Afro-Brazilian Architecture in West Africa
In the 19th century, Afro-Brazilian returnees introduced to West Africa elaborate architectural designs, some of the buildings still stand today in modern-day Nigeria and Benin.
Many of the Afro-Brazilians returnees were technically skilled artisans who helped build the Mohammed Shitta Bey Mosque in Lagos, Nigeria. An historic monument known for its distinctive architectural style based on Brazilian Baroque architecture.
Mohammed Shitta Bey was a successful philanthropist and businessman who facilitated the construction of the mosque. Sierra Leonean-born Nigerian, Mohammed Shitta was a committed Muslim who was given the title ‘Bey’ by the Sultan of Turkey in honour and recognition of his ranking as the leader of the Muslim community in Lagos.
In the 19th century, Afro-Brazilian returnees introduced to West Africa elaborate architectural designs, some of the buildings still stand today in modern-day Nigeria and Benin.
Many of the Afro-Brazilians returnees were technically skilled artisans who helped build the Mohammed Shitta Bey Mosque in Lagos, Nigeria. An historic monument known for its distinctive architectural style based on Brazilian Baroque architecture.
Mohammed Shitta Bey was a successful philanthropist and businessman who facilitated the construction of the mosque. Sierra Leonean-born Nigerian, Mohammed Shitta was a committed Muslim who was given the title ‘Bey’ by the Sultan of Turkey in honour and recognition of his ranking as the leader of the Muslim community in Lagos.
Inauguration of 'Afro-Brazilian' Mosque in Nigeria, 1894
In the late nineteenth century, Oloye Muĥammad Shitta, a wealthy Sierra Leonean-born Nigerian merchant and philanthropist, built the Shitta Bey Mosque in Lagos, Nigeria. He was of Yoruba descent and was later awarded the title ‘Bey’ by the Ottoman Caliph as an honour and in recognition of his rank as leader of the Muslim community in Lagos. He was later known as Muĥammad Shitta-Bey.
He commissioned a mosque to be built according to the design of the Brazilian Joao Baptista da Costa and in 1892 it was constructed by a Nigerian builder called Sanusi Aka.
Shitta-Bey financed the construction of the mosque, which was officially. inaugurated by the Governor of Lagos in 1894.
Shitta-Bey was joined by Oyekan I (Oba 'Ruler' of Lagos) and Edward Wilmot Blyden (Pan-Africanist) at the inauguration of the mosque.
In the late nineteenth century, Oloye Muĥammad Shitta, a wealthy Sierra Leonean-born Nigerian merchant and philanthropist, built the Shitta Bey Mosque in Lagos, Nigeria. He was of Yoruba descent and was later awarded the title ‘Bey’ by the Ottoman Caliph as an honour and in recognition of his rank as leader of the Muslim community in Lagos. He was later known as Muĥammad Shitta-Bey.
He commissioned a mosque to be built according to the design of the Brazilian Joao Baptista da Costa and in 1892 it was constructed by a Nigerian builder called Sanusi Aka.
Shitta-Bey financed the construction of the mosque, which was officially. inaugurated by the Governor of Lagos in 1894.
Shitta-Bey was joined by Oyekan I (Oba 'Ruler' of Lagos) and Edward Wilmot Blyden (Pan-Africanist) at the inauguration of the mosque.
Mohammed Shitta Bey (1824-1895) aka 'Olowo Pupa'
Mohammed Shitta Bey was the son of Sierra Leonean-born liberated slaves, originally of Yoruba descent. He first came to Nigeria in 1844 with his parents, initially settling in Badagry before moving to Lagos some years after his father’s death in 1847. A successful philanthropist and businessman, he made his fortune trading in the Niger Delta region in the mid 19th century.
Shitta Bey, he was awarded the title “Bey” by the Sultan of Turkey (then ruler of the largest Islamic kingdom in the world) in honour and recognition of his rank as the leader of the Muslim community in Lagos (Seriki Musulumi of Lagos). The title denoted a status of high office, and upon receiving the title, he and his family formally adopted the double-barrelled compound surname of Shitta-Bey, a tradition that has survived for over a century.
Shitta-Bey also contributed significantly to the building of the Central Mosque in Lagos in 1873 and he supported various Islamic causes including building of mosques beyond Lagos, the use of Sharia as a guiding law for Muslims and the establishment of an Islamic school in Lagos.
Mohammed Shitta Bey was the son of Sierra Leonean-born liberated slaves, originally of Yoruba descent. He first came to Nigeria in 1844 with his parents, initially settling in Badagry before moving to Lagos some years after his father’s death in 1847. A successful philanthropist and businessman, he made his fortune trading in the Niger Delta region in the mid 19th century.
Shitta Bey, he was awarded the title “Bey” by the Sultan of Turkey (then ruler of the largest Islamic kingdom in the world) in honour and recognition of his rank as the leader of the Muslim community in Lagos (Seriki Musulumi of Lagos). The title denoted a status of high office, and upon receiving the title, he and his family formally adopted the double-barrelled compound surname of Shitta-Bey, a tradition that has survived for over a century.
Shitta-Bey also contributed significantly to the building of the Central Mosque in Lagos in 1873 and he supported various Islamic causes including building of mosques beyond Lagos, the use of Sharia as a guiding law for Muslims and the establishment of an Islamic school in Lagos.