A taste of 1930's middle-class Lagos

Рет қаралды 105,281

8 жыл бұрын

Lagos has always been at the cusp of urbanisation and trendsetting in West Africa, even in the pre-Nigerian context (alongside Calabar and Accra of course). By the 1930's a new elite emerged, with a more widespread ethnic demographic. Educated, well travelled, confident, they came to form the Lagos elite of the era. I have put together a few images of people and places from the era. A few of these were not resident in Lagos (Ulasi, Egbe, Amobi and Essien), however the images were all captured in Lagos.
Archival footage of Lagos- Colonial Film archive. 'A taste of middle class 1930's Lagos' ©Ed Keazor 2016 All rights reserved.

Пікірлер: 206

@BankoleArt Жыл бұрын

Don't know why tears drop from ny eyes watching this. Maybe for the generation gone without considering their expensive suit wears or for us here 2023 typing. We'll be history too before 2099.

@conradsunkiojack7428 5 жыл бұрын

LISTEN TO THE UNADULTERATED PURELY INDEGINOUS AFRICAN MELODY IN THE BACKGROUND OF THIS VIDEO . AS A MUSIC ENTHUSIAST AND CONNOSSEUR, I AM INFINITELY IMPRESSED BY THE HIGH QUALITY OF SKILL AND TALENT DEMONSTRATED BY THE PLAYERS OF THE MOTLEY OF TRADITIONAL HAND MADE INSTRUMENTS . A SWEET SOLO RENDITION FROM A WOODEN XYLOPHONE CUTS INTO THE MIX FURTHER ACCENTUATING IT'S EXOTICISM AS A MIDWIFE OF SOUL, BLUES, JAZZ, FUNK AND ROCK ALL MELDED TOGETHER . THE PULSATING RHYTHM IS INSTANTLY INFECTIOUS MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL YOUR FEET .

@Yorubaddie 4 жыл бұрын

😳😳😳☹️

@adewumivictor7617 3 жыл бұрын

please speak english sir... lol

@eau7467 6 ай бұрын

Stop yelling

@knightandlord Жыл бұрын

This is the closest we’ve ever gotten to a time machine for the past. Those who were being filmed would never have imagined that a replica of their being would exist for descendants nearly a hundred years later.

@durojaiyeowoaje5469 4 ай бұрын

My father late Oba I.I. Owoaje is first standing from right in the clip of Lagos Lawn Tennis Club 1930

@ekeazor1 3 ай бұрын

Wonderful, thanks for identifying him

@destinyschild.9103 4 жыл бұрын

May their souls rest in peace. Life is a stage.

@olaosman2574 4 жыл бұрын

This are the days when people have respect, dignity and moral.

@eau7467 6 ай бұрын

Stop romanticising the past, life wasn't as good as you think it was.

@karinaduke_ 3 жыл бұрын

Ah....I love watching videos on Nigerian History😌

@joyandpeacefullaughter5307 3 жыл бұрын

Zik wa the definition of tall, dark, athletic, handsome, educated and a leader all in one. 🙌

@naturalblockade3412 Жыл бұрын

Do you get this information about Zik from the video or do you make it up?

@herbertmacaulay8987 4 жыл бұрын

I like how in spite of all the years of colonial influence, the Yorubas never lost their culture or language

@-xnnybimb-9398 3 жыл бұрын

I mean...they didn't just snatch the culture away lol

@petersosaruewerse6776 2 жыл бұрын

So the other tribes lost their culture or language?

@herbertmacaulay8987 2 жыл бұрын

@@-xnnybimb-9398 i mean...read for comprehension next time lol

@herbertmacaulay8987 2 жыл бұрын

@@petersosaruewerse6776 don't be intentionally dense please

@-xnnybimb-9398 2 жыл бұрын

@@herbertmacaulay8987 how about you understand colonialism mate

@debopopoola2159 7 жыл бұрын

This is beautiful. History must be documented and you have done that

@save_theworld 4 жыл бұрын

Why is history banned in Nigeria?

@tajikistan55 4 жыл бұрын

@@save_theworld it wasn't ban, it is only not appreciated and taken seriously due to educational sector been neglected by the so call elite that takes advantage of the national treasure

@orokbassey665 3 жыл бұрын

I wish I was born at this time. I love the simple and safe life, not now that we have so many madness and issues. This generation is a problem.

