27 Facts About Kosoko

Kosoko was a member of the Ologun Kutere Lagos Royal Family who reigned as Oba of Lagos from 1845 to 1851.

Kosoko's father was Oba Osinlokun and his siblings were Idewu Ojulari, Olufunmi, Odunsi, Ladega, Ogunbambi, Akinsanya, Ogunjobi, Akimosa, Ibiyemi, Adebajo, Matimoju, Adeniyi, Isiyemi, Igbalu, Oresanya, and Idewu-Ojulari.

Kosoko offended the powerful prime minister and Kingmaker by marrying a woman betrothed to Chief Eletu Odibo.

Notably, Lagos had hitherto been under Benin suzerainty up until the reign of Oba Kosoko who was dethroned by British forces in 1851.

Since Kosoko was now unacceptable to Eletu Odibo, the Kingmakers invited Adele home from Badagry to rule as Oba of Lagos for a second term.

The intensity of the Eletu Odibo and Kosoko feud increased with Eletu Odibo extending his vendetta to Opo Olu, Kosoko's sister, accusing her of witchcraft.

Eletu Odibo then ratcheted up the hatred between both camps by digging up Kosoko's mother's remains and throwing her corpse into the Lagos lagoon.

Kingmakers would have invited Kosoko to become Oba but his whereabouts were unknown.

Kosoko returned to Lagos aboard the ship of the famous slave trader Jose Domingo Martinez.

Kosoko quickly consolidated his position and found support among many war chiefs and among the Muslim community.

In turn, Akitoye recalled Eletu Odibo from Badagry, leading Kosoko to declare that if Eletu Odibo returned to Lagos, he would "make himself king".

Kosoko retorted "I am the digger who always roots out a pin".

The Kosoko faction laid siege to the Oba's Palace for three weeks.

Oshodi Tapa explained Akitoye's escape to Kosoko by saying that Akitoye put his enemies in a trance.

Importantly, Eletu Odibo was captured in the battle and Kosoko avenged the scattering of his mother's bones by the Eletu by placing Eletu Odibo in an empty oil barrel, sealing it, setting it alight, and dumping it in the Lagos Lagoon.

Kosoko threatened that Kosoko had till the end of the month to surrender otherwise "Lagos will be totally destroyed by fire".

Kosoko put up a spirited defence but by 28 December 1851, the battle known locally as Ogun Ahoyaya or Ogun Agidingbi was over with Kosoko and his followers fleeing to Ijebu.

Kosoko eventually settled in Epe with the permission of the Awujale of Ijebu.

In 1853, Kosoko mounted two attacks on Lagos; one on 5 August 1853 and another on 11 August 1853 which came dangerously close to the Oba's palace but was rebuffed just in time by a burst of fire from the British naval force under Commander Phillips of HMS Polyphemus.

Kosoko eventually signed The Treaty of Epe on 28 September 1854 with Consul Benjamin Campbell, agreeing not to make any claims to Lagos or to endanger commerce in Lagos.

The treaty was a tactical success for Kosoko who got the British to recognize his state in Epe.

In 1860, Kosoko persuaded the Oba of Benin to send messages to Dosunmu pressing him to allow Kosoko's return to Lagos.

Kosoko died in 1872 and was buried at Iga Ereko in Lagos.

Oba Dosunmu's supporters didn't fully appreciate the British presence in Lagos, while Kosoko's allies exploited the relationship.

Kosoko's camp comprised men such as Oshodi Tapa and Taiwo Olowo, who enthusiastically entered into trade with European firms.

When Kosoko died, the colonial government estimated that his economic faction was the more powerful one due to the fact that it was composed of at least 20,000 followers.

Two prominent descendants of his are Omoba Jide Kosoko, a noted Nollywood actor and Adekunle Gold, an Afro-Pop Nigerian artist.