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Ìbàdàn, Ibadan (2026)

20/01/2025

Oba Sir Isaac Babalola Akinyele, KBE (1882–1964), was a distinguished figure in Ibadan's history, celebrated for his contributions as the first educated Olubadan and the second Christian to ascend the throne. His life was marked by his dedication to education, religion, and community development.

Early Life and Family Background
Isaac Babalola Akinyele was born on April 18, 1882, to Josiah Akinyele and Abigail Lapeno. His father, Josiah, was among the early converts to Christianity under the Church Mission Society (CMS) led by David Hinderer in Ibadan. His mother, Abigail, was also a convert and the daughter of Kukomi, a renowned Ibadan warrior. Isaac's older brother, Alexander Babatunde Akinyele, became the first Anglican Diocesan Bishop of Ibadan, highlighting the family's strong Christian and educational values.

Education and Civil Service
Isaac followed in his brother's footsteps, excelling academically and becoming a role model for education in Ibadan. His achievements inspired a 1910 proclamation mandating every household in Ibadan to send at least one child to school or pay a fine. He began his career as a customs inspector in 1903 and later became the chief judge of the native court. Alongside his civil service, Isaac was a successful entrepreneur, establishing cocoa plantations that boosted Ibadan's economy.

Religious Leadership
A devout Christian, Isaac Akinyele initially adhered to Anglicanism but later joined the Faith Tabernacle, which evolved into the Christ Apostolic Church. As its first President, he played a pivotal role in introducing Pentecostalism to Nigeria, advocating for the contextualization of religious practices to align with Yoruba culture.

Traditional and Political Leadership
In 1955, Isaac Akinyele became the Olubadan of Ibadan. His Christian faith influenced his approach to traditional duties, including the use of a Christian ceremonial staff instead of one anointed with sheep's blood. He was knighted as a KBE by Queen Elizabeth II in 1956, recognizing his contributions to his community and country.

During his reign, he navigated the political turbulence of the Western Region's crisis in the early 1960s. Despite the challenges, he maintained a neutral stance and supported peace initiatives.

Legacy
Isaac Akinyele ruled for a decade, leaving a lasting legacy in Ibadan's history. His commitment to education, Christianity, and progressive leadership significantly shaped the city's development. He passed away on May 30, 1964, but his influence remains a source of inspiration.

Source: Africa Yoruba

09/09/2024

Somewhere in Ibadan in 1970... 🥰

25/08/2024

Guess where this photo was taken... How much do you know Ibadan?

23/08/2024

BOWER'S TOWER: ÌBÀDÀN LO MỌ, Ó MỌ LÁYÍPO

Bower's Tower is located in one of the oldest areas of Ibadan, Ọyọ State. It was unveiled on December 15, 1936, designed by Taffy Jone (who designed Mapo Hall) and named after the first British resident in Ibadan and a travelling commissioner for the interior of Yoruba land, Captain Robert Lister Bower, who brought peace in his era.

The 60ft tall Bower's Tower was birthed on Sapati Hill. This was where he administered his government as the Lieutenant General which we call “Governor” today. There is a place called “pulpit” where warriors meet with Bower. The tower which is one of the oldest tourist attractions in the largest city in West Africa has an excellent view that could allow one see the splattered brown roofs like broken China J.P Clark had beautifully described in his poem, ‘Ibadan'.

Though built in 1930s, the unique architectural creation still looks pristine and well-structured. The tower gives a spectacular glance of the four corners of Ibadan. One can view, from Oke Arẹ hill – where the tower stands upon, the surrounding landmarks, including the popular Cocoa House, Mọkọla Hill, Adamasingba stadium, the Polytechnic, Ibadan, the University College Hospital and the rusty brown roofs around the town.

However, a lot of people do not know the tower because of the poor maintenance over the years, which has made people think the tourist centre is deserted. The Tower, which rises to the sky and only stands to represent tales but is far away from life around it. The tower has two entrances with narrow staircases which were explained as the architectural design that allows one singlehandedly walk through the steps alone to the height where the city can finally be seen.

The tower is a great place to visit. The main entrance which used to be the car park was functioning in the early 90s. The car park is meant to lead you to the stage where performers would come to play and gyrate to the admiration of guests. There was an administrative office which housed the workers of the tower for duties. As at 1999, it was a norm to have students from University of Ibadan to come around for excursion and sightseeing. Visitors from far and near who wanted to view the city roofs from the tower top use to patronize the place.

The tower was not really built for war but it had also served as a protective measure for the whites then. Because of the height of the building, there was very high possibility anyone standing at the top of the tower to have seen the war coming close and would have made such a person clamour for safety as quickly as possible.

With the architectural design of the tower, you go through both sides of the tower in one journey, when you are climbing up; you get to see those climbing down and vice versa. You can see those coming out from the other side of the stairways through the tiny holes on each of the step. The spiral movement birth the popular proverbial saying “Ibadan lo mọ, o mọ layipo” rephrased to simply mean “you know Ibadan, you don’t know layipo.”

