Delving into the captivating history of Ebute-Metta, a place steeped in cultural significance, offers a fascinating journey through time. As someone intimately acquainted with the area’s roots, particularly having grown up in Ebute-Metta and studied its history, here are intriguing insights:
- Awori Kingdom Roots: Ebute-Metta was once an integral part of the Awori Kingdom of Otto, with its capital situated at Otto just before Iddo en route to Lagos Island. The name Ebute-Metta, in Yoruba, translates to ‘The three Harbours,’ representing Iddo, Otto, and Oyingbo. In antiquity, Oba Oloto of Otto wielded control over these harbors, with agents collecting taxes from ships navigating through them.
- Christian Exodus from Abeokuta: In the 1850s, a significant tension between the Christian community and adherents of Traditional Religion in Abeokuta prompted a potential sectarian crisis. Fearing reprisals in the absence of European protectors, native Christian converts pleaded with departing European missionaries to take them to Lagos.
- Land Allocation Challenge: Arriving in Lagos, European missionaries sought land allocation for the Egba Christians from the King of Lagos. Facing space constraints, the King suggested contacting his brother, Oba (The Oloto), located just across the Lagoon. Oba Oloto agreed to provide a substantial tract of land, laying the foundation for the community of Ago Egba in Ebute-Metta.
- Street Naming Legacy: The settlers organized their new community, constructing St Jude’s Church and schools. Streets were named after European missionaries, colonial officers, and prominent Egba chiefs. Notable examples include Denton Street, Griffith Street, Freeman Street, King George V Street (later renamed Herbert Macaulay Street), and others.
- Pioneering Civil Servants: Residents of Ebute-Metta, known as Ago-Egba people, became pioneers in Nigeria’s civil service.
- Post-Amalgamation Transformation: Following the 1914 Amalgamation and the advent of railways, Ebute-Metta evolved into a key destination for those arriving from the hinterland to Lagos.
- Lisabi Hall and Railway Legacy: The construction of Lisabi Hall in 1938 marked a milestone. By this time, the descendants of the Ago-Egba community had become engineers, technicians, and civil servants of the Nigerian Railways, with significant interactions between the people of Ebute-Metta and the ‘Railway peoples.’
- Street Names Reflecting Heritage: Streets in Ebute-Metta were named after towns where trains made stops (Railway Stations), such as Kano, Jebba, and Borno way. Other streets were named after towns like Ondo, Ibadan, Abeokuta, and Lagos, reflecting the origins of early residents. Some streets retained names like Willoughby, Glover, and McCullumn, honoring colonial and missionary figures.
This historical narrative, shaped by Ago-Egba’s past, colonial influences, and the intertwining of cultures, paints a vivid portrait of Ebute-Metta’s multifaceted identity.
