‘Why the history of #Lagos is incomplete without Oba Morounfolu Esinlokun aka
Oba #Kosoko’
The rich history and legacies of Oba Kosoko must be preserved because it is the true story of Lagos, Oloja of Lagos-elect, Abiola Olojo-Kosoko, has said.
He stressed it is important to document the #Kosoko heritage so generations unborn will meet the truth in history.
Kosoko, he said, is perhaps the reason Lagos is blessed with booming trade.
The Oloja-elect spoke at Iga Kosoko (Kosoko’s palace) as part of activities to document the true story of Lagos. The project is sponsored by Lagos State Council of Arts and Culture, in partnership with WikiLoves Lagos and Wikifactcheckers Team.
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He said: “The story of Lagos is the story of Kosoko, my progenitor. You cannot tell the true Lagos story without recourse to him.
“His real name was Morounfolu Esinlokun. Kosoko, (no hoe to dig his grave), is a nickname which stuck because of circumstances surrounding his birth. He was an ‘abiku’. And after reincarnating about seven times, his great-grandfather, Fikayomi Alaagba (alagbebi), renowned herbalist, told his grandfather, Ologunkutere, who was king, the boy should not be buried but left by the seashore on his next death.
He was then described as omo ti ko si oko ta fi ma gbe ile sin (the child whose grave could not be dug because there was no hoe).”
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Abiola also noted Morounfolu, perhaps, got his spiritual prowess because of his special nature, and this he displayed.
The business part of Kosoko’s life is important because once he was forced to leave Lagos, following British bombardment, the economy crippled.
And it took his official reinstatement to revive things.
He added: “Morounfolu was the driver of Lagos economy back in time. His younger brother, Idewu, pronounced him the Oloja to keep peace in the land. He even had his own palace close to the market.
This meant that he had control over all markets in Lagos. He collected levies and gave his brother whatever he liked. Even after his brother’s death, and his uncle, Adele Ajose, was crowned king, Morounfolu continued as the Oloja.
It was he who named his uncle’s wife, Efunroye Tinubu, the first Iyaloja of Lagos.
“He grew up in the Iga Iduganran palace because his grandfather, Ologunkutere, was the king. He was actively involved in the slave business because that was the business of Iga Idunganran.
Other merchants from outside Lagos also preferred to transport their slaves through the Kososko Port because it was the safest and deepest to harbor their ships.
“But when Kosoko left following the British bombardment, Lagos suffered economic meltdown, partly because he shut down all the markets to boost the one at Port Palmer.
It took an agreement between him, the British forces (Queen), Oba Dosumu and other concerned parties, before he returned to Lagos as the Oloja of Lagos. And though the slave trade had ended, things took a positive turn with his return.
“These historical facts are still very available in Kosoko’s palace. There is a museum filled with artifacts and relics about Kosoko’s life and times. These things stand as a true memorial that Kosoko’s life indeed tells the true story of Lagos.”
