Territories of the Awori

The Territories of the Awori are a part of Nigeria inhabited by the Awori tribe sub-ethnic group of the Yoruba people, speaking a distinct dialect of the Yoruba language. Traditionally, Awori are found in two Nigerian States: Ogun and Lagos. The Awori people migrated from Ile Ife and occupied the present day Lagos state.[1] Post-colonial creation of States and local governments influenced the splitting of the homogenous people into the present Ogun and Lagos States in South-western Nigeria. Awori towns in Ogun State are Otta, Igbesa, Ilobi and Tigbo.

This article is about the territories of the Awori people. For further information on the tribe, see Awori tribe.

The traditional territory of the Awori extends from latitude 60 30’ N from the extreme east and a landmass along the coast is over 350,000 hectares (3,500 km2) with less than twenty percent made up of lagoons, creeks and coastal estuaries.

Territories with significant inhabitants

The Awori could be grouped into two major divisions. These are the early Awori and the latter Awori groups. Among the early Awori group of settlement are Isheri, Otto-Olofin, Iddo, Ebute Metta, Apa, Ibereko as well as Otta and Ado-Odo in Ogun state of Nigeria. A common feature of these settlements is that they were founded before 1500. They also have a related migratory history and recognise Ogunfunminire as their progenitor. The later settlement include Ojo, Itire, Mushin, Iba, Otto-Awori, Ijanikin, Ilogbo Elegba, Ilogbo-Eremi, Iworo, Agbara, Imoore, lsunba, Alapako, Mosabo,Agia,Ibasa, irede, Ikaare, iyagbe Ilashe Igbologun, Itomaro, Oko-Ata, Ayimorafide, etc. all of which are post 1500 settlements.

The Awori whose ancestral home is Isheri-Olofin were in Lagos before the Benin invasion as propounded by the Olofin Adimula of Orile Isheri and supported by other Awori groups such as Apa, Ilogbo-Eremi, Ibereko, Oto, Ota, Ado-Odo and Igbesa. Post-independence political creation of States however saw the dispersal of the homogenous clan scattered around the present Ogun and Lagos State.

Lagos State

Awori is generally considered to be the earliest dominant tribe in Lagos, even though the throne for the Oba of Lagos had its origin from Benin.[2][3][4]

In an interview with The Punch, Nigerian lawyer and elder statesman, Lateef Olufemi Okunnu described the Aworis as being the original inhabitants of Lagos State. He noted that they settled in Lagos about half a millennium ago, long before the Bini invasion of Lagos.[5]

Sola Ebiseni, a former commissioner for environment in Ondo State and Awori-born legal practitioner in a publication for Vanguard, emphasized that early Awori territories in Lagos was governed through the Idejo chiefs, who had policies that ensured possession and increase of their land. He historically cited Awori as the second most populous indigenous tribe in Lagos, only surpassed by Ilaje people. Significant populations were described to have settled in Apapa, Ajegunle, Makoko, Iwaya, Bariga, Oko Baba, Oto, Ebute-Metta, Oyingbo, Ijora, Igbo Elejo, Ojo, Aloro Island (off the coast of Kirikiri) Ajah, Badore, Iton Agan, Oworonsoki, Agboyi, Bayeku etc.[6]

In 2017, Erelu Kuti of Lagos, Abiola Dosunmu controversially refuted claims that the Awori's were the original "owners" of Lagos. She described Lagos as firstly being an "extension of the Benin kingdom". She also stated that after the emigration of the Awori tribe from Ife, they were initially paying royalties to the Oba of Benin.[7] Her position was denied by Oba of Lagos, who earlier espoused the significance of Bini in the creation of Lagos but claimed that the Benin were not the owners of Lagos.[8][9]

The Awori constitute the bulk of the indigenous population of sixteen, out of the twenty local government areas of Lagos State as at the year 2003, the only exceptions being Epe, Ikorodu and IbejuLekki with minimal Awori inhabitants. In these areas, they have developed many kingdoms and chiefdoms. Speaking against a proposed Lagoon State, Awori Welfare Association of Nigeria (AWAN) advocated for more local governments for Aworiland, instead of creation of more states as marginalization of minorities will come to play if done. They also identified the insensitivity of the actors due to lack of consultation as a reason for their refusal. Apapa, Iganmu, Somolu, Bariga, Akoka, Eti-Okun, Iwerekun, Kosofe, Agboyi, Ketu, Obalende/lkoyi, Iru/Victoria Island, Eti-Osa East, Eti-Osa West, Eti-Osa Central, Etikun, Ibeshe and Majidun towns were described as Aworiland in the proposed state.[10]

Ogun State

The Awori people in Ogun State are located in Ogun West senatorial district, a portion that represents 37 percent of the entire area and 31% of the population in the state.[11][12]

References
  1. Oreva, Duke (September 6, 2017). "A brief history and belief of the original indigenes of Lagos". Pulse. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  2. Akinloye, Bayo. "Awori own Lagos land, Bini produce Oba – Prof. Smith". Punch. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  3. "The very first settlers in Lagos were the Awori people –Anibaba, ex-ICAN president". Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  4. "The very first settlers in Lagos were the Awori people –Anibaba, ex-ICAN president". Punch.
  5. "ICYMI: Awori are the original inhabitants, owners of Lagos — Okunnu". Punch. November 20, 2017. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  6. Ebiseni, Sola (June 4, 2017). "The history of Lagos and the aboriginal tribes". Vanguard. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  7. Kumolu, Charles (December 10, 2017). "Benin people 'owned' Lagos, Aworis paid royalties to them —Erelu Abiola Dosunmu". Vanguard. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  8. Olawoyin, Oladeinde (December 11, 2017). "I never said Benin owned Lagos – Oba Akiolu". Premium Times. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  9. Opejobi, Seun (May 3, 2017). "Why Lagos does not belong to Yorubas – Oba Akiolu". Dailypost. Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  10. Ojiego, Nnamdi. "Awori people back out of proposed Lagoon state". Retrieved 2018-04-29.
  11. "Ogun 2019: In Search of a Yewa/Awori Candidate". ThisDay. July 20, 2016. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
  12. "Give Awori Ogun gov seat". Punch. Retrieved 2018-05-01.
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