REMEMBERING O̩BA AKITOYE, THE O̩BA OF LAGOS WHO WAS DETHRONED FOR BANNING SLAVE TRADE.

Akitoye (died September 2, 1853), sometimes wrongly referred to as Akintoye, reigned twice as O̩ba of Lagos; first, from 1841 to 1845, and a second time, from 1851 to 1853. His father was O̩ba Ologun Kutere and his siblings were O̩ba O̩s̩inloku and O̩ba Adele.

ASCENDANCY:

O̩ba Oluwo̩le was killed in 1841 when lighting triggered an explosion at the O̩ba's palace. Kingmakers would have invited Prince Koso̩ko̩ to become O̩ba but his whereabouts were unknown. Further, a feud between Eletu Odibo and Koso̩ko̩ prevented the Eletu from ensuring that Ko̩so̩ko̩ would be king.

Consequently, Akitoye (Koso̩ko̩'s uncle and younger brother to O̩s̩inlokun) was installed as the O̩ba of Lagos in 1841.

Madam E̩funpo̩roye Tinubu, the powerful merchant and slave trader who was previously married to Adele, supported Akitoye, her brother-in-law's installation as O̩ba over that of Koso̩ko̩.

AKITOYE'S OUSTER BY KOSO̩KO̩

In an attempt at reconciliation (met with fierce resistance from chiefs, not least Eletu Odibo) with his nephew, O̩ba Akitoye naively recalled Koso̩ko̩ to Lagos. Koso̩ko̩ returned to Lagos aboard the ship of the famous slave trader Jose Domingo Martinez. Akitoye tried to placate Koso̩ko̩ with gifts and granted him the title O̩lo̩ja of Ereko or owner of Ereko.

Koso̩ko̩ quickly consolidated his position and found support among many war chiefs and among the Muslim community. Eletu Odibo was concerned about Koso̩ko̩ power consolidation and departed for Badagry. In turn, Akitoye recalled Eletu Odibo from Badagry, leading Koso̩ko̩ to declare that if Eletu Odibo returned to Lagos, he would "make himself king".

A war of words ensued between O̩ba Akitoye and Prince Koso̩ko̩. Koso̩ko̩ sent his crier around Lagos singing "Tell that little child at court yonder to be careful; for if he is not careful he will be punished". Akitoye, in turn, deployed his crier singing "I am like a pin firmly driven into the ground, which is always hard to root out but ever remains firm". Koso̩ko̩ retorted "I am the digger who always roots out a pin".

The tensions led to an uprising named Ogun Olomiro (Salt Water War) by the Koso̩ko̩ faction in July 1845. The Koso̩ko̩ faction laid siege to the O̩ba's Palace for three weeks. Akitoye eventually accepted defeat, escaped up the lagoon to the north, and was granted safe passage through the Agboyi Creek by Oshodi Tapa, Koso̩ko̩'s war captain. Oshodi Tapa explained Akitoye's escape to Koso̩ko̩ by saying that Akitoye put his enemies in a trance. Akitoye thereafter arrived in Abe̩okuta where he was granted asylum.

Recognizing Akitoye's escape as a threat, Koso̩ko̩ demanded Akitoye's head from the E̩gbas who refused Koso̩ko̩'s demands. In December 1845, the E̩gbas provided the now deposed Akitoye with an escort to Badagry, the traditional town of refuge for Lagosians where he rallied his followers and built a partnership with European missionaries and with the British through their Consul John Beecroft.

Madam E̩funpo̩roye Tinubu and other Akitoye allies fled to Badagry upon Koso̩ko̩'s accession to the Lagos throne.

Exile at Badagry, alliance with British, and strategic about-face on slavery.

After mounting a failed offensive from Badagry to retake Lagos, Akitoye turned to the British, specifically to the Governor of Cape Coast requesting intervention on his behalf in exchange for conforming to British regulation on trade (including abolition).

In December 1850, Akitoye again appealed for British aid.

Akitoye's quote to the British......."My humble prayer...is, that you would take Lagos under your protection, that you would plant the English flag there, and that you would re-establish me on my rightful throne at Lagos and protect me under my flag; and with your help I promise to enter into a Treaty....to abolish the Slave Trade...and to establish and carry on lawful trade, especially with English merchants".

British intervention in Lagos, December 1851 resulting in Akitoye's second term as O̩ba.

A confluence of interests in Lagos from the now deposed Akitoye who allied himself with the anti-slavery cause in order to get British support, the Anglican missionaries in Badagry who were in contact with Akitoye, and E̩gba and European traders who wanted free movement of goods ratcheted up British intervention in Lagos.

Akitoye's anti-slavery position appears born of self-interest considering his connection with the well known slave trader Domingo Martinez who backed Akitoye's unsuccessful attack on Lagos in 1846.

On December 26, 1851, in what is now known as the Bombardment of Lagos or Reduction of Lagos, HMS Bloodhound, HMS Teazer, and a flotilla of boats mounted an attack on the O̩ba's palace. Koso̩ko̩ put up a spirited defense but by December 28, 1851, the battle known locally as Ogun Ahoyaya or Ogun Agidingbi (after boiling cannons) was over with Koso̩ko̩ and his followers fleeing to Ije̩bu.
Consequently, Akitoye was installed O̩ba of Lagos.

On January 1, 1852, Akitoye signed the Treaty between Great Britain and Lagos abolishing the slave trade.

DEATH AND LEGACY:

Akitoye died on September 2, 1853 and was succeeded by his son, O̩ba Dosunmu. Dosunmu believed Akitoye was poisoned by Koso̩ko̩'s loyal chiefs: Oshodi Tapa, Ajenia, and Ipossu.

Jean Herskovits raises the possibility that Akitoye may have committed ritual suicide, fitting the traditional pattern of rulers taking their own lives after failing to meet expectations; Akitoye may have realized that his bargain with the British significantly reduced his influence in Lagos.

To commemorate his death, the first ever E̩yo̩ Masquerades Festival procession was held in Lagos with funfare.

Akitoye's grandson Ibikunle Akitoye reigned as O̩ba of Lagos from 1925 to 1928.

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