“With British forces prevailing, Oba Akitoye was reinstalled as the Oba of Lagos, altering the region’s history forever. The 1851 Agidingbi chess game brings this pivotal moment to life'
From the gate of Red Door Gallery at Bishop Oluwole Street, VI, Lagos, you could perceive an atmosphere charged with rich cultural and historical delicacy by Oludamola Adebowale, ready to be explored.
“As you explore the exhibition, you will witness the remarkable design of our new chess board, crafted with painstaking attention to detail to encapsulate the essence of Lagos.” That gives you a great idea of what to expect. The 1851 Agidingbi chess game features a traditional checkerboard design and unique chess pieces named after Lagos royalties and chieftains, including Erelu-Kuti of Lagos , the Oba of Lagos, , the Adamu Eyo as the rook, Omo Ogun Eko is the pawn, Eletu-Odibo , and Abagbon as the knight. Players engage in this chess variant on either side, representing either the defenders of Lagos or the British invaders.
The name “Agidingbi” itself is derived from the onomatopoeic sounds produced by the artillery guns fired by British forces during the 1851 invasion of Lagos. The thunderous noise was heard as far away as Badagry and the mainland of Lagos, and this name was adopted as an official designation for a part of Lagos.The unique game which took about 6 years to finish, the culture activist and historian noted, was aimed to infuse history with fun and educational value.