Ashipa

Ashipa, the founder of the Lagos royal dynasty but uncrowned as Oba of Lagos,[2] whom all Obas of Lagos trace their lineage to,[3] was a war captain of the Oba of Benin. Ashipa was rewarded with title of Head War Chief/Oloriogun[4] and received the Oba of Benin's sanction to govern Lagos.[5] Some Benin accounts of history have the Ashipa as son or grandson of the Oba of Benin.[6] According to the Yorubas Ashipa was an Awori Yoruba man who held the title of Ashipa of Isheri. Other accounts note that Ashipa is a Yoruba corruption of the Benin name Aisika-hienbore (translated "we shall not desert this place").[7]

Ashipa
1st Oba of Lagos
Reignc.1682-1716[1]
SuccessorAdo
BornAisikahienbore
Benin
Died1716
Lagos
Burial
Benin
IssueAdo

Ashipa received a sword and royal drum as symbols of his authority from the Oba of Benin on his mission to Lagos. Additionally, the Oba of Benin deployed a group of Benin officers charged with preserving Benin's interests in Lagos. These officers, led by Eletu Odibo, were the initial members of the Akarigbere class of Lagos White Cap Chiefs.[4]

References
  1. Slavery and the Birth of an African City. p. 29.
  2. Aimiuwu, O.E.I. Ashipa: the first Oba of Lagos. Nigeria Magazine, Issues 100-104, Government of Nigeria 1969. pp. 624–627. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  3. Mann, Kristin (2007). Slavery and the Birth of an African City: Lagos, 1760-1900. Indiana University Press, 2007. p. 45. ISBN 9780253348845.
  4. Herskovits Kopytoff, Jean. A Preface to Modern Nigeria: The "Sierra Leoneans" in Yoruba, 1830 - 1890. University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 64–65.
  5. Folami, Takiu (1982). A History of Lagos, Nigeria: The Shaping of an African City. Exposition Press. p. 22. ISBN 9780682497725.
  6. Smith, Robert (January 1979). The Lagos Consulate, 1851-1861. University of California Press, 1979. p. 4. ISBN 9780520037465.
  7. Cole, Patrick (1975-04-17). Modern and Traditional Elites in the Politics of Lagos. Cambridge University Press, 1975. p. 12. ISBN 9780521204392.
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