Eko, also known as Mr. Eko (referred to as Father Tunde, although this may be an alias), was a notorious warlord and drug smuggler in Nigeria and was one of the tail section survivors of Oceanic Flight 815.

Before the crash, Eko was attempting to smuggle drugs out of Nigeria by pretending to be a priest. His brother Yemi, a real priest, tried to stop him, but was accidentally killed and thrown onto the drug smuggling plane. Eko was left behind, where he decided to take his brother's place in the church, protecting it and the village from drug lords.

After the crash, Eko and the rest of the tail section survivors were attacked by the Others, where he fought his kidnappers and killed two of them. After their deaths, he took a vow of silence for 40 days and started carrying a stick with him, into which he carved Bible verses. When Michael, Jin, and Sawyer washed up on shore, Eko kept them prisoner until they decided their story was true, after which they all trekked across the Island to the middle section survivors camp. He later found the Beechcraft his brother's body had been on and burned the plane in respect. After he and Locke found the Pearl station, Eko was convinced it was important to push the button in the Swan. When Locke lost his faith and kept Eko from pushing the button, it caused the implosion of the Swan. Eko survived the incident, but was dragged unconscious into a cave by a polar bear and was later saved by Locke. While recovering from his injuries, he was visited by a vision of Yemi, who told him to confess his sins. Eko claimed he had not sinned, but done what he had to do, after which he was confronted and killed by the Monster. Three years later, Hurley saw a vision of Eko and played chess with him at the Santa Rosa Mental Institute.

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Before the crash

Childhood

As a child, Eko was very close to his brother Yemi, even stealing food for him. However, he was caught by a nun and was forced to "confess his sins." Eko and Yemi were separated when Eko shot an unarmed man at the behest of unidentified Nigerian guerrilla members. He did this to spare his brother from having to do so. As a result, Eko was recruited into the guerrilla group instead. When asked his name, he responded "Eko." One of the militia members then referred to him as "Mr. Eko," a nickname which stuck. ("The 23rd Psalm") ("The Cost of Living")

As a crime lord



Eko, arriving to settle on a deal about drug smuggling. (" The 23rd Psalm ")

Years later, Eko became a leader of a criminal organization. His business included drug running (something he rationalizes by moving them primarily out of the country, so the drugs were not used by Nigerians). He came across a large supply of heroin, which he wanted to get out of the country. In the process, he killed two Moroccan drug dealers. Eko realized that the best way to smuggle out the heroin is to take advantage of special laws for UN aid groups or missionaries and priests. Eko returned to his old village, where Yemi was then a priest. Eko asked his brother to help him smuggle the drugs out of the country, making use of the Virgin Mary statues that Yemi's church was selling. Yemi refused. Eko returned a second time, this time with a threat.

He asked Yemi to sign papers that would make Eko and his partners Goldie and Olu appear to be priests, or have Eko's men burn the church to the ground. Yemi reconsidered and agreed to sign the papers. ("The 23rd Psalm")

When the shipment was prepared, Eko and his men assembled at an airstrip, dressed as priests, and began to load a Beechcraft with the statues, which contained the heroin. Yemi came to the airstrip to urge Eko to call off the mission, but the Nigerian Army, alerted by Yemi, arrived to stop Eko. During the crossfire between the military and Eko's men, Yemi was shot. Goldie helped drag Yemi onto the plane; however, he kicked Eko off the plane and back onto the runway, so Eko was left behind. When addressed as a priest by the soldiers, he pretended to be just that. ("The 23rd Psalm")

As Father Tunde

Eko was taken back to the village and dropped off at his church. Going inside, he found Yemi's Bible, left in the confession box, which held a photo of him and Eko as children inside. A few moments later, Amina showed up with her son Daniel and asked where Yemi is. Eko informed them that Yemi had been called away on urgent business to a village to the south and that he would be replacing him. Amina commented that Yemi was to be leaving for a church in London a few days later, to which Eko replied that he would take over there as well. Later, while he was preparing for a service, Eko heard gunfire outside and rushed out. There he met a militia leader named Emeka, who told him that he had a deal with Yemi regarding the village's semi-annual shipment of vaccinations, wherein he would get 80% and the village would keep the remainder. Eko informed him that he was not afraid of him, so Emeka shot a bystander. ("The Cost of Living")

