Oba Akinsemoyin reigned as

Oba of Lagos The Oba of Lagos, also known as the Eleko of Eko, is the Nigerian traditional rulers, traditional ruler (Oba (ruler), Oba) of Lagos. The Oba is a ceremonial Yoruba people, Yoruba sovereign with no political power, but is sought as a counsel ...

from around 1704 to 1749. His father was Oba Ado and his siblings were Erelu Kuti and Oba

Gabaro Oba Gabaro (original Bini name was Guobaro) who reigned from 1669–1704 was the third Oba of Lagos, son and heir to Oba Ado, and grandson of Ashipa. His siblings were Akinsemoyin, and Erelu Kuti. Oba of Lagos In collaboration with th ...

, whom he succeeded. According to the Justice J. O. Kassim tribunal of inquiry report of 19 September 1978, there are six recognised sons of Akinsemoyin, namely, Sadeko, Amore/Olukokun, Abisako, Jolasun, Gbosebi and Aina Egbe. The following are some of the prominent descendants of Akinsemoyin's daughters: Onisiwo, Oniru, Oluwa, and Akogun.

Exile in Badagry under Oba Gabaro's reign and commercial activities

Akinsemoyin had a disagreement with his brother, Oba Gabaro over installation of Olofin's descendants as chiefs, resulting in Akinsemoyin's banishment to

Badagry Badagry, also spelled Badagri, (Gun language, Gun: Gbagli) is a coastal town and Local Government Areas of Nigeria, Local Government Area (LGA) in Lagos State, Nigeria. It is quite close to the city of Lagos, and located on the north bank of Po ...

. At Badagry, Akinsemoyin was exposed to commerce and built relationships with European slave traders.

Ascendancy and introduction of slavery to Lagos

When Gabaro died, Akinsemoyin became Oba around 1704 despite Gabaro having a son, Eletu Kekere or in some accounts Eletu Omo. Akinsemoyin established the slave trade in Lagos by inviting Portuguese and Brazilian slave merchants whom he had met in exile at Badagry. Historian J. F. Ade Ajayi asserted that Akinsemoyin granted a monopoly on slave trade to his Brazilian and Portuguese trading partners. Lagos, in time, overtook the ports of Whydah and Porto Novo as the leading slave port in the

Bight of Benin The Bight of Benin, or Bay of Benin, is a bight in the Gulf of Guinea area on the western African coast that derives its name from the historical Kingdom of Benin. Geography The Bight of Benin was named after the Kingdom of Benin. It extends ea ...

. Under Akinsemoyin's reign, Iga Idunganran was for the first time covered with tiles, reportedly presented as gifts by Portuguese slave merchants.

Death

Akinsemoyin died in 1749. Though he had 4 sons, was succeeded as Oba by Eletu Kekere, Gabaro's son.

Legacy

Of Oba Ado's 3 children -

, Akinsemoyin, and Erelu Kuti, only Akinsemoyin's lineage has so far failed to produce an

. Apart from Gabaro's son, Eletu Kekere, all other Obas have been direct descendants of Erelu Kuti starting with Ologun Kutere. This "apparent irregularity" is now the subject of controversy and litigation as Akinsemoyin's descendants are challenging the enthronement of the current

Rilwan Akiolu Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu (born 29 October 1943) is the incumbent Oba of Lagos. Career After high school he served for 32 years in the Nigeria Police Force, entering the force in 1970. He served in various capacities, was promoted t ...

, in court.

References

Obas of Lagos History of Lagos Yoruba monarchs 18th-century monarchs in Africa 18th-century Nigerian people 18th century in Lagos African slave owners African slave traders 18th-century slave traders 18th-century African businesspeople {{Africa-royal-stub, state=collapsed