When the step was commissioned in 1936, our forefathers then who could not speak in English described the spiral staircases by saying “se la n yipo, la n yipo t**i ta fi de oke“ which means “we are just going around the stairs, going around the stairs and we have not reached the top”.

The men would say again “a se oke lo yii Ibadan ka” (so Ibadan is surrounded by hills) and hence conclude by saying, “Ibadan lo mọ, o mọ layipo” (you know Ibadan but you do not know Layipo). This was said to emphasise that even if a person knew the city well and has not been to the Bower Tower where one would ‘yipo’ (go around the tower), such a person has not known the city”.

Credit: Cultural Heritage Centre

19/08/2024

How much do you know about past Baales and Olubadans of Ibadanland? Here is a list comprising their names, family compounds, and the years of their reign.

Lagelu Awotan -
Ba'ale Maye Okunade - 1820-1830
Ba'ale Oluyedun Labosinde 1830-1835
Ba'ale Lakanle Agbeni 1835-1836
Bashorun Oluyole Oja'ba 1836-1850
Ba'ale Oderinlo Opeagbe Idiomo/Kure 1850-1851
Ba'ale Oyeshile Olugbode Ita Baale 1851-1864
Ba'ale Ibikunle Ayeye 1864
Bashorun Ogunmola Mapo 1864-1867
Ba'ale Beyioku Akere I Oritamerin 1867-1869
Ba'ale Orowusi (Awarun) Kobomoje 1869-1871
Aare Obadoke Latosa Oke-Are 1871-1885
Ba'ale Ajayi Osungbekun Kobomoje 1885-1893
Ba'ale Fijabi l Oritamerin 1893-1893
Ba'ale Oshuntoki Olosun Agbeni 1893-1897
Basorun Fajimi Oranyan 1897-1902
Ba'ale Mosaderin Sunlehinmi Oranyan 1902-904
Ba'ale Dada Opadere Mapo 1904-1907
Basorun Sunmonu Apampa Isale-Osi 1907-1910
Ba'ale Akintayo Awanibaku Elenpe Bere/Aboke 1910-1912
Ba'ale Irefin Oke-Ofa Babasale 1912-1914
Ba'ale Sh*ttu Latosa (Omo Aare) Oke Are 1914-1925
Ba'ale Oyewole Ayejenku Foko Òke Foko 1925–1929
Olubadan Okunola Abaasi Alesinloye Isale Ijebu. 1930–1946
Olubadan Fagbinrin Akere II Oritamerin 1946
Olubadan Oyetunde I Eleta 1946
Olubadan Akintunde Bioku Oleyo/Oranyan 1947–1948
Olubadan Fijabi II Oritamerin 1948–1952
Olubadan Memudu Alli-Iwo Gbenla 1952
Olubadan Igbintade Apete Oke Ofa 1952–1955
Oba Isaac Babalola Akinyele Alafara 1955–1964
Oba Yesufu Kobiowu Oranyan 1964
Oba Salawu Akanni Aminu Adeoyo 1965–1971
Oba Sh*ttu Akintola Oyetunde II Eleta 1971–1976
Oba Gbadamosi Akanbi Adebimpe Odinjo 1976–1977
Oba Daniel 'Tayo Akinbiyi Elekuro 1977–1982
Oba Yesufu Oloyede Asanike I Idi Oro 1982–1993
Oba Emmanuel Adegboyega Operinde I Isalẹ Ìjèbú 1993–1999
Oba Yunusa Ogundipe Arapasowu I Oranyan 1999–2007
Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I Aremo 2007–2016
Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji Popoyemoja 2016–2022
Oba 'Lekan Balogun Alli Okunmade II Gbenla 2022–2024
Oba Owolabi Olakulehin Ita-Baale 2024 —

15/08/2024

Adeyemi FC are the CHAMPIONS 🏆 of Ibadan Football Council League 2023/24 season.

Adeyemi Football Club is owned by Karim Adeyemi, a German professional player who plays as a winger or forward for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund .

Karim-David Adeyemi was born in Munich, Germany, to a Nigerian father and Romanian mother. Adeyemi, despite his allegiance to Germany, has always shown his love and commitment to Ibadan, his father's natal land. Football fans all over the world would recall that Adeyemi once attributed his impressive agility to the Nigerian foods he eats, especially Fufu.

12/08/2024

Àgbàoyè Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja received his beaded crown as the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land today at a ceremony presided over by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akinloye Olalere Owolabi Ige Olakulehin, Olubadan of Ibadanland, Olubadan at the new Olubadan Palace, Òkè Aremo, Ibadan.

Oba Ladoja, may he live long, is the Otun Olubadan of Ibadan land and the next in line in ascension to the throne of Olubadan. May our present Kabiyesi also live very long 🙏🏿

📷: Vanguard Newspapers

12/08/2024

Foreward to the book Ìbàdàn Mesìọ̀gọ̀: A Celebration of a City, Its History and People by Chief Bola Ige, First Executive Governor of Oyo State

***

It was at a meeting of the Oyo/Osun branch of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) held at my Ibadan home in April in 1998 that I suggested that I would be willing to finance the publication of a collection of poetry and prose... be they fiction, faction or factual - to celebrate the city of Ibadan. A few days earlier I had enjoyed reading such a collection about Harlem in New York City. I had been fascinated by the fervour with which the writers wrote about this part of the American Big Apple which meant so much to them. The writers were not natives of Harlem, so to speak, in the sense that they were black denizens of that ghetto. Quite a few of the contributors were white and a couple or so were foreigners, black, white and whatever.