When Eko asked about the deal, he was told by Amina that the vaccines sell for a high price on the black market. Eko then met with a black market dealer in an attempt to sell the vaccines to benefit only himself. When Emeka arrived at the church with his bodyguards having heard of what Eko planned to do, he threatened to cut off Eko's hands for stealing. Eko attacked and killed the three of them, striking down Emeka as he begged for mercy. The villagers boarded up the church as it was no longer sacred and Amina told Eko to start fresh in London, adding ominously that, one day, he would pay for his sins. ("The Cost of Living")

Daniel asked Eko if he was a bad man after he killed the extortionists, and Eko did not respond until his confrontation with the Monster. ("The Cost of Living")

In Australia

After leaving Nigeria, Eko worked in a parish in England for a brief period. He told Michael that every Sunday, after mass, a small boy waited at the back of the parish. The boy approached him one day, and confessed that he had beaten his dog to death with a shovel because the dog had bitten his baby sister on the cheek. The boy was worried that he would go to hell for this action. Mr. Eko told the young boy that God would understand that he was just protecting his sister, and would forgive him. The boy then said he was not concerned about forgiveness, only that the dog would be waiting for him if he ever went to hell. ("Three Minutes")



Charlotte delivers a message from Yemi. (" ? ")

At some later point in time, Eko (known as "Father Tunde") served as a priest in an Australian church. He took confession from a man who has actually arrived to provide a passport (listing his name as Oduduwa Ulu with a date of issue of April 16, 2004) so Eko could travel to Los Angeles. He was asked by a senior priest to investigate a reported miracle, the apparent resurrection of a young woman who drowned the day before. Eko visited the undertaker, who played him the tape of his autopsy procedure. He later visited the home of the woman, Charlotte Malkin, and encountered her father, Richard Malkin, who sought to explain away the "miracle" as a cover-up of the undertaker's incompetence. Richard was the psychic who told Claire to go on the plane, though he admitted to Eko that he was a fraud. At the airport in Sydney, prior to boarding Oceanic Flight 815, Eko encountered Charlotte, who agitated him by saying that she saw his brother, Yemi, when she was "between places," asking her to tell Eko to have faith. ("?")



On the Island

Days 1-43 (Season 2)

Mr. Eko survived the tail-section crash, and helped Nancy and carried Zach back to the shore. Eko then asked Cindy to look after the kids while he took the dead bodies out of the water. Later, a man named Bernard introduced himself and asked Eko if he had found an African-American body amongst those he fished out of the water, to which Eko replies that he didn't, and that he will pray as for their rescue as well.

The Others attacked the first night, and he was a target. Three people were taken, but Eko killed both of his attackers with a rock. Beginning then, Eko took a vow of silence. A few nights later, Libby told Eko that it was self-defense and not his fault, though he seemed unaffected by her saying so.



During his second week on the Island, The Others came in the night again. This time they didn't attack Eko, but they did take the children that Eko had helped save during the plane crash. ("The Other 48 Days")

The group of survivors made their way into the jungle, camping in various places for days at a time. On Day 24, the group came upon an old DHARMA Initiative station called The Arrow; it was a mostly empty storage station. Eko found a Bible, inside of which was hidden a film strip. ("The Other 48 Days")("What Kate Did").

On Day 41, Bernard picked up Boone's transmission from the Beechcraft, but Ana Lucia turned it off because she assumed it was the Others trying to trick them. She got upset and left The Arrow quickly. Eko followed her to a stream, where he came upon her crying. He approached her and speaking for the first time in forty days, told her everything would be alright. Ana Lucia asked why he had waited forty days to talk, and in reply he asked her why she had taken forty days to cry. ("The Other 48 Days")

A few days later, a person washed ashore and was found by Cindy and Libby. They tied him up, and the group began to argue about what to do with him. Suddenly, the man broke loose and ran up the beach, shouting at two other people who appeared from the water. Eko caught him and knocked him unconscious with his stick. ("Adrift") ("The Other 48 Days")

Days 44–67 (Season 2)

