₦airaland Forum

Katsumoto: [size=14pt]Erelu Kuti, Oba Akinsemoyin, and Ologun kutere[/size]

Ikadan palace was the home of Erelu Kuti, mother of Ologun Kutere (the fourth king of Lagos, whose reign lasted 25 years from 1750, and the lineage from which the recently late Oba Oyekan) and Sokun (the Fashina-Jinadu-Bombata lineage) emerged.

History has it that there are only two ruling houses in Lagos namely Akinsemoyin and Ologun Kutere. The first Oba of Lagos was Ado, the son of Prince Ashipa (Esikpa) of Benin. Ado had three children, Gabbaro, Akinsemoyin and a female, Erelu Kuti. After the death of Ado, his eldest son, Gabbaro, succeeded him. Gabarro's line became extinct because he had no child. Therefore, upon his death, Akinsemoyin, his younger brother took over.

While Akinsemoyin was still alive, Erelu Kuti married Alagba, the medicine man who had predicted that Akinsemoyin would become Oba. Alagba, an Ijesha man from Ilesha, was a diviner for Oba Akinsemoyin.

Oba Akinsemoyin built a palace called Iga Alagba at Idumota for Alagba because he could not belong to the Oba's palace since he (Alagba) was not a member of the royal family. Akinsemoyin, according to history, had a set of triplets, all boys after having some daughters. Because it was a taboo in those days to have twins let alone triplets, the three boys were smuggled out of the palace. Due to the poor condition under which the triplets were kept, two died, leaving one.

Therefore, when Akinsemoyin died in 1749 after ruling for 44 years, Ologun Kutere, the product of the union between Erelu Kuti and Alagba was made Oba. Though, Akinsemoyin was said to have other sons after the set of triplets, they were said to be very young at the time of the Oba's death.

It was said that due to Akinsemoyin's magnanimity, he did not appoint any of his elder daughters as regent pending when the eldest son born after the triplets would come of age. Because of the love he had for his sister, Erelu Kuti, before he died, he sanctioned the appointment of Ologun Kutere as his successor.

However, a slightly different account of the history of succession has been which sais that when Oba Akinsemoyin died, Gabarro's son, Kekere, who was in turn succeeded by Ologun Kutere, succeeded him.

From the genealogy of the kings of Lagos it was Ologun Kutere that replaced Akinsemoyin in 1749. Since then, only the descendants of Ologun Kutere have been occupying the position of Oba of Lagos. The late Oba Oyekan II belonged to that house.

How did Erelu Kuti marry Alagba and what role did Akinsemoyin play in the marriage? According to history: "On the advice of Alagba, he (Akinsemoyin) performed certain rituals and ceremonies which included putting up a white flag on what is now Victoria Island.

As a result of this, the Portuguese came. This was the first contact with Europeans in this part of the world and it heralded the advent of western civilisation as well as Christianity. The Portuguese in the course of time built Iga Idungaran for Oba Akinsemoyin, part of which is still in existence and is incorporated into the new palace.

"Satisfied that all was well with Oba Akinsemoyin, Alagba then expressed the desire to return to Ilesha for the remaining part of his life. Oba Akinsemoyin agreed and in gratitude offered him any of his daughters he fancied as a wife.

While they were talking, a source has it, Erelu passed by and heard what they were discussing. At an opportune time she told her brother that she would gladly marry Alagba.

"On one point the two sources agree and that is that Oba Akinsemoyin was jubilant. He blessed his sister, conferred a royal honour on her and predicted that she would bear children who would reign in Lagos. The prediction of Oba Akinsemoyin came to be, as it seems, a vengeance.

"How has this affected succession to the obaship? In the first place, the House of Gabarro is extinct leaving the House of Akinsemoyin and the House of Ologun-Kutere.

What then should be the pattern of succession? It should follow the established and time-honoured principle laid down in the era of Ado. Consequently, the House of Akinsemoyin should be the first ruling house. In fairness to Oba Ologun-Kutere's descendants, the House should be divided into three sub-houses: Eshinlokun, Adele-Ajosun and Akitoye. The three obas are children of Oba Ologun-Kutere.

"In effect, succession will be from two Ruling Houses - the House of Akinsemoyin and the House of Ologun-Kutere. Selection as to who should reign in the House of Ologun-Kutere should be in strict rotation. First the sub-house of Oshinlokun, then that of Adele-Ajosun and finally that of Akitoye."

The problem with the above narrative as with many narratives on the history of Lagos, is the fact that many modern day writers try to either Yorubanise or Binise the original and celebrated names of persons and places in the story of the founding of Lagos.

To properly understand the story of Lagos, one must try to understand the meaning of all the prominent names of the key persons in ancient Lagos and the historical remains i.e names of places in Lagos named by the Edos.

At the time Lagos was founded by the Portuguese and the Edos, the Yorubas were in Oyo Empire. The Bini army were in Oshodi , Iddo and Etin Osa (all Bini names) The Edo army that was invited to finally dislodge the very strong and stubborn Awori army was the Uromi, Esan, Edo army.

The name of Chief Priest Alagba is a latter day yorubanisation of the Uromi war god Agba. Alu-Agba in Uromi Esan means the shrine of Agba. Agba was the Uromi King that fought Oba Ozolua of Benin for about seven years till their soldiers conspired to kill them and end the war. The presence of Alu-Agba in Eko is without doubt; incontrovertible proof that the Uromi soldiers under the larger Edo army dislodged the Aworis and founded the Eko camp. Eko is specifically Esan-Edo. Idumu and Idis as in Idumota and Idumagbo are specifically Esan Edo. Igbon as in Oyingbo and Igboshere are specifically Esan Edo words. Oloto as in Oloto of Lagos and Iga (Egua) Palace are all specifically Esan Edo.

The greatest proof that Uromi soldiers founded and govern Lagos is the presence of the ancient Uromi god of war Alu-Agba in Eko.