There are different interpretations of the meaning of IKEA. A historical account suggests that IKEJA mean “Joint Ikorodu and Epe Administration” – a term coined by the colonial masters for administrative convenience. Another oral historical account from the Awori community states: Ikeja, officially called “Akeja”, is named after the deity of the Awori people of Ota. It was originally settled…
In August 2004, about 50 officers of the Nigeria Police Force, including members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, attacked a compound containing several shrines in Umuhu Okija village, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra Statein the southeast of the country. In the forests where the main temples were located, police discovered human skulls and the remains of dozens of bodies, some dismembered, others in coffins and still others lying on the side of the road. Following this discovery, police arrested several people suspected of being responsible for the…
Mention Victor Okafor and no one will bat an eyelid. But mention EZEGO, the King of Money, and you will see many Nigerians’ eyes light up with excitement. He would be one of Africa’s billionaires. He was relatively young, but given his age, he was well known and respected in the Nigerian business community at the time. This is the story of a man of many faces, Chief Victor Nnamdi Okafor, Eze Ego (Money King) I of ihiala, also known as Udu Bunch, also known as Young Millionaire, an Igbo…
A beautiful and tranquil photo of Broad Street Junction on Lagos Island with the over 100 year old CMS building in the background.
Pictured in his warrior uniform, Ogedengbe is a respected first-generation leader of the great Ogedengbe dynasty. He was born in 1822 and died in 1910 as Orisarayibi Ogundamola (Saraibi) (Ogedengbe) in Atorin village, Ilesa, Osun State (known as Ogedengbe Agbogungboro). “tThe one who doesn’t panic when war comes?” His parents Pa Apasanforijiwa and Yeye Falupo were blacksmiths, hunters and weavers. Ogedengbe Agbogubgboro, General of the Ekiti Army, was born in Atorin, a village about twenty kilometers from Ilesha in what is now Atakomosa…
HRM Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II, Oba of Lagos, then blessed Senator (Dr) Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the title “Asiwaju of Lagos” while the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola and others looked on.
From left to right, Lennox-Boyd, The leader of the western Region Obafemi Awolowo (1909 – 1987) of Western Nigeria, The Nigerian Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (1912 – 1966), the leader of the Northern region Ahmadu Bello (1910 – 1966) of Northern Nigeria and the Senate president and Governor General of Nigeria Nnamdi Azikiwe (1904…
Can you identify the couples in this photo, the year the photo was taken, and what music video this photo is from?
The story of Emmanuel Nwude Odinigwe, the man who sold a fake airport to an international bank, is one of the biggest fraud cases in history. There have been scams throughout history, but selling an airport to an international customer without being there to verify the legitimacy of the transaction is pretty strange and crazy.…
Herbet Macauley was a nationalist, political activist and engineer who founded the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP). Macauley was also the grandson of Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the first African bishop of the Church of England. This photo was taken in 1946 at his residence called Kirsten Hall, House No. 8, Balbina Street, Lagos Island. Macaulay became the first licensed civil engineer, surveyor and architect in Nigeria on December 5, 1893. Olayinka Herbert Samuel Heelas Badmus Macaulay, a…
Thomas Adesina Jacobson Ogunbiyi was born in Lagos 1866. The first teacher officially assigned to the area now known as 1866.Ondo Province returned to St. Stephen’s Ang. Primary School, Oke Aluko, Ondo (first primary school in Ondo Province) February 20, 1890. In 1921 he became Archdeacon of Lagos and in 1936 a member of the Legislative Council. TAJ Ogunbiyi founded the Reformed Ogboni Fraternity (ROF) on…
Benin adopted Portuguese as a business language when dealing with other Europeans. Many Edo words, such as EKUYE (spoon), EKALAKA (glass) and ALIMO (orange), are derived from the Portuguese words Colher, Caneca and Limo. As a result of this unification, some guilds and palace titles were established in Benin, such as IWEBO, EWUA, ARAGUA and OHUOBA. IDUNWUN EBO (European Quarter) was founded in 1486 for Portuguese missionaries and traders in Benin. In the 17th century, the Dutch begin to occupy all the trading ports on the West African coast. This is a remarkable feat that they failed to achieve in the Benin Kingdom’s trading ports of GWATTO (Ughoton) and…
Vintage Sunday morning photo, a believer standing next to a car and a beggar in front of Christ Cathedral in Marina, Lagos Island. Nigeria.
