Tafawa Balewa Square

The Tafawa Balewa Square, (TBS) is a 14.5-hectare (35.8-acre) ceremonial ground (originally called "Race Course") in Lagos Island, Lagos.[1][2]

History

Lagos Race Course now TBS, was a sports field that hosted horse racing, but included a section for football and ground to play cricket. The land was provided to colonial authorities by Oba Dosunmu in 1859, who thereafter, built up the surrounding areas. The course was later demolished by the government of Yakubu Gowon to make way for Tafawa Balewa Square. In its hey days, the course hosted the Empire Day parades. The horse racing track was about seven to eight furlongs or a mile.[3]

In 1960, the course was redeveloped to celebrate Nigeria's independence and the lowering of the union jack.

Location

TBS was constructed in 1972 over the site of a defunct rack for horse racing. It is bounded by Awolowo road, Cable Street, Force road, Catholic Mission street and the 26-storey independence building.[4]

Monuments

The entrance to the square has gigantic sculptures of four white horses hovering above the gate and seven red eagles, which are symbols from the national emblem signifying Strength and Dignity respectively. Other monuments in the square include the Remembrance Arcade 1(with memorials to World War I, World War II and Nigerian civil war victims) and the 26-storey Independence House, built in 1963 which was for a long time, the tallest building in Nigeria.[1]

Facilities

The square has a capacity for 50,000 people. Facilities at the square include a shopping center, Airline's Travel Agencies, restaurants and car parking and a bus terminal.[5]

Historical Events

Major national events at TBS includes Nigeria’s independence celebration which took place on 1 October 1960 with the Prime Minister, Tafawa Balewa, delivering his speech. Democracy Day, as well as other multifarious events such as musical jamborees and religious gatherings.[6][7]

References
  1. Kaye Whiteman (2013). Lagos: A Cultural and Literary History (Landscapes of the Imagination). 5. Andrews UK Limited. ISBN 978-1-908-4938-97.
  2. Peju Akande; Toni Kan (4 January 2015). "BUILDING THE LAGOS CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT". Thisdaylive. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  3. Ajani, Jide (1 October 2000). "The Lagos Race Course: Crossroads of a Political Heritage". Vanguard.
  4. "Tafawa Balewa Square". 10times.com. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  5. "Is Tafawa Balewa Square The Forgotten Race Course Of Independence?". Nigeria Real Estate Hub. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  6. "Tafawa Balewa Square". lonely planet.
  7. "'Tafawa Balewa Square leased, not sold' - The Nation Nigeria". The Nation Nigeria. 9 June 2015. Retrieved 28 October 2018.

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