Ibadan kure! Ibadan bere ki o to wo o .....
Here lies the history of a city with a profound sense of cultural heritage, beautiful scenery, tall buildings, robust agricultural resources and an overwhelming hospitality spirit. Welcome to the land of great Yoruba warriors such as Lagelu, Bashorun Ogunmola, Oluyole and many more - a city of peace and harmony and one filled with interesting historics.
Ibadan, nicknamed, ile oluyole, ilu Ogunmola is the capital of Oyo state, Nigeria. It is located on seven hills, about 100miles from the Atlantic ocean. Due to its unique military character, it was also nicknamed idi ibon, meaning gun base.
Comfortably seated in the south western part of Nigeria , Ibadan is the capital and most populous city of Oyo state . It is the third largest city by population after Lagos and Kano and it is by far the country's largest city by geographical area . Located ( 330mi ) south west of Abuja, the federal capital . It is a prominent transit point between the coastal regions and areas in the hinterland
Ibadan is an impressive and sprawling urban center presently that it dominated Yoruba land politically and economically as it is the site of most of the development brought by the British colonies . The first television station in Africa , which was commissioned by the then west region premier , late Chief Obafemi Awolowo , named western Nigerian television ( WNTV) ,its audio transmission , western broadcasting service at Agodi area . WNTV is what we have come to know as Nigerian Television Authority ( NTA ). The home of Nigeria's first university UI , and the first skyscraper cocoa house which opened in 1965 .
Home to the administrative centre of the old western region since the early days of British colonial rule , parts of the city's ancient protective walls still stand to this day .
Moreover , its location at the fringe of the forest from which the city got its name promotes its emergence as a marketing center for traders and goods from both the forest and grassland areas . Principal inhabitants of the city are the Yoruba people as well as various communities notably Igbo, Hausa , Efik from other parts of the country .
Ibadan , coined from the phase "Eba odan " which literally means by the edge of the meadow has been in existence since the 16th century at a time when there was no title of Aare Ona kakanfo when some eminent adventurers migrated out of Ile –Ife to form their own settlements. The first settlement was destroyed by the Oyo Army as a result of an unfortunate incident during Egungun festival when the secret of the masquerades were exposed .
Ibadan mesi ogo , nile Oluyole
Ilu Ogunmola , olodogbo keri loju ogun,
Ilu Ibikunle ,alagbala jaya–jaya,
Ilu Ajayi, o gbori efon se fila fila,
Ilu Latosa ,Aare Ona Kakanfo .
Due to administrative imbalance after the collapse of the first Ibadan , the region was convulsed by extended inter–tribal wars and the city which was initially intended to be a war camp for warriors coming from Oyo, Ijebu , Egba , Ife and other neighbouring towns also became a refuge . As a forest site containing several ranges of hills , varying in elevation from 160 to 275 metres , the position of the town offered strategic defence posts and opportunities against the Fulanis.
This period of internal turmoil that characterized Yoruba land at the time , there was a great influx of people that changed the character of the town , one of the important migrants was the Owu group led by Olowu Akinjobi after the destruction of Owu town by the allied army of Ijebus and Ifes as a result of slave trade conflict at Apomu. The reigning Olubadan gave her only daughter out in marriage to Olowu to strengthen the friendship between the Owus and Ibadans but Olowu Akinjobi sacrificed Olubadan's daughter to appease the goddess of River Osun . Consequently, the Olubadan invited the allied army from their camp at Iperu led by Maye Okunade , an Ife general and Lakanle an Oyo leader to avenge the death of Olubadan's daughter . This events marked the end of the second Ibadan .
In Ibadan , unlike other Yoruba cities with traditional kinship institution, the warrior class become the rulers of the city as well as the most economic group. The town dominated Yoruba region militarily , politically and economically. The military impact was firmly reaffirmed further when refugees began arriving in large numbers from northern Oyo following the Fulanis raids so much it was nicknamed idi ibon meaning gun base .
Ibadan omo ajoro sun,
Omo a je igbin yoo, fi ikarahun fo ri mu,
Ibadan maja maja bi tojo kin–in–ni,
Eyi to ja aladugbo gbogbo logun,
Ibadan ki i ba ni s'ore ai mu ni lo s'ogun ,
Ibadan kure ! Ibadan bere ki o to wo o.
Thus , Ibadan was re–peopled around 1820 not by its original founders of the town but by the allied army consisting of Egbas, Ijebus , Ifes and Oyos . And it was in this period that many old Yoruba cities such as old Oyo (Oyo Ile ),Ijaye and Owu disappeared and newer ones such as Abeokuta , new Oyo (Oyo Atiba )and Ibadan came to be . The above historical events became necessary to correct misplaced conception that Ibadan was founded in 1829.