As the Tailies mistook Sawyer, Michael and Jin for Others, Eko ran up to them and hit them with his stick. The tailies threw them into the tiger pit. Later, Ana Lucia told Eko to knock her out and throw her down into the tiger pit. Eventually, Eko asked Ana Lucia what information she was able to gain while he pulled her up. The next day, Eko threw down a rope and ordered Jin to climb out. During the trek to the Arrow, Eko apologized to Sawyer for his actions and the misunderstanding when they first met. He was later seen with the other tailies in the Arrow. ("Adrift") ("Orientation") ("Everybody Hates Hugo")

The next day, the tailies decided to move camp and hike towards the survivors' main camp. He often disagreed with Ana Lucia over the three captives, and eventually Jin and Michael were let go. Michael took off to find Walt, and Eko joined Jin to go find Michael. During their time looking for Michael, Eko sensed someone coming, and he and Jin hid. Hidden in the bushes, they saw people go by in almost unearthly silence; these were the Others. Eventually they caught up to Michael and Mr. Eko convinced Michael to come with them. ("...And Found")

During the trek across the Island, Sawyer became very ill because of his bullet wound. Eko told Ana Lucia to go inland to save Sawyer's life. ("Abandoned")



Eko carries an unconscious Sawyer back to his camp. (" Collision ")

After the death of Shannon, Sayid quickly pulled his gun on Ana Lucia. Eko stopped him and, after a quick and muddy fight, the tailies tied him up. Eko carried Sawyer back and found Kate and Jack playing golf and took him to the Hatch. While looking at the DHARMA sign, Locke greeted Eko, after Eko told Locke, "A girl was shot and killed." Later, Eko stopped Jack and Michael from going after Ana Lucia with guns and went with Jack where they saw Sayid and Ana Lucia. ("Collision")

On the beach, Eko comforted Ana Lucia, telling her that most of the survivors realize that Shannon's death was accidental. Later, Locke and Eko watched the orientation film, and Eko revealed that he had the missing piece. ("What Kate Did")

Eko later learned from Claire that Charlie has a statue of the Virgin Mary. Eko confronted Charlie and demanded to be taken to the plane where Charlie found the statues. While they were wandering through the jungle, Charlie climbed a tree to get a better look at the surroundings. While Charlie was in the tree, the Monster approached, and Eko, motionless, watched it while it confronted him. It then moved on.

Eko and Charlie continued into the jungle where they found the plane and the bodies of Yemi, Goldie, and Olu. Eko retrieved a cross pendant from Yemi's body, the same one that the guerrillas removed from Eko when he was a boy. Eko and Charlie set the plane on fire, burning the body of Yemi, and recited Psalm 23. Eko then told Charlie that he was a priest. ("The 23rd Psalm") Eko was then enlisted to baptize Claire and Aaron. ("Fire + Water")

Mr. Eko had been marking and cutting down trees near the beach for reasons unknown. This carried on for several episodes until Charlie asked why he was marking the trees. In response, Mr. Eko only said simply, "These are the ones I like". It was later revealed that he is building a church in memory of Yemi's "defiled" church in Nigeria, for which he enlisted Charlie's help. ("Fire + Water")

After Sun was attacked, Mr. Eko and Ana Lucia watched while Sawyer carried Sun back to the beach. While Sawyer told everyone about the guns, Mr. Eko was present. ("The Long Con")

Eko knew about "Henry Gale"'s presence in the Hatch, while it was kept secret from other crash survivors. Eko asked to speak to him, and when he did, Eko apologized for killing two of the Others. He cut two tails from his beard and offered them to "Henry" as a symbol of the two men he killed and his repentance. ("Maternity Leave")

While Charlie and Mr. Eko built the church, Hurley arrived after trying to find Dave. Hurley asked if they had seen "a bald guy in a bath robe". ("Dave")

When trying to make an S.O.S sign, Bernard asked Charlie and Mr. Eko, but they said they were too busy building the church. Bernard could not believe they were building things instead of trying to get rescued and Mr. Eko stated, "people get saved in their own way". ("S.O.S.")

