Joy fills Oyo town as Alaafin Abimbola Owoade moves into the restored ancient palace at Oke Afin, marking a major revival of Yoruba culture and royal heritage
Alaafin Owoade Moves Into Rebuilt Ancient Palace, Rekindling the Soul of Old Oyo
The ancient city of Oyo erupted in celebration on Tuesday as Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, formally moved into the historic Alaafin’s Palace at Oke Afin, marking a symbolic and cultural rebirth of one of Yorubaland’s most treasured royal institutions.
For years before Oba Owoade’s emergence, the once-majestic palace stood abandoned and battered by time. Vandalism, neglect and structural decay had reduced the revered edifice to a shadow of its past, leaving generations of Oyo residents yearning for its revival.
That longing turned into jubilation as the Alaafin’s relocation into the palace signalled not just a return to tradition, but a decisive act of cultural preservation.
Soon after ascending the throne, Oba Owoade initiated the rehabilitation and partial reconstruction of the ancient palace, setting out to rescue and preserve the tangible heritage of the old Oyo Empire. The restoration work, supervised by the Alaafin’s Personal Assistant, Reverend Dr. Kolade Oladele, focused on reviving the palace’s original architectural identity while reinforcing its structural integrity.
Today, the palace stands renewed — bold, sturdy and resilient — radiating timeless beauty through its carefully structured layouts, ornate columns, traditional windows and carved doors that carry the unmistakable imprints of ancient Oyo artistry.
A walk through the palace reveals a complex network of courtyards, a defining feature of classical Yoruba architecture. Almost every building opens into a courtyard, while the more elaborate structures boast multiple courtyards, each encircled by rooms that breathe communal life into the space.
Confirming the development, the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Mr. Bode Durojaiye, described the palace as a living archive of Yoruba civilisation.
“A visit to the ancient Palace will no doubt convince anyone that it is indeed a storehouse of Yoruba culture and tradition,” Durojaiye said.
He explained that the palace is richly adorned with cultural expressions that speak volumes about royalty, craftsmanship and history.
“The Palace is adorned with works of art, various forms of sculptures that include carved wooden house posts and door panels, which are traditional symbols of wealth and royalty,” he noted.
According to him, modern artistic expressions have also been tastefully integrated without eroding the palace’s historical soul.
“Modern figures of lions and hunters are made from mortals, while the walls are decorated with mosaics and painted murals depicting scenes from life, decorated calabashes and imaginary beings,” Durojaiye added.
Beyond its artistic value, the Alaafin’s Palace also stands out in scale and grandeur. Tourism experts who have toured the site reportedly attest to its uniqueness among ancient palaces in Nigeria.
“The traditional architectural designs are superb and second to none among ancient palaces in the country,” Durojaiye said, adding that investigations revealed the Alaafin’s Palace is the largest, with over 200 buildings.
For residents of Oyo, the Alaafin’s return to the palace is more than a royal relocation — it is a powerful affirmation that history, identity and tradition remain central to the present and future of the ancient town.
