Seun Kuti has weighed in on the ownership dispute in Lagos, claiming that the territory was actually a European satellite slave port named by Portuguese traders.
The question of who owns Lagos is a long-standing one that has recently gained prominence due to the upcoming gubernatorial elections. Several groups have made conflicting claims about who owns the state.
In an Instagram post, Afrobeats musician Seun revealed that the Portuguese own Lagos because they were the first Europeans to arrive in the region. He reasoned that the Portuguese had a legal right to the land because they established a trading post there before other Europeans.
Kuti based his argument on the fact that the Portuguese named Lagos. He claims that naming something or someone gives ownership.
“Lagos is no man’s land – wrong. Lagos is yoruba land – wrong again. Lagos is a European satellite slave port – correct!! you don’t know Lagos!! Hey, ode look here, Lagos is a Portuguese word. It is called the slave coast. Learn your history, you no go gree.
“Everyone moved to Lagos to slave!! All prominent Lagos elites are slavers. Defend your masters all you want!! Why Ibadan no get Portuguese name? Wetin be the french name of Oshogbo? He who names it owns it,” he opined.