Ologun Kutere

Ologun Kutere
Oba of Lagos
Reign c. 1780 - 1806
Predecessor Akisemoyin
Successor Adele Ajosun
Born Ologun Kutere
Lagos
Died c. 1803
Lagos
Issue Eshinlokun, Adele Ajosun, Akiolu, Olukoya, Olusi and Akitoye.
House Ado, Ologun Kutere
Father Alaagba
Mother Erelu Kuti

Ologun Kutere was the 5th Oba of Lagos succeeding his uncle, Akisemoyin. He was the son of Alaagba, a traditional adviser to Oba Akisemoyin and Erelu Kuti. He succeeded his uncle as Oba of Lagos in 1780. He was one of the earliest successors to the throne through a matrilineal line.

Life

Kutere's father was a famous medicine man in Lagos during the middle 1700s.[1] During his reign, trade between Lagos and Ijebu increased, the Ijebu's brought food stuff in exchange of salt, tobacco and spirits, products obtained from Portuguese slave traders. He also made trade policies that was favorable to many businesses including slave traders. He introduced less regulation and low taxes which enabled Lagos to become a rival port city to Ouidah. It was during his era that the French banned slave trade after the French Revolution which made it more difficult for slave traders in Porto Novo but more favorable to those in Lagos. The city's population grew from an estimated population of 5,000 in the 1780s to 20,000 by the 1810s.[2] Kutere enhanced the military power of Lagos based on a utilizing a large fleet of war canoes that launcheed a successful attack on Badagry.

Kutere had many children among whom were future Obas, Eshinlokun, Adele Ajosun, and Akitoye. Other children included Akiolu, Olukoya, and Olusi.

References

  1. Olupona 2008, p. 177.
  2. Law, Robin. “THE CAREER OF ADELE AT LAGOS AND BADAGRY, C. 1807 - C. 1837”. Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria 9.2 (1978): 35–59

Sources

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