There were that afternoon, some one hundred of us, mostly young people, who would call Ibadan home, even if, according to the Nigerian system, majority of us were probably not "sons-of-the-soil." I remember that one of the distinguished participants that afternoon was Mrs Mabel Segun whom I have known since October 1949 when we entered University College, Ibadan. She was Miss Imokhuede. She is not only one of the trustees of the Association of Nigerian Authors; she is one of the most outstanding Nigerian authors of children's books. There was Chief (Mrs.) Christie Ajayi, the wife of Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Ibadan, Prof J.F. Ade-Ajayi, who, apart from a few years when they adorned the office and home of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, she and her husband have lived in Ibadan since the late fifties when Professor Ade-Ajayi took up employment as a history teacher at the University of Ibadan.

There were much younger members of the Association who would call Ibadan home too. There was Professor Dapo Adelugba who, a son of Esa-Oke, went to school and university at Ibadan, and in addition has spent all his working life teaching English and Theatre arts, acting or directing plays, in the University of Ibadan. There was Dr. Wale Okediran, then Secretary of the branch (he has since become the General Secretary of the Association) who has lived almost all his life in Ibadan, except for the years he read Medicine at the University of Ife, Ile-Ife. There was Tade Ipadeola, a lawyer earning his living as State Counselor but will be heard of in future as a poet and writer of note. He is probably not thirty yet, and though not a sons-of-the-soil, he and his parents have made Ibadan their home.

It occurred to me that I should use the occasion to get some of our writers to put down for posterity what they felt about Ibadan. Ibadan has been good to me, and I cannot sufficiently thank my Creator for the blessings He has showered on me using Ibadan as His instrument. I have in KADUNA BOY written a little about my life as a pupil in Ibadan Grammar School. In PEOPLE, POLITICS AND POLITICIANS OF NIGERIA (1940-79) I have given a few glimpses of what I saw of politics in Ibadan in the years before I became Governor of Oyo State on 1st October 1979. Before long I will say quite a bit more in CICERO AT AGODI and THE BRIGADIER LIED.

I have lived in Ibadan since 1943, except for about four years when I was abroad or during the various periods of my detention and imprisonment. My law practice has the main chambers in Ibadan. I married and Ibadan girl, and all my children were born in Ibadan. Ibadan has been a modal point of my politics, whether of Yorubaland or of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. From Ibadan, I have led my political parties to win huge majorities in elections, Local, State and Federal. I have lived among the ordinary people of Ibadan at Ekotedo, Oke Ado, and Bodija. I am by marriage a member of the Oloko family of Agodi; I have occupied the Government House at Agodi, and I have been a detention inmate in Agodi prison! And by the good and royal hand of Oba D.T. Akinbiyi that gracious Olubadan of Ibadan, I am the Alasa of Ibadan; and since 1981 I have sought to be what the chieftaincy named me as - the Holder of the Shield to protect this City, whose national anthem I have been singing since 1943, and which I confess to be true:

Ibadan, Ilu ori oke,
Ilu ibukun Oluwa
K'Oluwa se ọ n'bukun
Fun onile at'alejo
Chorus:
Ẹ ho, ẹ yọ
K'ẹ si gberin:
Ogo f'Ọlọrun wa loni
Ibukun ti Ọbangiji
Wa pẹlu rẹ, 'wọ Ibadan

Which translated means:
Ibadan, city set on hills
City blessed by the Lord,
May the Lord make you a blessing
For indigenes and non-indigenes
Chorus:
Make a joyful noise, rejoice,
And sing the chorus loud:
Glory to our Lord God today;
And may the blessings of the Almighty
Be with you, you Ibadan.

It is my hope and prayer that this anthology, or treasury, or collection of poems, stories, reminiscences, and descriptions of experiences concerning Ibadan will be enjoyed by all - both - online and alejo - and they will be blessed.

It remains for me to thank all who contributed to this collection, the editors and the publishers - BOOKCRAFT LTD. Ibadan a gbe wa o.

'Bola Ige, SAN
"Solemilia Court"
Bodija, Ibadan
13th September 2000

12/08/2024

Ibadan,
running splash of rust
and gold - flung and scattered
among seven hills like broken
China in the sun.

***
Does any other poem capture the comeliness (😍) of Ibadan like J.P. Clark's poem? Mention it; we'll wait 😁

10/08/2024

This was the list of traditional chiefs of Ibadan in 2008. A lot seems to have changed since then, not so?

Who remembers the name which hitherto occupied the vacant position of Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadan?

Ìbàdàn

20/01/2025

09/09/2024

25/08/2024

23/08/2024

19/08/2024

15/08/2024

12/08/2024

12/08/2024

12/08/2024

10/08/2024

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