Ancient & Pre-Colonial Nigeria
Histories of Nigerian kingdoms, empires, trade routes, and cultures before colonial rule, including Nok, Benin, Oyo, Sokoto, and Kanem-Bornu.
How the Fall of Osogun in 1821 Changed the Life of Samuel Ajayi Crowther
In the early nineteenth century, Yorubaland was passing through one of the most violent periods in its history. The old balance of power had...
The 1960s Yoruba Portrait Known as “Mrs Eve Dawodu” and the Enduring Grace of Ìró and Bùbá
A portrait can outlive the generation that first admired it. Long after the photographer has packed away the camera and the sitter has stepped...
Oba Sanusi Olusi and the Throne Lagos Almost Forgot
Oba Sanusi Olusi remains one of the most intriguing figures in the history of Lagos. His reign was short, yet it unfolded during one...
The Reign of Oba Salawu Aminu
Ibadan has long stood apart in Yoruba political history because its throne was not shaped by simple hereditary succession alone. In many kingdoms, the...
Ifewara’s Hidden Past, How a Small Osun Town Preserved Its Deep Roots in Ile, Ife
Ifewara is one of those towns whose size can mislead the outsider. On the map, it appears as a modest community in present day...
Aduloju of Ado and the Violent World That Shaped His Power
Aduloju of Ado emerged in one of the most turbulent periods in Yoruba history. By the nineteenth century, the old stability once associated with...
How Abdulsalami Became the First Emir of Ilorin
Ilorin’s transformation in the nineteenth century stands as one of the most important turning points in Yoruba political history. What began as a frontier...
Sogidi Lake and the Making of Awe, The Sacred Landscape That Shaped a Town in Oyo State
Awe, in present day Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, is a Yoruba town whose history is deeply rooted in landscape and tradition....
Oba Afunbiowo Adesida I and the 1956 Royal Encounter
Oba Olofinlade Afunbiowo Adesida I stands as one of the most remarkable monarchs in the history of Akure. His reign spanned a period of...
Apomu, Aole, and the Market Scandal in Old Oyo
In the late eighteenth century, Apomu stood as one of the most active market towns within Ife territory, drawing traders from Oyo, Ife, Owu,...