After the abolition of slaves on March 25, 1807, there was a wave of return of freed Africans that lasted more than fifty years. Equipped with the knowledge and technology of the ancient slave ports—Brazil, the Caribbean, and the West Indies— these slaves returned home with a special obligation of devotion. Ships docked in the port of Lagos; The returnees arrived in large numbers: Sierra Leoneans known as Saros, returning Brazilians and Cubans known as Agudas. Afro-Brazilians introduced the construction of two-story buildings and houses, also known as ile petesi( up in yoruba), as well as other bungalows decorated with molded stucco facades, in Lagos in 1850.
The Itsekiri ethnic group, also known as Jekri, Isekiri or Ishekiri, inhabits the westernmost part of the Niger Delta in southern Nigeria. The Itekiri make up the majority of the modern towns of Sapele, Warri, Burutu and Forcados. Itekiri is also a subgroup of the Yoruboid people who live mainly in the Warri South, Uvwie, Warri North and Warri Southwest local government areas of Delta State on the Atlantic coast of Nigeria. This means that the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria, as well as the Okpe and Edo peoples, are relatives of the Itsekiri. In addition, there are large Itekiri communities in many Nigerian cities, including Lagos, Sapele, Benin City, Port Harcourt and Abuja,…
Leventis Store, Marina, Lagos. The car appears to be a 1949 Studebaker Land Cruiser, right-hand drive; Registration A6672. The store was located at the marina, between Abibu Oki and Williams streets. The first Leventis Stores opened in Marina Lagos in the 1950s and soon expanded to include several stores; Many more stores were opened such as in Benin, Calabar, Abuja, Owerri, Kano, Kaduna and Maiduguri etc. Leventis stores were synonymous with quality and affordable household items. It became a household…
A picture of northern leaders, the Sultan of Sokoto, the Emir of Gwandu and the Emir of Kano inspect imperial Airways’ brand new ‘Syrinx’ aircraft at Croydon Airport on July 2, 1934. Imperial Airways was one of Britain’s first long-haul commercial airlines, operating from 1924 to 1939, serving primarily British Empire routes to South Africa, India, Australia and the Far East, including Malaysia and Hong Kong. Imperial Airways never reached the level of technological innovation…
The Ofala festival is an annual ceremony practiced by the Igbo people, particularly the indigenous people of Onitsha, Umueri, Umuoji and other nearby communities such as Aguleri, Nnewi and Ukpo in Dunukofia Local Government Area. It serves as a renewal ritual for the king, Igwe or Obi, and is similar to the Igue festival in Benin and the Ine, Osi or Ogbanigbe festival in many Igbo communities in west-central Nigeria. The term Ofala comes from two Igbo words: ọfọ…
Odinigwe Benedict Chukwukadibia Enwonwu MBE, better known as Ben Enwonwu, worked in the 1950s. He was a Nigerian and Igbo painter and sculptor. Without a doubt the most influential African artist of the 20th century. I will not accept a subordinate position in the art world. My art was not called African because I expressed my reality wrongly and rightly. I have constantly fought against this kind of philosophy because it is wrong. European artists such as Picasso, Braque and Vlaminck were influenced by African art. Everyone sees it and…
Ransome-Kuti family photo: Rev. Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti and Chief Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti sitting side by side, Dolu Ransome-Kuti is behind, Fela Ransome-Kuti in the foreground, the baby in his arms is Beko Ransome – Kuti and Olikoye Ransome – Kuti is on the right.