Eko had a dream involving Ana Lucia shortly after her death, about an event of which Eko was not yet aware, and his brother Yemi. Both told him to help Locke, and to go to the "question mark" and to bring along his axe. Eko asked Locke to help him find Henry, who had escaped. Later in the jungle, he told Locke that they were really in search of the "question mark." As Yemi had predicted in the vision, Locke refused to discuss the question mark with Eko, so Eko knocked him out with a head-butt. When Locke awoke, he showed Eko his sketch of the blast door map, and Eko decided they must find the question mark as shown on the map. Then, they arrived at the Beechcraft. ("?")



From the cliff, Eko has a clear sight of the question mark. (" ? ")

While lying down, Locke had a dream involving Yemi and Eko climbing the nearby cliff. Locke told Eko about it, and Eko climbed the cliff only to find nothing but grass. But when he looked down from the cliff, he sees a question mark in the ground below. Originally it was a circle but some of the grass had grown back and now resembles a question mark. Eko returned to where Locke was, and observed, salt had been put into the ground to keep the grass from growing so as to form the circle. They dug under the Beechcraft and found another DHARMA station. ("?")

They entered the station, called the Pearl. It featured a bank of TV monitors that enabled the inhabitants to view the other hatches. Eko and Locke saw Jack in the Swan. They found another orientation film, which said that the jobs of the other hatch members are a "psychological experiment." This information, along with Henry Gale's false claim that he did not push the button and nothing happened, shattered Locke's faith in the Island. At the same time, due to Eko's dream, Eko believed pushing the button had become even more important.

He announced that if Locke was not going to continue to push the button, he would. Eko found notebooks and papers filled with numbers. He decided to bring these objects back from the Pearl because he believed they were extremely important. ("?")

After the death of Libby, Eko returned to the hatch, and the rest of the survivors questioned if they caught them. Eko decided to move into the Swan to take over the task of pushing the button. He asked Charlie to bring him his belongings from the beach, having decided to quit working on the church for now (which upset Charlie). Later Jack asked him if he would like to go to Ana Lucia's and Libby's funeral. Eko replied, "Thank you. I will mourn them in my own way." ("Three Minutes")

Locke tried to stop Eko from pushing the button. Eko shot back with Locke's often-said words: "Do not tell me what I can't do." After this Locke then tried to destroy the computer with the Jesus stick, but Eko stopped him. They fought, and Eko locked him out of the the Hatch. Later, Locke and Desmond, who don't want to press the button, tricked him by triggering a blackout. When Mr. Eko came out of the computer room, Desmond and Locke ran into the computer room and closed the blast door on Mr. Eko. As Eko left, he noticed the QUARANTINE sign on the Hatch door. He asked Charlie how they blew up the door. Charlie and Mr. Eko returned to the hatch with dynamite. ("Live Together, Die Alone, Part 1")



Mr. Eko planted the dynamite with Charlie trying to convince him not to, until he took Charlie's belt off, and threw it at the wall. Eko lit the dynamite, without warning Charlie. During the system failure, Desmond opened the the door, and Eko and Charlie ran into the computer room while metallic objects began to fly across to the magnet wall. Locke told Eko, "I was wrong," when suddenly Desmond triggered the fail-safe key, causing the Discharge. ("Live Together, Die Alone, Part 2")

Days 68–72 (Season 3)

After the implosion of the Hatch, Eko ended up in a polar bear cave, badly injured. Eko's Jesus stick fell from a tree, and nearly hit Locke after the discharge. Locke, with Charlie, went on a quest to save Eko, since it was his opposition to Eko that caused the disaster at the Swan. Locke tracked the polar bear with Charlie to its cave, torched the bear to save Eko, and took him back to the camp. While Charlie got water, Locke apologized to Eko, saying it was all his fault and their friends were now captured. Mr. Eko woke up and told him, he can still protect them, and eventually he will find them, since he was a hunter. As Charlie arrived, Eko was still unconscious. When they returned to the camp, Locke told Claire, Nikki, and Paulo to take care of him. ("Further Instructions")



Eko dreams on his past encounters with Yemi, before the latter appears in his tent. (" The Cost of Living ")

