Palace of Olowo of Owo

Owo which is a local government in Ondo State has the largest palace (Aghofen) in Africa and hence it is named a national monument by the federal government of Nigeria. The palace is with about 100 courtyards known as Ugha, each has a particular function and attached to a particular deity as honour.

Aghofen which is the place of Ólówó is claimed to be twice the American football field and is used for ceremonies and public assemblies.

Olowo's Palace, Owo, Ondo state

Like a typical olden palace, some of the courtyards were paved with quartz pebbles and others with broken pottery. Pillars supporting each roofs in the veranda were moulded with statues of a king mounted on a horse or otherwise shown with his senior wife.

About 13 monarchs have used the palace from the first Olowo of Owo, Oba Ojugbelu Arere others include Rerengejen, Ajaka, Ajagbusi Ekun, Olagbegi Atanneye I, Olagbegi Atanneye II,Elewuokun, Olateru Olagbegi I, Olateru Olagbegi II, Ajike Ogunoye,Adekola Ogunoye II and Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III in no particular order.

The palace of ólówó of owo is located in the heart of the town which is surrounded by trees and some other artifacts.[1]

The palace which sit on 180 acres of land was built during the reign of Olowo Irengenje in 1340 and it has about 1,000 rooms and courtyards are known as Ugha while some of the courtrooms served as shrines and places of worship of ancestors.[1]

Olowo of Owo Palace, Ondo state 11 30 38 228000 AM

Owo was regarded by many as the political Mecca of Yorubaland before the attainment of Nigeria's independence and the palace of ólówó took a part in that as the formation of Action group transformed from Egbe Omo Yoruba took place within the palace.[2]

References
  1. "Olowo: Africa's 'biggest' palace". The Sun Nigeria. 2019-06-13. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
  2. "Inside Africa's largest palace". Tribune Online. 2018-03-27. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
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