Iga Idunganran

Iga Idunganran is the Official Residence and Palace of the Oba (King) of Lagos and is situated on the Lagos Island. It is also a tourist attraction and visitors are free to visit either under a group or individually.

History

The Lagos Island was originally owned by Aromire who used it as a fishing post while the ancient palace was initially built around 1630 and the modern part was completed and commissioned in 1960. The Portuguese added to the ancient building around(1670) thus making it one of the magnificent looking edifices of the time. Most of the materials used were brought in from Portugal. Recently modernized by the late Oba Adeniji Adele II and Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II, it is further undergoing modernization (2007/8) by the present Oba Akiolu in conjunction with the Lagos State government and the Nigerian Museum.

Name derivation

"IGA" derives from the Oyo/Ife Yoruba language "GAA" meaning Royal Home or Palace, "IDUN" means land, place or "sound of" while "IGANRAN" is the Yoruba word for pepper. Iga Idunganran therefore translates to mean "the Palace built on a pepper farm".

The ancient tombs

All the Oba's of Lagos before Oba Akintoye are buried in Benin City. Oba Akintoye was the first Oba of Lagos to be buried within the Modern Palace. A befitting tomb exists in the ancient palace. All other Oba's are buried within the Old Palace except Oba Adeniji Adele II and Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II. A more modern and befitting tomb will be erected to house future Oba's.

The ancient shrines of Iga-Idunganran

These include:
*"Esu", which can be found at the exit gate of the Palace. Esu was brought from Benin. It is also known by many other names prominent of which means "the devil". Whether it is the same Christian/Moslem devil still needs to be determined. The Oba (King)and Chiefs in times past prayed at this Shrine to ward off danger to Lagos (and later Nigeria generally). They also prayed there especially, prior to leaving the Palace for any private or official functions to ward off evil. Moreover, before going out the Oba is supposed to visit this shrine in order to foretell how the journey would be. Questions such as whether the journey would be favorable would be asked and whether it was safe for the Oba to embark on such a journey.

* "Sango", the god of iron. Though not within the Palace per se, there is a small edifice constructed for immediate access and is like a mini shrine. The main shrine to Sango the God of Iron is situated outside the present walls of the Palace though still on Palace grounds. I t has a priestess who handles its day-today running

Rites

Special rites/prayers are performed every sixteen days in the palace usually by the Araba of Lagos, Chief Ajanaku though the Oba does on occasion use other traditional priests depending on the priority and the occasion, and the perceived spiritual prowess of such person. Some of the ingredients for performing these rituals are bitter kola, kola-nuts, alligator pepper, palm oil, schnapps or any plane gin, chickens, pigeons, goats or rams etc. and according to the Ifa requirements.

For the avoidance of doubt this is modern day Nigeria and the Oba's have been strict Christians or Muslims who no longer permit human sacrifice.

Further reading

* [http://www.nigerians-abroad.com/news/states/southwest/comment-renovation-of-iga-iduganran-matters-arising/] * [http://lagosmegacityproject.com/history_of_lagos]