Eko remained in a feverish coma for two days after being rescued, but awoke to see Yemi standing over him, telling him, it was time to confess his sins and Eko knew where to find him. Yemi then set Eko's tent alight. Eko was saved by Charlie and Hurley, but disappeared as soon as Charlie took his eyes off him. He headed for the drug smuggler's plane and Locke, Desmond, Nikki, Paulo, and Sayid gave chase, finding him on their way at a river, where moments earlier Eko had seen the Monster once more. After pursuing visions of his brother, several smugglers he had killed, and brief appearances by the Monster, Eko came to the Nigerian plane, where his brother was laid to rest. ("The Cost of Living")

However, Eko found that his brother's body was no longer in the plane. Eko saw Yemi once more appearing in dirty clothing and chased him into an open field. There, Eko confessed that he had not sinned to his brother. Eko stated, he did not ask for the life he was given, but it had been given nonetheless. And with it, he did the best he could. Eko also mentioned his sacrifice for Yemi when they were young.

However, what appeared to be Yemi announced, he was not Eko's brother. Then, the person who appeared like Yemi disappeared into the jungle, with Eko in hot pursuit. ("The Cost of Living")

The Monster then appeared and advanced ominously while Eko began to recite the 23rd Psalm, as before. This time, however, it attacked him, beating him into trees and then slamming him into the ground. Locke found the brutally beaten Eko who, before he passed away, whispered into Locke's ears. Sayid asked what Eko’s final words were, to which Locke replied, "We're next." ("The Cost of Living")



Post-death

Following Eko's death, Locke conferred with Sayid that too many people have died to bury them in the graveyard. The two returned to the camp to get shovels and decided to bury him where they found him. On their way back, they found Eko's stick. Locke said a short speech around the explorers to the Pearl, and shortly after, he saw the verse Genesis 13:14 written in all capital letters. It read "LIFT UP YOUR EYES AND LOOK NORTH". Directly below it was the scripture "John 3:05." ("I Do") Mr. Eko's death was initially kept a secret from the other losties, apart from Charlie and Hurley and later Kate. ("Flashes Before Your Eyes") Locke then headed on a bearing 305 north from Eko's stick and found the Flame station. ("Enter 77")

According to the story by the Oceanic Six, Eko died when Flight 815 hit the water, along with the other survivors, apart from Libby, Boone, and Charlie. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 1")

Three years after the Oceanic Six left the island, Sayid visited Hurley late at night at the Santa Rosa Mental Health Institute. Hurley told Sayid that he had been "seeing dead people", and having regular conversations with them. Sayid then insisted, he come with him "somewhere safe" because he was being watched. Before leaving, Hurley finished a game of chess, seemingly with himself. In making his final move, he said "Checkmate, Mr. Eko", implying that he was either meeting Eko similarly to the way he met Charlie at the institution or hallucinating. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 3")







Trivia

General

Production notes

“ What you see on the screen now is something quite different from what was originally talked about. As I understood it, from what we discussed with the creators, he was actually quite a passive character . The name that we initially came up with was 'Emeka', and I changed the name to 'Eko', because it is Yoruba, which is the tribe that I come from, and I added the 'Mr.'... I've had some difficulty trying to establish the character with the writers. Y'know, because we were trying to marry what they wanted to do with the show and feelings that I wanted to see come out in the character..."The 23rd Psalm", perhaps, was a bonding point for me as an actor with the writers, so it really was a formulation of a trust between us. Because when I saw that episode, I realized that I actually knew where I was coming from. ”

Similar insight about the surname was given in an interview [1] with Bryan Burk and Channel 4's Podcast. The name Emeka was later instead used for a warlord character that Eko killed in flashbacks.

with Bryan Burk and Channel 4's Podcast. The name Emeka was later instead used for a warlord character that Eko killed in flashbacks. Carving verses on Eko's stick was Adewale's idea.

Damon Lindelof stated that Eko's story arc was originally supposed to last 4 seasons however due to Adewale's dislike of living in Hawaii he was killed off after a little over one season. [2]

Eko and Charlotte both first appeared in the second episode of a season, then died in the fifth episode of the next season.

Eko would have been another spiritual force on the island and his plot would have focused around him discovering his spirituality. [3]

Lance Reddick was originally considered for the role. [4]

Eko is, along with Ana Lucia, Libby, Nikki and Paulo, one of only a few main characters never to appear in a season premiere.