@chukwuemerie 3 жыл бұрын

OROK, DO YOUR BEST, LEAD A SIMPLE BUT FULFILLING LIFE. I REMEMBER USING COCOYAM LEAVES AS UMBRELLA WHILE ON TEN TOES TO AND FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL, YET WE WERE HAPPY.

@1anre 3 жыл бұрын

There’s was the internet or electricity or proper amenities or sufficient healthcare to treat various ailments back then, Pius colonialism wasn’t particularly fair to blacks when it came to do with employment, so it wasn’t a blissful euphoric period, like many like to think.

@Juwonlo_ 4 жыл бұрын

Me watching this clip with different perspective and thinking on how these people had lived and died. We are here today living like we are the first generation, history only remembers the notable ones among them... If u think about it deeply, you will see that life is an empty place

@MrSivram28 4 жыл бұрын

Thats why people should not take life so serious. It comes and goes

@sunlight.eyecare22 4 жыл бұрын

You've made me cry about this life so deep.

@dokorobia8713 4 жыл бұрын

Life isn't empty as there is spirit.

@casalprincipe8255 4 жыл бұрын

@Afri Media Bro you are speaking gramma the guy is right. .. life is an empty journey. .. you can have all the money in the world

@casalprincipe8255 4 жыл бұрын

@Afri Media ok

@Jeffreydefinitelynotdahmer 11 ай бұрын

Looking into the past through a glowing rectangle,this is what men of old would have called magic Technology is truly wonderful

@Hernameis994 4 жыл бұрын

Everyone in this video is either dead or in their 90s. Wow

@victoredwards3959 3 жыл бұрын

No , they are all dead , if you do the maths , a new born baby in the 1930 will be 91 yrs old today , those in the video are all old and even the youngest will have been in their teenage years. So unless there people today in Lagos who are 120 yrs old and over then, the people in this video are long gone.

@samolojede3949 3 ай бұрын

There are all resting in the Lord for sure!!! My Papa was 6 y.o in 1940. He's now 90. How would those great, great grandparents still be in existence. No no.... But, they all tried, mehnn.

@rocklandrockland2680 2 жыл бұрын

They were really sharp dressers back in the day. Really there is nothing new in this world. The cloths look just as good as they would today. So, it is foolhardy to fight for things that have no eternal value.

@Bjcrypto545 6 жыл бұрын

Love the Sound Track!

@kingslove666 6 жыл бұрын

Thank you, was so beautiful to watch

@kenmarcus6183 18 күн бұрын

My forefathers and the strength of ethics and values we rely on today. God bless their souls 🙏🏿❤️🕊️💡

@aframaco9491 9 ай бұрын

Can Nigerians see this ??? Can we all appreciate our country more? In recent years on social media, there has been an upsurge of tribal jingoism, painfully from people who should know better! There are those "Lagos is solely for Yorubas" brigade! Then there are the "Nigeria is a zoo" biafran agitators brigade who keep tugging at the seams in a bid to cause secession. And yet as far back as the early 1930's , Lagos was already showing itself to be a truly melting pot . Over 90years ago and the melting pot of Yorubas, Igbo, Sierra Leoneans, Efik ,Itsekiri and others were present in Lagos! Even though this video was in 1932/33, I am sure that such diverse multi ethnicities existed even as far back as the early 1900's and the late 1890's !! In 2023, we should be doing so much better on a grander scale than ever! God bless Nigeria! 👊🏾🇳🇬👊🏾🇳🇬!

@illitrait 4 жыл бұрын

...great work as usual, Ed - more, please. Thanks.

@jaja_forever 3 жыл бұрын

This is a very beautiful insight into our history , super eye opening Deserves more cred. #foreverNigerian

@quincyileh1578 4 жыл бұрын

I wish I could go back in time and see how they lived peacefully and normally ,even the music's were meaningful ,now it's just the opposite

@markotv6761 3 жыл бұрын

Me too

@chidieze3513 11 ай бұрын

That fashola...he's the true father or grandfather of former Lagos governor.. Baba tunde fashola..their resemblance is just too much.

@manjmacada4595 2 жыл бұрын

Nice one, Ed. Thanks for keeping our history alive.

