Kunle Adelabu
The King Kosoko family of Lagos, will today, Thursday, April 1, 2021, unveil the rehabilitated historic palace of the late Lagos monarch who reigned between 1845 and 1851 and later became the Oloja of Ereko after returning from exile from Epe.
The Kosoko family, which had for decades grappled with crisis, recently elected Prince Abiola Olojo – Kosoko as Oloja – elect as part of the royal family’s attempt to protect its traditional importance and preserve the legendary progenitor’s legacies and achievements, especially his historical values.
To mark the anniversary of the palace, which, according to the family, is currently experiencing rehabilitation for the first time since its construction 160 years ago, the family has retrieved some of the late monarch’s artifacts and restored them for keep in the palace.
Some of these relics are his royal and social chairs, carrier and war relics like canon, swords, dane guns, scepter, etc.
Also within the palace are shrines accommodating more than ten deities, statues of Eyo and Gelede masquerades among others.
There is also a section within the palace called ‘King Kosoko’s grove’ where the remains of the monarch was buried.
The bombardment of Lagos, which was the most powerful and active slave port in West Africa during the era of active slave trade, happened in 1851 during the reign of King Kosoko and this crisis forced him to go on exile to Epe with his chiefs, soldiers and followers.
He returned to Lagos after the British annexed Lagos via the Treaty of 1861 with the title of Oloja of Ereko and was receiving pension of 400 pounds annually.
The late monarch died in 1872 and was buried at Ereko’s palace.
According to Prince Abiola Olojo – Kosoko, the Oloja of Lagos elect, while speaking with THE IMPACT which was given exclusive right to access the palace before the unveiling, said that the Ereko palace was built for King Kosoko by the British on his return to Lagos.
He added that the rehabilitated and former Oloja’s relics will be unveiled on Thursday, April 1.
“The palace was the official resident of the first Oloja of Lagos built by the British for King Kosoko on his return to Lagos from Epe”, he said.
“We are going to unveil the palace after its rehabilitation alongside other relics of King Kosoko, the first Oloja of Lagos.
“The palace will be 160 years old on April 1 while it will be 149 years on April 15 that the late Oloja joined his ancestors and he was buried inside the palace which makes the place an important monument in Lagos”, he added
‘We have concluded plans to return and showcase his relics in the palace”.
The Oloja – elect also stated that the celebration will be low – key due to COVID -19 pandemic that is till ravaging the world and other factors.
Prince Sikiru Adeoye Kosoko, also speaking with THE IMPACT, the General Secretary of the Kosoko family, said that the family is planning to make the anniversaries of the palace and that of the late monarch low – key events due to Ramadan period that is commencing soon.
He stated that the significance of the two celebrations are the renovation of the palace and restoration of some of King Kosoko’s relics within it for public view.
“We are celebrating the 149 years of the demise of our ancestor, King Kosoko, and the 160th anniversary of the unveiling of his palace”, he said.
“The significance is much because since the demise of King Kosoko, there has been no improvement in this palace but we are now doing the renovation”.
Most of the relics that you are seeing around belong to our father. These are just few of them because there are still so much more that we inherited.
He also revealed that the family is planning to make the palace a museum to accommodate all the King Kosoko’s relics as a way of showcasing his historical values to the general public.
“We are planning our own museum here and the family is very much ready to showcase all these artifacts to the public. In future, we are planning to make the King Kosoko palace a place where people, tourists and researchers could visit”, Kosoko family Secretary said.
“King Kosoko was a great King and he was buried in this palace. Also, his last son, Oteniya and his grandson, Aminu, both who also mounted Oloja stool at various period, were buried here too.
“We also have many of our deities in this palace and we still have great belief in them, regarding their potency”.
Speaking further on the two anniversaries, Prince Kosoko said:
“Initially, we intended to make a very large and elaborate celebrations but due to Ramadan, we are making the events low key and probably do the elaborate thing later.
“More so, it would be 150 years of the demise of King Kosoko next year and we may be doing the major celebration of the anniversary of his death then but we must carry along most of his followers in Epe, Epetedo, Isale Eko, Ejinrin and many other towns as well as those outside Nigeria.
He commended the new Oloja – elect, Prince Abiola Olojo – Kosoko, and the family head, Alhaja (Chief) Mutiat Ashabi Ali – Balogun, for the new developments within the Kosoko family.
Prince Kosoko also charged to come together with others to move the family forward.
“Since the emergence of Prince Tiamiyu Abiola Olojo Kosoko as Oloja –elect, there have been new developments in the family and whosoever is a member of this family, I would urge them to join hands with everyone here to ensure the success of what we are doing which is to carry on the legacies of King Kosoko and make our next generation aware of there values”, he appealed.
“Our Olori Ebi in particular, Alhaja (Chief) Mutiat Ashabi Alli – Balogun who is a mother indeed and will continue to be a mother. In her lifetime, we are renovating the palace and making it look as it was then in the 18th century.
“We have remodeled the palace with the assistance of my great brother, Prince Abiola Oloja – Kosoko and by the time this place is fully renovated, people will be coming here with their friends and relatives to appreciate the historical importance of King Kosoko because we are going to be having our own museum here to showcase the heritage of our forefathers.
“This is just the beginning for the King Kosoko family in Lagos and globally”.
