In the bustling heart of Lagos Island, one of Africa’s most vibrant urban centers, stands a remarkable piece of architectural history: the first reported three-storey building in Lagos, popularly known as Petesi Anduru. This historic structure, which dates back to 1913, is a powerful reminder of the city’s early modernization and cultural exchanges in the colonial era.
Origins of the Building
The name “Petesi Anduru” translates to “the upstairs of Andrew” in English. Among locals, it also earned the descriptive nickname “Ile awo si fila”, meaning “the house that rises above the cap,” a metaphor for its towering presence at the time.
The building was reportedly constructed by a Sierra Leonean immigrant, part of the returnee community often referred to as the Saros. These returnees, freed slaves and their descendants who resettled from Sierra Leone, played a major role in the commercial and cultural life of Lagos during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Location and Significance
Located on Odunfa Street in Lagos Island, Petesi Anduru symbolized affluence, innovation, and the growing influence of immigrant communities in shaping Lagos’s architectural and urban identity. At a time when most houses were built with mud, bamboo, or at best single-storey stone structures, a three-storey building was a marvel, showcasing not just wealth but also the adoption of European-style urban living.
A Glimpse into Colonial Lagos
Photographs and records of the building often highlight a striking detail: a Porsche Volkswagen car parked in front of the house, a snapshot that places the building within the wave of social and economic changes sweeping Lagos during the colonial era. This pairing of modern automobiles with pioneering architecture reflected the city’s transformation into a hub of commerce, culture, and cosmopolitan lifestyle.
Legacy of Petesi Anduru
Though Lagos has since grown into a city of towering skyscrapers, high-rises, and expansive estates, Petesi Anduru retains its place in history as a trailblazer. It tells the story of how immigrant influence, colonial interaction, and local ambition shaped the fabric of Nigeria’s largest city.
For residents of Lagos Island, the building is more than just architecture; it is a cultural landmark, symbolizing resilience, adaptation, and the city’s early embrace of modernity.
The three-storey Petesi Anduru of 1913 is not just a structure; it is a historical testament to Lagos’s evolution. Rising proudly on Odunfa Street, it remains a reminder of how immigrant ingenuity and colonial-era ambition combined to redefine the skyline of Africa’s emerging megacity.
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