@Chataine91 6 жыл бұрын

The Bible says: Thou shall not ask what is the cause that the former days were better than these? For thou does not enquire wisely concerning this. I hear you preacher but I'm sorely tempted.

@FHIPrincePeter 3 жыл бұрын

Forget the Bible. Christianity was introduced by the Europeans because they could not understand the ways and religions of Yourba, Igbo and other nations as there were not enough District Officers on the ground with time to understand them. By supplanting Christian religion over traditional beliefs it enable the Europeans to control the South more effectively. This was not required in the North having had hundred of years experience of Islam in India. By spouting the Bible it's merely a confirmation that European con trick had succeeded beyond measure.

@1anre 3 жыл бұрын

@@FHIPrincePeter Can you further break down how this took place in Nigeria, when the first converts were made & what sort of opposition the missionaries met when they went up north to try & spread Christianity & what stopped them from pushing ahead with it in the same way they ensured it spread in southern Nigeria?

@FHIPrincePeter 3 жыл бұрын

@@1anre Read the Biography of Fredrick Lugard by Margery Perham.

@1anre 3 жыл бұрын

@@FHIPrincePeter oh ok. I’d have to check if there’s a copy online to read. It breaks all this down in clear detail?

@Timelessnarratives123 2 жыл бұрын

So funny that these people under colonialism enjoyed Nigeria more than we that are free now.

@ekeazor1 2 жыл бұрын

A very interesting observation. Truth is that the 30s was characterised by some of the worst racism ever exercised by the colonials. Of course many today would argue that colonial supremacist oppression was replaced by an equally destructive form of oppression, the one we have inflicted on each other in one form or the other before and after 1960.

@nnadikwenorahchizobam6995 4 жыл бұрын

Quite memorable.and historical too. Thanks for a job well done🖒👊✋👏🍾🍷

@golderp 5 жыл бұрын

I love Eko.

@TheBabane02 4 жыл бұрын

Eko wenjele!!!😊

@maximumvoid5326 4 жыл бұрын

What happened and how can we bring it back?

@FesoJaiyeSoul 7 жыл бұрын

Hello, please what are the songs in this video? i need them in my life

@AUnigwe 7 жыл бұрын

orin Asape Eko: Irewolede Denge Oba Oyinbo: His Group: Tunde King

@sportsgeek4335 5 жыл бұрын

I need them too.Good music is universally accepted

@didoburns 4 жыл бұрын

Exacts thought I as I watched the video.

@bridgetbassey8762 4 жыл бұрын

Lushsoulfol/ Stewardofthearth 😄😀🤣😂

@thebeatnumber 4 жыл бұрын

I downloaded a CD of these songs by Irewole Denge and Tunde King.

@BajulayeAdeboye 10 ай бұрын

Watching dis makes me want to build a time machine and visit the place 😂

@OfficialChilledPower 3 жыл бұрын

Wow awesome

@s3enu 5 жыл бұрын

Ed Kudos Bro

@aiyeaiye1371 2 жыл бұрын

Nostalgic sights of a far gone era... (I wasn't even close to being born then. Even after the next 50 years) All this people once existed in the past and nowadays, can only be seen in images and videos thanks to all the new technologies. Ceaser, Napoleon and Hannibal have all missed out here. Maybe this was the immortality that the great Khan (Genghis Khan) sort after. Life is a charade because after we're gone all that's left is a bottomless pit of memories. Nothing matters (to the dead) anymore, practically not even the legacies or empires. We are truly empty.

@tounoni 5 жыл бұрын

These are pictures of familiar names (from street names) I was hoping there will be some reference to their various achievements. And many names are missing. I would have thought Daroca will be mentioned as the first African to buy a Rolls Royce as legend tells us. PJC Thomas (Stella Mark's father) was also the first Nigerian to run a very successful shipping business he owned many ships, the daughter Stella was the first female lawyer in Nigeria

@1anre 3 жыл бұрын

Heard Louis Ojukwu, Chukwuemeka’s Dad was the first to cop a Rolls Royce, what year did Darocha buy his?

@samueleweka 4 жыл бұрын

Ok, this was when people in Lagos were normal..now we are all mad..warey

@Yorubaddie 4 жыл бұрын

My people are not mad you non Yorubas made it mad.

