By Balogun Olamilekan Adelaja Esq.
Agege is a town and local government in the Ikeja Division of Lagos State.
I grew up in Agege, and as a result my life was shaped on the streets of Agege: from Orile to Dopemu, Tabon Tabon to Magbon, ogba and Ashade to Iloro, Isale oja to American Junction, Ile Pako to Akerele, Alaagba to Abattoir, Oniwaya to Moricas, Alufa Nla to Atobaje, Gbogunleri to Mangoro, onipetesi, Keke, Agbotikuyo, Iloro be and Moshalashi Alhaja to Mangoro.
Agege has the highest number of non Yoruba settlements in Lagos State nonetheless there is considerable peace among its populace, from the Ebira community in Agege to the Igala community, with both traditional rulers residing in the same Agege.
The Hausa Community boast the highest number of non indigenes in Agege; Ghanaians, Guineans and other West Africans too are also residents/settlers in Agege.
FOOD: Agege was a centre for delicious food, from Ayokunnu Bread to Rice Iya Amope in Dopemu, Isu Alata at Orile, Ola Sheu Amala at Stadium, and Iya Ghana beans at Abimbola by Moricas.
NIGHT LIFE: Agege was also a night life haven owing to the presence of Love Garden to Bongo Hotel at Alaagba and Tunla Ventures owned by the Lagos Socialite, Tunlamania.
INDIAN MOVIES (NOW BOLLYWOOD): You can't live in Agege and not like Indian Movies because of Pen Cinema and Danjuma Cinema were always on hand to treat us to the best of these movies.
LANDMARK EDIFICES: There are some buildings still standing today that were interesting to see while growing up in Agege, building like MAT House on Amoo Street, Gidan Habiba in Tabon Tabon and Alhaji Danjuma's house.
FOOTBALL LEGACY: Ile Pako football playing field on Amao has produced more football stars than many playing fields in Lagos.
POLITICS: The Politics of Third Republic Nigeria can not be complete without Agege, Agege was the political birth place of now President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu: he was brought to Agege as Agege's representation for the Lagos West Senatorial District by Chief Dapo Sarumi, the Leader of the Defunct PRIMROSE and Chief Olubamise Bakare all Agege Community leaders.
Chief Sarumi's house on Oyewole road, Agege used to be a Mecca of sorts on Fridays, his office on No 1 Akilo Road was also another cynosure for Politicians.
RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE: Agege is a centre for religious tolerance as Moricas is the Mecca for the creme da la creme of Lagos politics and religion. This even goes back to the early 1980's.
MUSIC: The Oldest Living Juju Maestro, the Creator of the Miliki genre of Juju Music and the Chief Commander of Juju Music, Evangelist (Dr.) Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi and other musicians of note are Danny Young, Small Doctor, etcetera came through the ranks in Agege.
STREET RASCALITY: Don't mess with Agege boys because they will not allow you to take them for a ride and go squat-free, if Gbogunleri boys do not deal with you, American Junction boys will do, Ponraele Junction or Abattoir boys will support them.
Ile Pako and Oju irin boys are also not left out; Isale oja boys, Akerele boys, etc.
You can't just stop loving Agege.
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