The Indigenous Peoples of Lagos and Where Their Communities Are Located

Lagos is often described as Nigeria’s commercial capital, a city where people from virtually every part of the country have found a home. But beneath its busy roads, high-rise buildings and expanding neighbourhoods is a much older story, one shaped by indigenous communities whose histories stretch back centuries.

Before Lagos became the sprawling megacity it is today, different communities occupied and developed its islands, coastal settlements and mainland territories. Their languages, traditions, festivals, family names and cultural practices remain part of the identity of Lagos.

One of the most prominent indigenous groups associated with Lagos is the Awori. The Awori are traditionally regarded as the indigenous people of much of Lagos, particularly Lagos Island and several mainland areas. Historical Awori settlements can be found across places such as Lagos Island, Ikeja, Agege, Alimosho, Ojo, Badagry and parts of the Lagos mainland. Many traditional communities in these areas retain Awori roots and customs.

The Egba people also have historical connections with parts of Lagos. Over generations, communities and families with Egba heritage became established in different parts of the city, particularly around areas such as Agege, Ikeja and other mainland communities. Their presence reflects the long history of movement and interaction between Lagos and neighbouring Yoruba territories.

On the western side of the state is Badagry, a historic coastal town with a rich indigenous and multicultural heritage. The area is strongly associated with the Egun and Awori peoples, alongside other communities that settled there over time. Its location along the Atlantic coast and proximity to present-day Benin Republic made Badagry an important centre for trade and cultural exchange.

The Egun people, also known as Ogu, have deep roots in coastal communities around Lagos and neighbouring areas of the Benin Republic. In Lagos State, they are particularly associated with Badagry, Ajara, Seme and surrounding communities. Their language, festivals, traditional institutions and cultural practices remain an important part of Lagos' heritage.

Ikorodu also has a distinct indigenous history. The area developed as an important settlement and trading centre and became home to communities with longstanding cultural connections to the region. Its location along waterways contributed significantly to its development and commercial importance.

Beyond these major communities, Lagos has numerous indigenous settlements and family lineages whose histories are tied to specific villages, waterfronts, islands and mainland communities. Some of these settlements have been absorbed into the rapidly expanding urban environment, while others continue to maintain their traditional identities.

It is important to understand that modern Lagos cannot be divided neatly according to one indigenous group per local government area. Centuries of migration, intermarriage, trade, political changes and urban expansion have created communities where different groups live alongside one another.

For example, Lagos Island has historically been closely associated with the Awori, but today it is home to people from many backgrounds. The same is true of Ikeja, Surulere, Mushin, Agege, Alimosho, Ikorodu, Badagry and other parts of the state.

This mixture is one of the defining characteristics of Lagos.

The city grew from a collection of indigenous settlements into a major port, colonial centre and commercial metropolis. As its economic importance increased, people arrived from neighbouring Yoruba communities, other parts of Nigeria and eventually from countries across West Africa and beyond.

Yet the indigenous communities remain important because they provide a connection to Lagos' history before the modern city emerged.

Traditional rulers, family compounds, festivals, oral histories, indigenous languages and ancestral settlements continue to preserve aspects of that history. In communities such as Badagry, Lagos Island and Ikorodu, the past can still be seen in traditional institutions, historic buildings, festivals and longstanding family lineages.

Understanding the indigenous peoples of Lagos therefore means looking beyond the image of Lagos as simply a modern commercial city. The skyscrapers, businesses, entertainment districts and busy highways are only one chapter of its story.

Behind them is an older Lagos — a Lagos of fishing communities, farming settlements, waterways, traditional rulers, marketplaces and indigenous families whose histories helped lay the foundation for the megacity that exists today.

As Lagos continues to expand, preserving the stories and cultural heritage of its indigenous communities becomes increasingly important. The modern city may be changing rapidly, but its roots remain deeply connected to the people and communities that shaped its earliest settlements.