@easybayoo 3 жыл бұрын

@@Yorubaddie this is why all ibo must leave Lagos immediately

@camilosittegassevol2944 3 жыл бұрын

@@easybayoo yoruba people shaa, i thought a yorubas and benin people are cousins?samuel Eweka a benin person says people are now mad in lagos and you leave him to attack igbo people?

@xQz00 3 жыл бұрын

@@Yorubaddie now is not the time to be tribalistic. You should know better for a young woman.

@eniolarotimi4907 2 жыл бұрын

It's because you people refuse to stay where you belong. Your states. Everybody wants to come to Lagos. Y'all should stay in your home towns.

@charlesking7331 5 жыл бұрын

I wish days like these will come back again for me to be part of it. This present Nigeria scare me to hell. Hearing that a president is dead and replaced by an imposture for close to two years now makes me to scare my surroundings here in Nigeria. I can stop thinking about it if it later become a truth.

@hasanx4637 5 жыл бұрын

dude this was the height of colonialism.

@kylereese4542 4 жыл бұрын

@@hasanx4637 Seems like we thrived under colonialism

@hasanx4637 4 жыл бұрын

@@kylereese4542 your mind is still colonized. how is that working out for you?

@kylereese4542 4 жыл бұрын

@@hasanx4637 I understand that you're trying to insult me, but are you able to identify a lie in my statement?

@hasanx4637 4 жыл бұрын

@@kylereese4542 dude , you are sick in the head If you think Africa thrived under colonialism. europe thrived, not Africa. They destroyed Africa. It'll taken decades fro Africa to repair itself. You're lost dude.

@tomatopaste1936 3 жыл бұрын

Those years when life was decent

@crystalclear6411 4 жыл бұрын

Lagos is truely the centre of excellence.setting the path of excellence for others to follow its trail.

@SimonDelucca 2 ай бұрын

What shook me aback, however . . . the lyrics of the first song - in praise of King George, Governor Bourdillon etc etc as `our baba` Then, kolo mentality . . . and that is why Blackman no go for moon, today

@monsudiibrahimadewale8155 3 жыл бұрын

Good job

@ToluwalojuJawando 5 жыл бұрын

Dr Abimbola Awoliyi of blessed memory

@durojaiyeowoaje5469 4 ай бұрын

She delivered me at Massey Children hospital in 1955

@tomatopaste1936 3 жыл бұрын

I wish we can turn back the hand of time though no much development but it was a peaceful place to be

@rhymzie 7 ай бұрын

Where can I find that Tunde King’s song, ‘Oba Eko’?

@samuelnwagbo7490 6 ай бұрын

Here in 2024, Knowing that most of us will be history in just 70 years from now, Shows that there's nothing Worth killing oneself or worrying too much about, Nature will definitely take it course 😢

@davidthe16th90 2 жыл бұрын

Whats the name of the second song

@leeminhoswife9185 3 жыл бұрын

wow...

@1anre 3 жыл бұрын

The music is highlife or what would classify it as?

@MrSivram28 3 жыл бұрын

juju music. Juju music was before highlife

@Lenner34 7 жыл бұрын

Interesting footage of the proto-Urban elite.

@officialSADEL 2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful old days

@leahayodele2526 9 күн бұрын

EVERYTHING SO NATURAL VERY PEACEFUL..GONE ARE THE DAYS WILL THERE BE A PERIOD LIKE THEN..?.

@zico739 2 жыл бұрын

The Brits wanted to keep the tribal elites happy.

@mayena 3 жыл бұрын

What was the population of Lagos in 1930?.

@joshuatemitope8432 6 ай бұрын

Precious memories

@Lodestar. 3 жыл бұрын

Does anyone know the name of the first song that played?

@ekeazor1 3 жыл бұрын

‘Oyinbo Eko’ by Tunde King

@Lodestar. 3 жыл бұрын

@@ekeazor1 Thanks, much appreciated

@jobinhovic Жыл бұрын

Nostalgia

@lagosian123 4 жыл бұрын

Fashola Look so much like his father or grandad. The resemblance is there likewise Tinubu still got his dad's eyeballs...lol. If only they see Nigeria now they will put their hands on their heads to lament.

