2020 | Building Peace through Heritage
Problem of conservation of ancient palace architecture in Oje area of
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
ADEESAN Kazeem Olayode 1
1
Moretocome Tourism and Heritage (a division of moretocome global ventures limited),
Introduction
Abstract: This paper examines the architecture of Irefin Palace in Oje area of Ibadan,
Oyo State, Nigeria. The palace built with mud over 200 years ago by King Ogundeji
Akinjobi, grandson of Oduduwa. The palace was built in such a unique way that it
is quite easy to view at a glance from the story building at the centre of the compound,
making it easy for anybody to hear the call of the king whenever he made
such through the middle window. The major problem is conserving the mud wall. Not
that alone, the land, around the ancient palace are being sold even to non-natives. The
space where rituals took place had been sold out. This paper is therefore interested
in why historical and symbolic area of the palace is facing acute encroachments and
conservation.
This paper describes the architecture of Irefin palace in Oje area of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria from the
historical and symbolic point of view.
Architectural pattern can be determined by several factors. These factors interact with one another to determine
spatial architectural forms of building. People see palace as portrait sacred place because they believed
that kings as their Semi god. Among Yoruba people of South West, Nigeria. According to Ogundele
(2004) palace is seen as sacred place because it represents the heart and soul of a community. The palace
can be seen as an important aspect in the cultural dimension of the people. In this light, the architecture
of Irefin Palace is being studied from historic and symbolic perspectives.
The technique used in building the palace, according to Adekola (1992) is the use of space, the wives’
apartment, security guards’ as well as the king’s apartment and the ritual point.
Fig.1 - Map of Nigeria showing Oyo State (Google map http:www.Oyostate.gov.ng)
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