In terms of population and geographical area, it is the country's most largest city. It is located in the southwestern Nigeria, about 128kilometers Northeast of Lagos and 530kilometers Southwest of Abuja, the federal capital.
The city is principally inhabited by the Yorubas, but people from various communities such as Igbo notably, Hausa, Efik and other parts of the country.
HISTORY: Ibadan's beginnings are shrouded in mystery, recorded only in oral tradition. Recorded history began in 1829, after the region was convulsed by extended intertribal wars.
The name Ibadan was coined from the phrase "Eba Odan" which means "by the edge of the meadow". The city came into existence in 1829, during a period of turmoil that characterized Yorubaland at the time. At that time, many old Yoruba cities such as old Oyo(Oyo ile), Ijaye, and Owu disappeared and newer ones such as Abeokuta, new Oyo(Oyo atiba) and Ibadan sprang up to replace them.
According to local historians, Lagelu founded the city and was initially intended to be a war camp for warriors coming from Oyo, Ife and Ijebu. The camp, being a forest site containing several hills with varying elevations ranging from 160-275meters offered strategic defence opportunities. Also, the camp is located at the fringe of the forest, from which the city got its name, promoted its emergence as a marketing center for traders and goods from both the forest and grassland areas.
* In 1829, the city came into existence.
* In 1852, the church missionary society sent David and Anna Hinderer to found a mission. They built the mission and a church in Ibadan where they arrived in 1853.
* In 1893, the British colonial government assumed the control of the city.
* In 1901, the railway arrived.
* In 1912, the railway line was extended northward to Kano to ensure the city's continuing economic importance.
Ibadan is ruled by the warrior class and those that belong to the most important economic group, unlike other Yoruba cities with traditional kingship institutions.
SIGHTS:
Ibadan is drained, naturally by 4 rivers with many tributaries:
*Ona river in the North and West
*Ogbere river towards the East
*Ogunpa river flowing through the city
*Kudeti river in the central part of the metropolis
Lake Eleyele is located at the northwestern part of the city while the Osun river and the Asejire lake bounds the city to the east.
1. Dugbe district: It is the commercial nerve centre of Ibadan. It houses many commercial banks, the south west regional office of the central bank of Nigeria, Cocoa house the Nigeria's first skyscraper, and other tall buildings around Dugbe axis which include Femi Johnson glass house, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria's Building etc.
2. Museum: The museum is located in the building of Institute of African studies. It exhibits several remarkable pre-historic bronze carvings and statues.
3. Libraries
4. Television station: Ibadan is a home to the first television station in Africa.
5. Zoological gardens: The city has two zoological gardens; one is located within the University of Ibadan and another at Agodi gardens which also contains a botanical garden, swimming pool and leisure spots.
6. Bower memorial tower: It is located to the east on Oke Aare (Aare's hill - Aare in Yoruba means commander-in-chief or generalissimo). It provides an excellent view of the whole city from the top and it can be viewed from practically any point in the city.
7. Mapo hall: It is the colonial style city hall perched on top of a hill, oke Mapo (Mapo hill).
8. Cultural centre: It is a trans-wonderland amusement park in Mokola.
9. Liberty stadium: It is now called the Obafemi Awolowo stadium. It was the first standard Nigerian stadium.
10. University of Ibadan: It is the first citadel if higher learning. It was formerly called University College of Ibadan. Obafemi Awolowo hall in the University of Ibadan is said to be one of the tallest and largest hostel in West Africa.
11. University College Hospital: It was the first teaching hospital in Nigeria.
12. Lekan Salami Stadium: It is a home to the shooting stars football club, a professional football club also know as 3SC.
13. Ibadan golf club: It is a large 18-hole challenge and the Barracks course has just been extended to the 18 holes.
Sounds
"There isn't really an Ibadan sound. Ibadan has a principle to make high quality music which covers all areas of electronic music, acoustic dance music, ultimately jazz funk, jazz and maybe even hip-hop and R&B."The above statement was made by Jerome Sydenham (a man born and raised in Ibadan), a DJ and music producer, who founded an independent music label called Ibadan Records in 1995.
Ibadan Records is principal to other labels including: Apotek Records, Avocado Records, Bolshevic Records, Public Service Records and UK Promotions. The label celebrated its 15-year anniversary in 2010 while also reaching the mark of over 100 releases. The label's motto is: "A higher quality experience in music".
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