Tale of two Oshodi

To an average Lagos resident, the reference to Oshodi is simply the commercial town in Oshodi-Isolo Local Government. Not many have heard of Oshodi Street in Epetedo, even fewer would have heard of Ganagi and his exploits or that Oshodi town owes its existence to his industry.

A wry smile played on the lips of Alabi -Oshodi as he delved into the history of Oshodi town which the indigenes refer to as Oshodi oko and the uneasy relationship it has with members of its founding family in Oshodi ile.

According to Alabi-Oshodi, in the 1850s, a warrior tribe from the Dahomean country (in present day Benin Republic) fought against the king of Igbesa in present Ado Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. The Onigbesa, as the king was known escaped towards Lagos until he got to a thick forest where he settled and he heard of the exploits and powers of Oshodi in Epetedo whom he asked for help against the Dahomeans.

According to historical accounts, Oshodi waged a successful campaign against the invaders and restored the Onigbesa to his throne. In appreciation, the Onigbesa was said to have given him the expanse of thick forest where he once resided as exile which is known today as Oshodi.

“In appreciation of the help of Oshodi, the king gave him the land stretching from the railway line to Onigbongbo to the East, Ogunoloko land by the canal to the West, Sogunle is boundary to the North and Ojuwoye is boundary by the South. In all, it is 1,186.69 acres of land,” Alabi-Oshodi said.

But Oshodi could not leave Epetedo to settle in the new area so he sent his Arota and other associates to populate it while he continued to develop Epetedo, creating 21 compounds and establishing his control over Lagos political and economic environment.



Old Oshodi against

new Oshodi

The two towns founded by Ganagi have played prominent roles in the cultural and economic development of Lagos. While Oshodi (Epetedo) continues to attract immigrants to itself, it also serves as the cultural headquarters for the Igunnuko masquerade in Lagos; (new) Oshodi town has established itself as the commercial nerve center of Lagos.

“Oshodi is what defines Lagos, it is where the poor can survive, there is something for everyone to do in Oshodi, we cater for all and without this Oshodi, Lagos may not be like it is today,” Adebayo Ogunlade, a long time resident of Oshodi town, said.

Ogunlade contended that though Ganagi may have founded Oshodi and given it his name, the development of Oshodi town was due to the activities of its many immigrants and its central location in Lagos.

“This is the centre of Lagos, in Oshodi; you can get a bus to anywhere. That is why commercial activities thrive in this place as many people find it convenient to do business here rather than cross the lagoon to the island. You must also know that Oshodi is a successful town it is now because people came from all over the country and found a place to trade in it. The Oshodis may have founded it, but we make it what it is today,” he said.

But the Oshodi that Ogunlade was proud to identify with has not always generated the intense excitement of today. Before January 4th, 2009, it was a picture of chaos in motion. For many years, the area had been home to millions of traders, hoodlums, Area Boys and armed robbers. The jobless also found a space in its sprawling slums, traders took over its highways while transporters disregarding every known traffic code, turned the streets into one massive traffic jam. Oshodi was a synonym for evil.

Mc oluomo town

Interesting so who are the naitives of oshodi?

The title oba entered the yoruba lexicon through benin ventures into Eastern yoruba during its expansion, and soon diffused into all yorubas

There is a parable in owo, that says, just as the oba n' idu commands respect on earth olodumare commands respect in heaven
Despite interaction with eastern Yoruba they made a sizable contact with vast yoruba tribe too

Benins supplied the atilaries used in the yoruba civil war of late 1800

If we are to mention benin influence on vast yoruba land it will too numerous to mention


The yorubas always have the claim oromiyan came to establish the obaship stool on benin but when taken a deeper look into this history shows that it was a political staged myth of late 1800 after the benin invasion by the British, oba eweka11 sought monarchial help from the then ooni to help strengthening the political power of the edo people who was emerging from a devastating war that burnt down the city capital
You know the rest
The benin monarch accepted to be one of oduduwa son, in the hierarchy it was ooni first and oba of benin second, at these time alafin was still having superiority battle against the ooni, later when awolowo elevated the stool, the alafin subcumed and decided to stay at second displacing the oba to third position

So their argument on the ownership of the word oba has been defeated

It was mere politcs even the yoruba unification was not historical and ife was never thier ancestral town ife was a religious town to the yorubas


The title oba has bern in the yoruba lexicon as far
As 16century when benin expanded into their territory that would be 6centuries now
Despite the long age it has been in Yoruba lexicon it remains foreign to them

Imagine benin supplying yoruba warriors fighting atilaries, controlling their lands, giving them kings, controlling their market, just imagine how the title oba would sound to them


When the oba of benin was being taken to calabar by the British they had to cover his face to avoid uprise from both benin areas and non edo territorie

Note
Not until 1930 the ooni of ife used the word oba officially to adress is title letting go of the British sir in replacement of oba

He made a mistake of not foreseeing the end of the false political unification of benin people under yoruba umbrella he only saw the advantage of the name it would bring to his stool

He never proclaimed other yoruba monarchs to follow suit but automatically the other yoruba bought into adding oba to thier title

Note

Ogie is a title for duke only the oba of benin bears the title oba of benin

The question every tribe should ask yoruba is why do they adopt the word oba as a generic term for kingship when already is known to adress a popular monarch

I guess the answer can also be found in my writeup

Picture of one of the ooni holding an edo ceremonial sword wanting to mimic the benin stool, but i guess he later droped it