Jesse King (BUGA) are excited to present a unique concert themed “Eko –Benin connexion”

JESSE KING (BUGA)

Lords and Kings under the leadership of Jesse King (BUGA) are excited to present a unique concert themed “Eko –Benin connexion” in celebrating history and to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Nigeria's existence as a nation on Sunday, October 27The evening is a kaleidoscope of riveting activities extracted from the ocean of the rich and colorful cultures of seemingly unconnected communities – The Aworis, The Binis and the people of Badagry. The evolving elements of the under listed and much more will be glamorously celebrated: Music and Dance  Agasha (Awori cultural group)  The Badagry Cultural group  The Benin Cultural group  Indigenous High Life musical performance by Jesse King Buga

Eko-Benin History

Not many are aware of the historical connection between the old Bini Kingdom and the Aborigines of Lagos. We found the nexus and so many other linkages that is not obvious not just to the youngsters but the elderly too. We have offered to share the results of our findings via this entertainment platform. Prior to the Portuguese name of Lagos being adopted, Lagos was originally called Eko, which stems from either Oko (Yoruba: "cassava farm") or Eko ("war camp"), by its Bini conquerors. History has it that the Oba of Bini sent various trade expeditions to Ghana where spices were traded and one of his traders complained about the way she was being treated by the Awori's. The Oba of Bini then sent a trade expedition by sea. Ironically, the leader of the expedition arrived in the evening at a time when the people who were predominantly fishermen were either wading into the water or getting into their boats to gather their catch. He declined to engage them further and returned to what is now called Benin City where he reported to the Oba of Bini that they were attacked. This prompted the Oba of Bini to constitute a war expedition led by Ado, a Bini Prince to go to Lagos and demand an explanation. This was over 650 years ago. However, on getting there, they were well received. The people were so enamored with Ado they asked him to stay and lead them. He agreed on the condition that they surrendered their sovereignty to the Oba of Bini to which they agreed. The Oba of Bini was told this and he gave his permission for the expedition to remain. The Oba of Bini later sent some of his chiefs including the Eletu Odibo, Obanikoro and others to assist Ado in the running of Eko. Till today, the Oba of Lagos is the head of all the Kings in Lagos State and his status is different from other Oba's most of whom were later given back their crowns and staff of office only within the last 40 years and have various classifications. Suffice it to state that those who got their crowns back were the original land owners. These were Olofin's children.

History has it that the Aworis were actually from Ife the cradle of Yorubaland. The Awori people are a peaceful people initially not taken to warfare. Due to war, those from the hinterlands, like the Ekiti ran towards Isheri which at that time had more than one Olofin (Alafin)who were heads of probably respective settlements about 1400AD. With the fleeing people from the hinterlands most of them scattered again to different places, some to Iro, to Otta, Ado, others to Ebute Metta i.e three landing places - Oyingbo, Iddo and Lagos Island (Eko). The Olofin that brought those who went to Ebute-Metta was Ogunfunminire later known as Agbodere. With the full commencement of the war about 2000 moved to the nearest island of Iddo, others to Otto Awori or Otto Ijanikin towards modern-day Badagry. Those from Ekiti Aramoko came to Ebute-Metta, Iddo and then Ijora. The Olofin was said to have 32 children. His own known children are Olumegbon, Aromire, Oloto, Oluwa, Oniru, Onisiwo, Onitoolo, and Elegushi. Until the coming of the Bini's, Lagos's geographic boundary was what is known now as Lagos Mainland. Lagos Island, the seat of the Oba of Lagos then consisted of a pepper farm and fishing posts. No one lived there though. The name Eko was given to it by its first King Oba Ado during its early history, it also saw periods of rule by the Kingdom of Benin.[1] Eko was the land area now known as Lagos Island where the king's palace was built. The Palace is called Iga Idunganran which, translated means Palace built on the pepper farm. Oba Ado and the warriors from Benin as well as some of the indigenous people who sought safety settled down in the southern part of Eko called "Isale Eko", Isale literarily meaning bottom, but must have been used to indicate downtown (as in Downtown Lagos). Also connected in a way is Badagry who the natives believed to be founded by a famous farmer called Agbedeh. The farm became so popular that natives refer to it after the name of the farmer. The word “Greme” means farm in ogu language and the people who visited Agbede’s farm, when asked, would say they went to ‘Agbedegreme’ meaning Agbede’s farm. The word was later coined to Agbadarigi by the Yoruba settlers and later corrupted to Badagry by the European slave merchants before the end of the seventeenth century. The people of Badagry are heterogeneous. They are mainly Ogu of Whydah, Whra, Wheme and the Ga/Ewe clans who migrated from the former Dahomey and Awori – Yoruba who are descendants of Oduduwa of western Nigeria.