Behold! First Epe Central Mosque Built in 1862

EPE is a riverine Ijebu settlement and part of the larger Ijebu kingdom. Located in the northern shores of Lagos, Epe lies on an arm of Lagos Lagoon. The emergence of Kosoko in 1852 in Epe marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in the historical trajectory of the town. A community which had hitherto been dominated by devotees of traditional religion has been absorbed into the new Islamic society that had gradually been taking shape in metropolitan Lagos and the Yoruba hinterland. The coming of Islam to the community changed its socio-political landscape. Hitherto, Epe was a small fishing emporium inhabited by the Ijebu, Mahin, Ijaw and other migrant farmers and fishermen. Like other Yoruba people, the Ijebu-Epe people were devotees of traditional African religious beliefs. Their religious life is aptly captured by Avoshe: They worshiped the dust from where cometh the minerals such as iron, gold, brass, and diamond and finally the creation of first man.

They believed in a future state, hence the worship of the dead and invocation of spirits as observed, annually in the festivals of Jigbo, Alegbagba, Okoro, Epa Kilajolu, Agbo Agira and Kalagbila. The arrival of Kosoko’s followers changed the fortunes of the community; Islam was introduced into Epe in 1852. Muhammad Audu, a Hausa slave from Katsina was the first person to call to prayer in Epe. The spread of Islam among leading Kosoko’s generals (first among the Eko-Epe community and later among the Ijebu) encouraged the subalterns to emulate their masters and embrace the new religion. It is quite instructive to note that the fortunes of Islam were aided in West Africa by chiefs, traders and the elite.

The generosity of Balogun Ajeniya, one of the Kosoko chiefs, who had been converted to Islam prior to their arrival in Epe 1852, proved to be the necessary impetus needed for the development of Islam in Epe and its environs. The fear that had hitherto foreshadowed the Muslim proselytisers was dissipated by Ajeniya who offered the Muslims a piece of land near his house to build the first mosque named Atirin. The date of the construction of this mosque remains abstruse, but one could hazard a guess that the mosque was built around 1853. From this mosque, Audu started his evangelisation and was assisted by another of Kosoko’s Hausa attendants, Aliru, who specialised in teaching Arabic in and around Epe.

Extract from the growth and development of Islam in Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria, 1851-2010 Mufutau Oluwasegun Jimoh of History and International Studies Department Federal University, Brinin-Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria [email protected]. Ilorin Journal of Religious Studies, (IJOURELS) Vol.6 No.2, 2016, pp.1-18.

However, not minding the date quoted by the scholar, the plaque on the wall of the mosque read thus ‘ The First Epe Central  Mosque built in 1862 and rebuilt in 1930. Now transformed to a model status, recommissioned by His Royal Majesty, Oba M A Balogun Agbaje, Arojojoye III, and Olu –Epe of Epe land on July 2, 2006.