Anago James Akeem Osho is a cultural preservationist, creative and passionate research support,

historian, curator, tour guide, public speaker, author, storyteller, children care and nature
conservationist. Anago Osho has worked with professionals from diverse subject background and
travelers from all over the world. He teaches visitors about Nigeria, Benin Republic, Togo, West
Africa, Africa, Africa Diaspora and it's history, people, locations and it's many land marks and
exciting attractions.

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HISTORY OF THE
ANCIENT LEKKI TOWN-
LAGOS BY ANAGO JAMES
AKEEM OSHO
May 06, 2017

Lekki is very important in the old and new Lagos. Lekki Peninsular is from around

Mobil Lagos Victoria Island to the Niger Delta. 

 
Lekki is an historical and ancient town. It is very close to Epe, Ikorodu, Victoria

Island and Lagos Island.

The town was formerly known as Ileke by the local people until the arrival of the

Portuguese Trader called Mr Lecqi. People referred to the area where Lecqi was

living by his name. So, the local people will say to each other that they are going

to Lekki’s place and eventually, everywhere became known as Lekki. 

Mr Lecqi and his contemporaries were engaged in salt making and slave trading.

The Ileke people, whose town became known as Lekki from the name of the

Portuguse settler Mr Lecqi, were originally from Ile Ife and settled down at Ijebu

Ode. From Ijebu Ode, they settled down at Ilara and from Ilara to Epe. From Epe,

they settled at Ileke called Lekki today. Ebute Lekki on the Lagoon side is about

one kilometer from the coast.

The people’s occupation was primarily Salt making, Farming, and fishing. 
Lotu, the son of Labolo was the one who led the people from Ilara to Ileke(Lekki).

Lotu gave birth to five children. 

Namely:

1, Ope

2, Ogunbamade

3, Oreti

4, Efularo

5, ?

The five children were females and among them, only Efularo did not bear a child.

After the death of Lotu, Ope returned back to the present location called Lekki. It

was here that she gave birth to Ogunbeku.

Ogunbeku was one of the major local slave traders that were supplying MrLecqi

slaves that were acquired from the hinterland.

The characteristic of the different communities speaks of the events and abolition

of the slave trade because some of the freed slaves could not locate their root

when the British forced the African and European slave merchants to stop.

The evidence is seen in the Languages and Cultures of the enslaved as they

eventually settled down along the Lekki Lagoon.

There are two basic lagoons in Lagos. The Lagos Lagoon, and the Lekki Lagoon.

When Ogunbeku died, his corpse was returned back to Epe where he was buried.

TRADITIONAL FESTIVALS IN LEKKI

The people today are Muslims and Christians. Yet, traditional festivals are

revered. The god, Ogun is celebrated anytime in the Lekki environ as the occasion

demand. Imale-Masquerades are celebrated annually. Other traditional festivals

are:

Agbo, 

Akalagunle,

Igede, 

Efonnise, 

Alaro, 

etc.