IKORODU OGA: A BRIEF HISTORY

Photo credit: Majekodunmi Feyishayo

By: Odumbo Adeola Ashabi

Majekodunmi Feyishayo Damilola

Undoubtedly, Ikorodu is one of the most cultured and civilized place in Lagos state. Before now Ikorodu was a massive forest in the early seventeenth century, it was used for game hunting and farming by the Princes of Shagamu,  ( The children of Ọba Koyelu - The second Akarigbo of Orilẹ Offin. The eldest of them was Olusoga also known as Oga, followed by Lasunwon, Rademo, Anoko, Osonusi, Igimisoje, Kilaro, Oladepo and lastly Sekumade.) Oga was said to be the most powerful and influential of them all.

The prince of shagamu only used the area as a camp, not until they discovered how strategic the area was for doing business as traders from Shagamu, Ijebu and Epe started traveling on the particular road along the same route regularly. the brothers now decided to make it their permanent settlement.

In an area in ikorodu, a particular  vegetable specie  called 'Odu' was discovered- it was a kind of vegetable that blackens, they immediately put it to good use by it to dye clothes.The traders usually refer to the settlement as OKO-ODU meaning Odu farm.It was later renamed  to Okorodu and subsequently to "Ikorodu".

As the settlement began to expand, the prince of shagamu took responsibility for the expansion of the village.

The reason why the people of Ikorodu are called Ikorodu oga and why they are deeply affirmed to the celebration of Ikorodu oga,was to celebrate the life and time of a great and successl hunter named Oga (the eldest son of the king of shagamu Oba Koyelu The Second Akarigbo) who killed an elephant.

Today, when you get to the Ikorodu roundabout, you find a gigantic statue at the Ikorodu round about signifying the bravery of a man.

 

Edited by: luqman shukurah temitope

Published by:Mondiu sherifat oluwaseun