Rise and Fall of the Yoruba Kingdom of Lagos: Awori Origins, Benin Influence, and the Explosive Clash That Ended a Kingdom

By Collins JK. Smith

Before Lagos became a megacity, it was a kingdom of warriors, traders, and kings... until the guns of empire came.

Long before the skyscrapers, traffic jams, and neon lights, Lagos was Eko - a fishing village that rose to become a powerful kingdom at the crossroads of West Africa's greatest empires. From the proud Awori settlers to the thunderous rule of Benin's viceroys, from the rise of the slave trade to the bloody Christmas Bombardment of 1851, the Kingdom of Lagos stood at the heart of war, wealth, and betrayal.

In this gripping, cinematic true history, you'll walk the crowded markets where gold was replaced by human lives. You'll hear the whispered plots in royal courts, the clash of Dahomey warriors, and the thunder of British cannons that shattered centuries of independence. You'll witness the final act in 1861 when a king's hand signed away his crown - and Lagos was transformed forever into the British Empire's gateway to Nigeria.

Inside, you will discover:

- The untold story of how Lagos rose from a lagoon village to a West African powerhouse.

- The political genius of Benin's viceroys and the tribute system that shaped the city's fate.

- How the Atlantic slave trade turned Lagos into a global hub of wealth and danger.

- The brutal wars and rivalries that weakened the kingdom from within.

- The shocking truth behind Britain's "philanthropic" abolition mission.

Meticulously researched yet told with the fire of a storyteller, this book brings to life the courage, ambition, and tragedy of a kingdom that refused to be forgotten.

Whether you are a history lover, a student of African heritage, or a curious reader who wants to uncover the real story behind one of the world's greatest cities, this is the history you were never taught - the story of Lagos before the city lights.

Step back in time. Witness the rise and fall. Feel the heartbeat of a lost kingdom.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FLWJJPLF
• ISBN13: 9798297284029
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"