By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos, Nigeria’s bustling economic hub is a melting pot of cultures and histories. With its booming population, the debate over the identity of Lagos’ first settlers has become an endless controversy, bordered on themes of heritage, identity and ownership.
The dispute primarily involves two groups, the Awori and the Bini. The Awori claim that their ancestors, led by Chief Olofin, migrated from Ile-Ife, Osun State and settled in the Lagos area around the 14th century. They argue that the name “Eko,” by which Lagos is known in Yoruba, was given by their forebears and that they established the first communities in the region, including Isheri, Ota and Iddo.
The Bini of the old Benin Kingdom (now in Edo State) assert that they were the first to settle in Lagos. According to Bini oral history, Oba Orhogbua, a powerful Bini king, conquered the area in the 16th century and appointed Ashipa as the first ruler of Lagos. This narrative emphasises the role of the Benin Kingdom in shaping the early political and social structures of Lagos.
The archaeological evidence to support either claim is sparse, making it challenging to establish a definitive timeline. Historical records from European explorers and traders, who arrived in Lagos in the late 15th century, offer some insights but are often ambiguous or contradictory.
Some historians argue that both the Awori and Bini narratives may hold elements of truth. They suggest that the area now known as Lagos could have experienced multiple waves of migration and settlement, with different groups contributing to its development at various points in time.
The debate over who the first settlers were is not just an academic exercise. It has significant implications for modern Lagosians. Issues of land ownership, political representation and cultural recognition are all intertwined with the question of who can lay claim to being the original inhabitants of Lagos.
However, the Buraimoh Afinni family has called on the state government to create a platform for aboriginal families to tell their stories and preserve their history.
The call was made to celebrate the 110th death anniversary of its ancestor, Alhaji Buraimoh Afinni.
Dr. Oluyomi Finnih, head of the family and member, Governance Advisory Council (GAC), emphasised the need to prevent the displacement and erasure of original Lagosians and their ancestral history. He said the family waited 110 years to celebrate their progenitor due to the lengthy research required to document his life and contributions:
“The late Buraimoh Afinni, our progenitor, was a significant figure of his time. He was of Benin origin and deeply involved in the Islamic faith. His contributions to the construction of the Lagos Central Mosque earned him the Otun Balogun title. A title that has since become a family legacy with Alhaji Ajibola Finnih as the current Otun Balogun.”
The celebration included the launch of a book at ensuring that the real history of Lagos is preserved. Dr. Olabanji Finnih, chairman of the planning committee, said: “Many cosmopolitan cities risk having their populations diluted, leading to the loss of their original inhabitants. Proper documentation is crucial to preserving our history before the colonialists arrived.”
Author of the book, Lateef Finnih: “True Lagosians, with roots planted over 200 years ago, predate the arrival of Europeans and return of slaves from Brazil and Sierra Leone. Our history resides in families like the Afinnis and it’s imperative to document this history before it is lost.”
The initiative sparked a call for other true Lagosians to document their histories. This movement is seen as crucial to maintaining the city’s rich and diverse heritage. Alhaji Jakande, former governor, recognised this value when he returned homes to original Lagosians, halting redevelopment plans that threatened to displace them.
The Afinni family urged government to support the initiative by commissioning an official documentation of the city’s history as told by its original families.