Lagos wasn’t originally called Lagos: The history of Lagos and its Portuguese name

SUMMARY

• Lagos was originally called Oko by the native Awori and then Eko, a name given by the Benin Kingdom when it was established as a military and trading post.

• The city became a major port in the transatlantic slave trade, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries.

• The name Lagos was introduced by Portuguese explorers and later solidified under British colonial rule.

Lagos is famous today as Nigeria’s economic hub, but it wasn’t always this way. 

Long before it became a megacity, it was known as Oko by the native Awori and then Eko—a key centre for trade and regional politics that eventually became a major port in the transatlantic slave trade.

To understand how Lagos got its name, we have to look past the word itself and look into the history of power and colonial influence in West Africa.

Long before Europeans arrived, the area we now call Lagos Island was known as 'Oko' to the native Awori, a subgroup of the Yoruba people. Later, it was named Eko, which came from the Benin Kingdom as it expanded its reach.

History tells us that Eko started as a military outpost for the Oba of Benin’s army. In fact, the name Eko actually means a war camp, which makes sense given how important the location was for controlling the local waterways and trade routes.

Eventually, this simple military base grew into a busy port town, perfectly positioned between the lagoons and the Atlantic Ocean.

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By the 1700s and 1800s, Eko (Lagos) was a key player in the Transatlantic Slave Trade, a period that changed the world forever.

Under the rule of Oba Kosoko, Lagos became a major trading port where enslaved people were sold to European traders waiting along the coast.

This history is well-recorded and explains why European powers became so interested in controlling the area.

Eventually, this led to a showdown. In 1851, the British Navy attacked the city in what’s known as the Bombardment of Lagos, intending to stop the slave trade and remove Kosoko from the throne.

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The name 'Lagos' came from Portuguese explorers. In 1472, a Portuguese explorer, Rui de Sequeira, named the area around the city Lago de Curamo, meaning Lake of Curamo.

It is also widely believed that they named the area after Lagos, a major port town in Portugal. It was a common practice for European explorers to rename new places after familiar ones back home.

The Portuguese were among the first Europeans to establish long-term trade along the West African coast, initially dealing in pepper and ivory and, later, enslaved people.

Since "Lagos" means "lakes" in Portuguese, the name probably reflects the region’s many lagoons and waterways.

But before they named it Lagos, it was initially referred to as Onim.

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After the 1851 intervention, Lagos went through a major political change. In 1861, the British Empire formally took control, and it became the Colony of Lagos.

During this time, the British worked to stop the transatlantic slave trade and started focusing on trade for goods like palm oil and cotton. 

As the city grew into a hub for this new kind of commerce, missionary work, and Western education also began to spread. 

These changes eventually made the name "Lagos" the standard name used in laws and around the world.

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Even with hundreds of years of foreign influence, the name Eko hasn’t gone anywhere.

For the Yoruba people, Eko is still a part of everyday life.

You’ll hear it in normal conversations on the street and during traditional ceremonies and festivals.

It’s a staple in local music and modern pop culture.

The fact that people still call it Eko shows a deep, lasting connection to the city’s roots, even as it grows into a massive global hub.

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Lagos is often described as a city that never sleeps, but its history is just as lively. From its beginnings as a settlement called Eko to the European name Lagos, the city’s identity reflects centuries of global connection.

Understanding this history adds depth to a place millions call home — and reminds us that behind every name lies a story worth telling.

• Encyclopaedia Britannica — Transatlantic Slave Trade

A verified overview of how the slave trade operated globally, including its scale (10–12 million people transported) and its links to West African coastal ports.

• Encyclopaedia Britannica — Abolitionism

Explains how growing anti-slavery movements in Europe and America led to the suppression of the slave trade in the 19th century, including British actions along the West African coast.

• Wikipedia - History of Lagos

A compiled historical overview of Lagos, including its origins as Eko, Portuguese naming, involvement in trade, and British annexation.