The Oodu'a Museum and Hall of Fame - An Epitome of the Yorùbá Culture

Atop the Cocoa house

The towering Cocoa House is house to many businesses and work spaces within the Dugbe metropolis of Ibadan.

It's the tallest structure in Ibadan, though not the highest point. Nevertheless, it confidently stands in the middle of Dugbe as it rises above the other buildings surrounding it.

Asides the basement and the ground floor, it has 24 floors upwards.
And at the 24th floor sits a museum, well hidden from an obvious recognition.

This is the Odu'a Museum and Hall of Fame, known for its Yoruba heritage and articles that reflect the culture and tradition.

One would not even guess there was museum at this place, even up to the front door.

Once you get in, it's a different world entirely.

There are many rooms with different cultural articles reflecting the life and tradition of the Yoruba tribe.

Here is Adé Oba, meaning the crown of a king. It is bright colored and ornamented with accessories signifying different neanings

Hand bangles, a bell and a local sword

A model of a woman turning food in a pot, a common sight in African kitchens

A storage pot, an integral part of pottery in Yoruba

A crown made from cowries

A cross-section of local pots in profile

Sculpture of King and wife in wedlock

PROMINENT SOCIO-POLITICAL FIGURES IN NIGERIA OF YORUBA DESCENT

PROMINENT INSTITUTIONS OF HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE IN IBADAN

The Aládòko Masquerade, usually adorned with several ornaments, including small mirrors placed all over his gown

Elements of traditional worship in the Yoruba culture

YORUBA MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

This write-up won't be complete without mentioning these photographic elements!
I saw age-old cameras. Cameras from the "film and dark-room" era.

This is a Polaroid camera which uses the FP100c film packs. Costed about $100 for a pack of 10 when it was still available on retro markets more than 10 years ago. You'll be lucky to still find them around now. This was originally manufactures between 1969 and 1971

The Kodak EK6 with instant film. Was manufactured in 1976

The Yashica Mat124G, a 6x6 Twin Lens Reflex camera. The top lens was for viewing while the one below was for pictures. They're both 80mmm lenses.

And I have my travel buddy here with me, Ficky. She drags me out to these places even when I have no energy.

You see that big TV there. It's an integral part of our growing up. So many memories. Only one person had the TV in my neighborhood while growing up. The rest of us listened to the radio. It was a milestone achievement when we finally got one in our house.

Ficky with the museum curator

This museum is an attempt at preserving the Yoruba culture and I think they've done a good job at that.
However, I think there's more to be preserved about the culture and tradition of the tribe beyond the myopic scope of what we could find at the museum. It's a very small museum - more like a gallery.
Nevertheless, it was a great experience!

What do you think?

Camera	Panasonic Lumix GH4
Inbuilt Lens	Lumix 14-42mm f.3.5-5.6
Editing	Lightroom for Android

All pictures taken by me.

_{Follow me on IG/Tiktok for more:
@draysax_shotit}