@adeolaolatunji9324 Ай бұрын

I noticed it. But that must be his grandfather

@adelojutemitope 6 жыл бұрын

Fact on history of Lagos

@omahvvs Жыл бұрын

Life is too short

@Baniaigbe 8 ай бұрын

Na person grandfather dey run up and down with stick so. It ain’t nothing killing our selves for. This time will pass too. 😢

@osarumenerhunmwunsee Жыл бұрын

These people may still be alive.

@springteenehigie7896 11 ай бұрын

Great benin empire history

@Blaqheritage 2 жыл бұрын

Development was still pure then not until nepotism became our present leaders act

@emec-aesthetichomes 2 жыл бұрын

While others were immortalized, their contemporaries like: Amobi, Udo Udoma, Clement Isong ought to be treated in same manner but political culture and orientation of these days seem to have lost the peace, love and sportsmanship of those days.

@MIHMediaInc 4 жыл бұрын

1930s right. Well for one the english colonial were still there. It was their values that maintained what we see in this clip. Once they left the Nigerian core values was unleashed which is ... money trumps all things. The old songs were supposed to serve as warning for the people to stay on the part of modesty. But we all know the true nature of the cultures of the land is not underpinned by modesty. Regalia is very much emphasised. Go around these days and everyone is some kind of prince or princess. Polygamy also did not help matters. All part of the culture and belief system.

@nwamama7101 6 жыл бұрын

When did Nigerians start to have an English names? Were these names adopted by the people of Nigeria or were these the name of the returnee slaves that came from Liberia and Sierra Leone?

@MajorrBison 6 жыл бұрын

nwa mama you ever heard of colonization?

@nwamama7101 6 жыл бұрын

MajorrBison yesss, I have.

@dunmininudosumu6248 5 жыл бұрын

My children have Yoruba names. And I call them so everyday! I am proud to be Yoruba!

@kylereese4542 4 жыл бұрын

@@nwamama7101 That was exactly my thought. That these were some Liberian returnees. Not all of them, but I do think that some of these were American-liberian returnees.

@bukolalawrence 4 жыл бұрын

@@kylereese4542 Nope. They were all Nigerian borne. They were already assimilated (their parents inclusive) into the British Colonial rule. Having an English name tacked on to their cultural name was not out of the norm. Some were also baptismal names. This style is still prevalent till date. Most Nigerians have two names (a first name and a middle name). The middle name could an English one or a native one.

@save_theworld 4 жыл бұрын

I remember my dad's photo album of these days.

@baronessvondengler 5 жыл бұрын

Eko akete, ilu ogbon

@shollyjeck5613 Жыл бұрын

Won ki so fun eyan, koto mo ! 😂🤞

@temiloluwasamagbeyi8674 Жыл бұрын

This is very nice

@tayohorlaobi4449 6 ай бұрын

Nigeria is rubbish now Dollar is now 1200 per $1 Fuel is now 650 per liter What a mess

@didoburns 4 жыл бұрын

Wow!!! Lagos didn't just being "Lagos"

@classicalretroback 2 жыл бұрын

Only a handful of these people may still be alive . I'm nostalgic 😇😍🕥

@Jeffreydefinitelynotdahmer 11 ай бұрын

This is the 1930s none of them are alive anymore

@babeena_gt_3645 4 жыл бұрын

2019 and still no proper power though . Lucky to get 10 hours from the power grid . They really need to improve their resources since they are one of the most oil rich countries there should be no excuses not to

@babeena_gt_3645 4 жыл бұрын

@Neon Dawn there is NO proper power grid though and it's almost 2020 , there is absolutely no excuse for this

@malamgumel3547 3 жыл бұрын

Masha Allah Saka Tinubu with his cap an Islamic identity which is very good

@elvisosa 4 жыл бұрын

I doubt that this is the 30s

@ekeazor1 4 жыл бұрын

Can i ask why you doubt it's the 1930's? Likewise what specifically are you referring to in the content, which has several pieces of material, still and video?

@jackdon6926 Жыл бұрын

Zik was born in 1904...looking at his pics..make your judgement...its correct ..around that time, the 3o's

@durojaiyeowoaje5469 4 ай бұрын

My father is standing first from right in the video clip Lagos Lawn Tennis Club. He was born in 2905 so he should be 25years of age when the photograph was taken. He later became President Nigerian Lawn Tennis Association and Oba of Odogbolu. He died August 1985.

@durojaiyeowoaje5469 4 ай бұрын

I meant 1905