By: Adegolu AD
Cudjo Lewis was born Kosola in Dahomey, the modern day Republic of Benin, West Africa, to Oluwole and his wife Fonlolu. He was from a Yoruba family, probably residing in Ketu (Ketou), a historical Yoruba settlement in Benin, believed to have been established by one of Oduduwa’s children. Kosola was born into a modest family and had a happy and energetic childhood. As a teenager, he began training as a warrior to defend his town. He was subsequently inducted into Oro, a clandestine Yoruba male society whose role is to guide society. However, in April 1860, in the midst of Kosola's initiation and training, the Dahomey invaded the town, perpetrated a vast number of causalities, and held the rest of the people captive.
Continue..Cudjo Lewis was born Kosola in Dahomey, the modern day Republic of Benin, West Africa, to Oluwole and his wife Fonlolu. He was from a Yoruba family, probably residing in Ketu (Ketou), a historical Yoruba settlement in Benin, believed to have been established by one of Oduduwa’s children. Kosola was born into a modest family and had a happy and energetic childhood. As a teenager, he began training as a warrior to defend his town. He was subsequently inducted into Oro, a clandestine Yoruba male society whose role is to guide society. However, in April 1860, in the midst of Kosola's initiation and training, the Dahomey invaded the town, perpetrated a vast number of causalities, and held the rest of the people captive.