According to Kristin Dos Santos of E! Online, the writers intended to include Mr. Eko in the series finale, but Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and the producers were unable to come to terms on salary.[5]

Cultural references

Umberto Eco, who has a name that is a homophone of Eko, wrote Foucalt's Pendulum . This book describes men in a publishing house creating alternative histories for entertainment. Ultimately the characters are caught up in the reality of their own fiction.

. This book describes men in a publishing house creating alternative histories for entertainment. Ultimately the characters are caught up in the reality of their own fiction. Umberto Eco also wrote the book The Island of the Day Before . It tells the story of Roberto, a young man in the 17th century who is the only survivor from a sunken ship in search for the 180th meridian. He manages to get on another ship which lies abandoned on the coast of an island. He finds out that the 180th meridian runs between the ship and the island, but because he is not able to swim it is impossible for him to reach it. The 180th meridian marks the time border between today and yesterday, confusing Roberto to think, that he could jump one day back in time if he would be able to reach the island. Another subject in "The Island of the Day Before" is that Roberto as a child made up an imaginary bad twin. This twin, called Ferrante, follows him through his whole life and Roberto accuses him to be responsible for several bad things he did. On board of the ship Roberto starts to write a novel, featuring Ferrante as the main character. In this book Ferrante takes over Robertos life after Roberto left Paris for the search of the 180th Meridian.

. It tells the story of Roberto, a young man in the 17th century who is the only survivor from a sunken ship in search for the 180th meridian. He manages to get on another ship which lies abandoned on the coast of an island. He finds out that the 180th meridian runs between the ship and the island, but because he is not able to swim it is impossible for him to reach it. The 180th meridian marks the time border between today and yesterday, confusing Roberto to think, that he could jump one day back in time if he would be able to reach the island. Another subject in "The Island of the Day Before" is that Roberto as a child made up an imaginary bad twin. This twin, called Ferrante, follows him through his whole life and Roberto accuses him to be responsible for several bad things he did. On board of the ship Roberto starts to write a novel, featuring Ferrante as the main character. In this book Ferrante takes over Robertos life after Roberto left Paris for the search of the 180th Meridian. Eko bent to drink at the stream (in " The Cost of Living ") by lapping up water in cupped hands, as to keep alert. This mirrors Gideon's army in Judges 7:3-8.

") by lapping up water in cupped hands, as to keep alert. This mirrors Gideon's army in Judges 7:3-8. The music playing at the Nigerian bar of the Trader in " The Cost of Living " was Eko Lagos , by Nigerian singer Femi Kuti, son of the legendary Fela Kuti, who also wrote a song called "Eko." Lagos, Nigeria's largest city was formerly known as Eko.

" was , by Nigerian singer Femi Kuti, son of the legendary Fela Kuti, who also wrote a song called "Eko." Lagos, Nigeria's largest city was formerly known as Eko. There is an old west African proverb which goes: "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far".

In " The Cost of Living " Eko and John roll a large stone away from the plane door, where Yemi's body was entombed, reminiscent of the stone being rolled away from Jesus' tomb in Matthew 28:2-7.

" Eko and John roll a large stone away from the plane door, where Yemi's body was entombed, reminiscent of the stone being rolled away from Jesus' tomb in Matthew 28:2-7. Some of Eko's backstory is reminiscent of the history of St. Moses the Black: St. Moses was the Ethiopian leader of a gang of bandits. Wanting to hide from the authorities, he took shelter with some Monks, and became a devout Christian, and was ordained as a priest. One notable incident was when he defeated a group of robbers who attacked him, but instead of killing them, he dragged them to the chapel where the fellow Monks were praying, and asked them what he should do with them. The robbers repented, converted to Christianity and joined the community.

Apocryphal

The flight manifest from the German 108minuten.de website states Eko's full name as "Eko Tunde". However, that manifest is an expanded and partially corrected version of the manifest from the Lost: The Untold website, and since both versions of the manifest contain numerous details that contradict information stated on the show itself, they're to be considered non-canonical. This last name was likely derived from the dialog of the Monsignor, who referred to Eko as "Father Tunde" (" ? ")

Additional casting

Unanswered questions

Unanswered questions Do not answer the questions here. Keep the questions open-ended and neutral: do not suggest an answer. More details...

For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: Eko/Theories

How did he survive the implosion of the Swan?

References



