Ilojo Bar Explained

Ilojo Bar & Restaurant
Location:Lagos Island, Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria
Material:Burnt Bricks
Completion Date:1855
Demolition Date:11 September 2016
Map Type:Nigeria Lagos
Coordinates:6.4539°N 3.39°W
Architectural Style:Afro-Brazilian Architecture

Ilojo Bar, also called Olaiya House or Casa da Fernandez, was a Brazilian-styled historic building located near Tinubu Square in Lagos Island, Lagos State, Nigeria.[1] [2] It was originally built as a bar and restaurant in 1855 by the Fernandez family who employed returning ex-slaves who had mastered the art of building while in South America.[3] Ilojo Bar was subsequently sold to Alfred Omolana Olaiya of the Olaiya family in 1933 and was declared a national monument in 1956 by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments.[4]

The name "Ilojo Bar"

After the house was sold to Alfred Omolona Olaiya in 1933, he renamed the building "Ilojo Bar" after his hometown of "Ilojo" in Ijesa Isu, Ekiti State.[5] [6]

Demolition

The building was pulled down on Sunday, 11 September 2016, in suspicious circumstances during the Eid weekend in Lagos.[7] [8] The matter is still being investigated. The land is now under the control of the Lagos State Government.[9] [10] [11]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Hakeem B. Harunah. Nigeria's defunct slave ports: their cultural legacies and touristic value. 2000. First Academic Publishers. 978-978-34902-3-9.
  2. News: Lagos' Afro-Brazilian architecture faces down the bulldozers. Edvige Jean-François. Chris Giles. Cable News Network. 19 July 2017. 5 August 2017.
  3. Book: Alex Ikechukwu Okpoko. Pat Uche Okpoko. Tourism in Nigeria. 2002. Afro-Orbis Publications. 978-978-35253-8-2.
  4. News: 'Bring Ilojo Bar back to life'. The Nation Newspaper. Udemma Chukwuma. 22 October 2014. 5 September 2016.
  5. News: A Tragedy of Confusing Interests. 2016-10-02. ktravula - a travelogue!. 2017-02-26. en-US.
  6. Web site: Nigeria . Guardian . 2016-09-26 . Legacy protests against demolition of 161-year-old 'Olaiya House' . 2023-10-08 . The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News . en-US.
  7. Web site: 161-year-old Ilojo Bar demolished - The Nation Nigeria. 2016-09-13. en-US. 2016-09-18.
  8. News: A Failure All Around. 2016-10-03. ktravula - a travelogue!. 2017-02-26. en-US.
  9. Web site: Update on the Demolition of Ilojo Bar. 2016-09-18. en-US. 2016-09-19.
  10. News: Why Ilojo bar was demolished, by family. Joseph Jibueze. 28 September 2016. The Nation. 30 September 2016.
  11. News: Africa: 161 year old Monument "Ilojo Bar" Demolished in Lagos. Sunday Onen. 28 September 2016. ATQ News. 23 July 2019.

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