Iga Idunganran
Iga Idunganran is the Official Residence of the Oba of Lagos, situated on Lagos Island. It is also a tourist attraction.
History
The Lagos Island was originally owned by Aromire, an Ile-Ife nobleman, who used it as a fishing post. 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. 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 underwent additional modernization in 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, Aromire having used the land previously as a farm.
The ancient tombs
All the Obas 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 Obas are buried within the old palace except the Obas Adeniji Adele II and Adeyinka Oyekan II. A more befitting tomb will be erected to house future Obas.
The ancient shrines of Iga-Idunganran
These include:
Esu
Esu (pronounced Éshu) can be found at the exit gate of the Palace. Esu was brought from Benin. It is also known by many other names, the most prominent of which is the devil which was borrowed from Christianity. The Oba and his chiefs prayed at this shrine to ward off danger to Lagos (and later Nigeria generally) in times past. They also prayed there prior to leaving the palace for any private or official function to ward off evil. Moreover, before going out, the Oba is supposed to visit this shrine in order to be told how his journey will be. Questions such as whether the journey will be favorable and whether it is safe for the Oba to embark on such a journey would typically be asked.
Ogun
Ogun is the undergod of iron. Though not within the palace per se, there is a small edifice constructed for immediate access in the complex's grounds. The main shrine is situated outside the present walls of the palace, though it still falls under its jurisdiction. It has a priestess who handles its day-to-day 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 and priestesses depending on the priority and the occasion, and the perceived spiritual prowess of such people. Some of the items necessary for performing these rituals are bitter kola, kola-nuts, alligator pepper, palm oil, schnapps or any plain gin, chickens, pigeons, goats or rams and anything else the Ifa oracle may decree, short of a human life.