HistoNaijaOpen the map

War · c. 1550–1578

Benin’s war camp at Eko

Oba Orhogbua carried Benin’s wars west along the lagoons and made the Awori island a Benin war camp, Eko.

See it on the old map

Overview

Oba Orhogbua carried Benin’s wars west along the lagoons and made the Awori island a Benin war camp, Eko. Ashipa, remembered in Benin as Orhogbua’s son or grandson, became its first ruler, founding the dynasty whose Obas still reign in Lagos. Lagos paid tribute to Benin until about 1830.[1],[2],[3]Medium confidence

Who took part

What happened

  1. c. 1550s · Eko (Lagos Island)

    The war camp

    The Benin army camps on the island. Benin tradition takes the name Eko from the Edo for a war camp.

  2. Late 16th century · Eko (Lagos Island)

    Ashipa, first ruler of Lagos

    Ashipa is installed, and Edo chiefs found the lineages that serve the new court. The tribute to Benin lasts until about 1830.

Kingdoms involved

Sources

Every claim carries a confidence level: high (well attested), medium (one source or approximate) or disputed (sources disagree).

  1. Wikipedia contributors. Orhogbua (cited elsewhere, not yet checked directly)
  2. Wikipedia contributors. History of Lagos (cited elsewhere, not yet checked directly)
  3. Ryder, A. F. C. (1969). Benin and the Europeans, 1485–1897. Longmans, London (cited elsewhere, not yet checked directly)
  4. HistoNaija owner. (2026). Owner's notes on the reach of Igala, Benin, Oyo and Aro, the British conquests, and migrations (hintsPrompts/doc1.md)