12th December, 2022
The Lagos State Records and Archives Bureau (LASRAB) has launched the first historical comic book titled “The Story of Aina on Iddo Island.”
Speaking during the launch on Monday, Mrs. Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola, Director General LASRAB, said the Bureau was committed to ensuring Lagosians’ interest in their cultural heritage, hence the birth of the comic book idea.
She said the essence of the story book, published in a comic form, was to inspire the younger generation to attain lofty heights by connecting with their ancestral achievements that birthed the modern society.
The comic book which is dedicated to all Lagosians, is written to help the present and future generations of Lagosians to understand, improve, manage and preserve their historical heritage and to engender emotional connection with their historical background.
Aina on Iddo Island is a historical story of real life events during the reign of legendary Olofin and Aina, a wealthy livestock trader who was falsely accused of witchcraft and how she sought external help from the Benin kingdom to avenge her.
The twists and turns in this first historical story book about Lagos make for an interesting read for all ages regardless of their social status, with vivid description of some heroic and gallant actions by past rulers to defend the Lagos territory from being penetrated by external aggression.
Adebiyi-Abiola further said other interesting historical story books, such as The Story of the First Queen Mother of Lagos, are coming soon after the inaugural book launch to sustain public interest in all that the present administration is doing to promote the THEMES agenda on Entertainment and Tourism.
The Director General reiterated the need to re-introduce history as a subject back in to the academic curriculum; believing these historical story books would enrich the minds of students, helping them gain better understanding of the past, as well as instilling pride by the actions of their heroes past.