Origin

The Origin Of Lagos 

Lagos originated in the 15th century with the Awori people, who founded the settlement of Oko, which later became known as Eko. The name "Lagos" was given by Portuguese explorers in the 1470s, after the Portuguese word for "lakes". The area, originally a fishing and farming settlement, developed into a trading port and the center of the transatlantic slave trade under the Kingdom of Benin before being formally ceded to the British in 1861. 

Early Settlement And Naming

The first settlers in the area were the Awori subgroup of the Yoruba people, who established a settlement on what is now Lagos Island. 

The original settlement was called Eko, which translates to "farm" or "homestead" in the Yoruba language. 

In the late 15th century, Portuguese explorers arrived and named the area Lago de Curamo, or "Lagos," which means "lakes" in Portuguese. 

Growth As A Trading Port

By the late 16th century, Eko was under the control of the Benin Empire, which developed it into a significant slave trading center. 

Lagos grew into a major port for the transatlantic slave trade. 

 

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British Colonial Era 

In the mid-19th century, Britain intervened to suppress the slave trade, leading to the deposition of Oba Kosoko in 1851 and the installation of the more compliant Oba Akitoye.

In 1861, Lagos was formally ceded to Great Britain through the Lagos Treaty of Cession.

During the colonial period, Lagos experienced growth and modernization, becoming the capital of Nigeria after its independence in 1960.