent being that by Oba of Lagos himself in which
he set the record straight on the ownership question that has been hanging on
Lagos’ neck.
I did my
own little research, and I hereby table my findings. Below are the indigenous
tribes in Lagos State, their history,their culture, and which area of Lagos
State they are indigenous to.
own little research, and I hereby table my findings. Below are the indigenous
tribes in Lagos State, their history,their culture, and which area of Lagos
State they are indigenous to.
1. Awori
The Awori
constitute the bulk of the indigenuous population of sixteen out of the twenty
local government areas of Lagos State, the exceptions being Epe, Ikorodu,
Badagry and Ibeju Lekki local government
areas.
constitute the bulk of the indigenuous population of sixteen out of the twenty
local government areas of Lagos State, the exceptions being Epe, Ikorodu,
Badagry and Ibeju Lekki local government
areas.
Legend has
it that Prince Olofin, the ancestor of Awori and his followers left the palace
of his father, King Oduduwa in Ile-Ife and migrated southward along a river.
it that Prince Olofin, the ancestor of Awori and his followers left the palace
of his father, King Oduduwa in Ile-Ife and migrated southward along a river.
King
Oduduwa had given Olofin a mud plate, instructing him to place it on the water
and follow it until it sank. It was in Idumota in Central Lagos that the mud
plate sank.
Oduduwa had given Olofin a mud plate, instructing him to place it on the water
and follow it until it sank. It was in Idumota in Central Lagos that the mud
plate sank.
Prince
Olofin however did not return to Ile-Ife after the mud plate sank. He and his
followers rather settled in the area now known as Lagos, and it’s their
descendants that form the bulk of the people now known as the Awori.
Olofin however did not return to Ile-Ife after the mud plate sank. He and his
followers rather settled in the area now known as Lagos, and it’s their
descendants that form the bulk of the people now known as the Awori.
Most Aworis
profess to be either Christians or Muslims, however they hold on to traditional
religious pratices in private.
profess to be either Christians or Muslims, however they hold on to traditional
religious pratices in private.
2. Ijebu
The Ijebu
people of Lagos are found in Epe, Ikorodu and Ibeju Lekki local government
areas. Traditions of the account of origin link them to the old Ijebu kingdom
in Ijebu Ode and Iremo Quarters in Ile-Ife.
people of Lagos are found in Epe, Ikorodu and Ibeju Lekki local government
areas. Traditions of the account of origin link them to the old Ijebu kingdom
in Ijebu Ode and Iremo Quarters in Ile-Ife.
Most of the
Ijebu settlements in Lagos State were established during the era of the trans-Atlantic
slave trade especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. However, Ijebu
settlements in Lagos State, just like those of the Awori and the Ogu were not
founded at the same time nor by the same person. For instance, while the Ijebu
in Epe continue to remember Hurakaloye as their founder, those in Ikorodu
cannot forget Oga and Lasunwon. The Ijebu people of Ibeju Lekki on the other
hand fondly celebrate Abeju Agbeduwa.
Ijebu settlements in Lagos State were established during the era of the trans-Atlantic
slave trade especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. However, Ijebu
settlements in Lagos State, just like those of the Awori and the Ogu were not
founded at the same time nor by the same person. For instance, while the Ijebu
in Epe continue to remember Hurakaloye as their founder, those in Ikorodu
cannot forget Oga and Lasunwon. The Ijebu people of Ibeju Lekki on the other
hand fondly celebrate Abeju Agbeduwa.
The Ijebu
are very enterprising people who are self-reliant and innovative. By the middle
of the 19th century, they have become very prosperous not only in terms of
understanding the dynamics of the emerging modern facilities, but also in terms
of building physical and social infrastructures.
are very enterprising people who are self-reliant and innovative. By the middle
of the 19th century, they have become very prosperous not only in terms of
understanding the dynamics of the emerging modern facilities, but also in terms
of building physical and social infrastructures.
In recent
times, there have been calls for the Ijebu region of Lagos State to be rejoined
to the old Ijebu kingdom in Ogun State for the purpose of creating an Ijebu
State.
times, there have been calls for the Ijebu region of Lagos State to be rejoined
to the old Ijebu kingdom in Ogun State for the purpose of creating an Ijebu
State.
3. Ogu
The Ogu,
popularly referred to as the Egun are another of the indigenous tribes in Lagos
State. They account for around fifteen percent of the state’s indigenous
population.
popularly referred to as the Egun are another of the indigenous tribes in Lagos
State. They account for around fifteen percent of the state’s indigenous
population.
History has
it that the Ogu are a descendant of those who migrated from Whydah, Allada and
Weme which are now all part of the Republic of Benin as a result of persistent
violence in those areas in the 18th century.
it that the Ogu are a descendant of those who migrated from Whydah, Allada and
Weme which are now all part of the Republic of Benin as a result of persistent
violence in those areas in the 18th century.
The Ogu are
majorly found in Badagry, and also in the Yewa region of Ogun State.
majorly found in Badagry, and also in the Yewa region of Ogun State.
The Ogu
language has varieties of dialects including Thevi, Xwela, Seto, and Toli.
language has varieties of dialects including Thevi, Xwela, Seto, and Toli.
As they live
in an area surrounded by water, the Ogu are mostly into fishing, coconut
processing and salt production. Some Ogu are however also into trading and
farming.
in an area surrounded by water, the Ogu are mostly into fishing, coconut
processing and salt production. Some Ogu are however also into trading and
farming.
The Ogu are
a largely Christian tribe.
a largely Christian tribe.