The renowned and highly revered Kosoko family of Lagos, on today, Thursday, April 1, 2021, marked the 149th year since the passing of the famous king Kosoko.
The celebration also saw the unveiling oc the rehabilitated iconic and historic palace of the late Lagos monarch.
King was Lagos king between 1845 and 1851 and later became the Oloja of Ereko after returning from exile from Epe.
The Kosoko family, that had been enmeshed in crisis for years on, recently elected Prince Abiola Olojo Kosoko as Oloja.
Entrance of the rehabilitated Palace
The election was part of the as part of the royal family’s attempt to reassert itself in grand scheme of things of Lagos traditional institutions and also protect its traditional importance and preserve the legendary progenitor’s legacies and achievements, especially his historical values.
The Impact reports that, To mark the anniversary of the palace, which, according to the family, has undergone rehabilitation for the first time since its construction 160 years ago, the family has retrieved some of the late monarch’s artifacts and treasures and restored them for keep in the palace.
King Kosoko’s Canon
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 housing more than ten deities, statues of Eyo and Gelede masquerades among others.
The deities
The front view of the rehabilitated Palace
There is also a section within the palace called ‘King Kosoko’s grove’ where the remains of the monarch was buried.
The blitzkrieg 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, the Ereko palace was built for King Kosoko by the British on his return to Lagos.
King Kosoko’s royal chair as Oloja of Ereko (right) and other chairs placed inside the renovated palace.
King Kosoko’s royal chair as Oloja of Ereko (right) and other chairs placed inside the renovated palace.
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”.
The house of deities
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