Why Ibadan’s Coronations Still Hold at Mapo Hill: The Untold Story Behind the Hill of Heritage

Every Ibadan coronation draws the world’s gaze to Mapo Hill — a place where drums of tradition echo against the rocks of history. But few truly know why Ibadan insists on crowning her kings there. This is the untold story.

Many have often wondered why Ibadan — the city of warriors, culture, and courage — insists on holding coronations at Mapo Hall front yard, even when larger, more modern venues like stadia exist.

For many outsiders, Mapo is simply a landmark. But to true Ibadan indigenes, it’s sacred ground — a place where the city’s soul was shaped, and where every new king must return to renew that ancestral bond.

To uncover the deeper story, Feyisetan Hamzat of Benny News Hub spoke with Oluyedun Bello JP, a proud descendant of one of Ibadan’s warlord families. His voice carried both pride and nostalgia as he took us down memory lane.

> “Mapo wasn’t chosen by accident,” he said. “It’s the source — the very ground where Ibadan’s council began. Every coronation there connects us to our roots.”

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From War Paths to Settlement

After the Owu War, Ibadan warriors converged on the area that would later become the city’s heart. They first settled at Idi Ogungun, near today’s police station at Gate.

Before the great tree there was cut down, they decided not to return home. Instead, they pressed on, passing through Oje, and eventually arrived at a rocky elevation called Ori Yangi.

From that hilltop, they could see enemies approaching from all directions — a perfect military advantage. They chose to stay and named the place Oke Ibadan, meaning the hill of Ibadan.

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A Market of Unity and Strategy

In time, the settlement grew into a bustling community. Mapo became the center of trade, where goods from Egba, Oyo, Ijebu, and Ife were paraded and exchanged.

Oluyedun explained that the name “Mapo” later emerged from Olabosinde Market and Oja Iba — meaning Iba’s market, not the king’s market, as many assume.

Mapo soon became the meeting place of Ibadan’s elders and warriors — a council ground where decisions were made, disputes were settled, and territories were shared.

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From Evil Forest to Seat of Power

Long before Mapo Hall stood tall, the hill was feared. It was once an evil forest, home to wild animals and spiritual dangers. But Ibadan’s brave warriors conquered the territory, turning fear into dominion.

Between 1924 and 1925, eleven compounds — including those of Oderinlo, Sarunmi, and Aminu Adeoyo, among others — were relocated to make room for the monumental Mapo Hall, a structure that would later symbolize Ibadan’s authority and unity.

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The Colonial Touch That Changed Everything

When the British arrived, Captain W.A. Ross, the colonial Ajele (Resident Administrator), was fascinated by the hill’s commanding height. He ordered the construction of a government hall there — not only for administration but also for surveillance.

From that hill, the colonial officers could see the entire city — literally keeping an eye on Ibadan.

Even in those years, tax offenders and stubborn traders were brought up to Mapo for hearings. It became, in every sense, the seat of justice and governance.

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Why Coronations Still Hold There

Today, coronations at Mapo are not just ceremonial; they are spiritual reconnections. The Olubadan’s crowning at Mapo is a symbolic return to the source — the place where Ibadan’s unity and authority first took root.

From the rhythmic drums echoing across the hill to the thousands who fill the streets below, every coronation renews Ibadan’s ancient covenant with its people: a promise to rule with wisdom, courage, and heritage.

> “When the Olubadan sits under that sun at Mapo,” Oluyedun concluded, “it’s not just a ceremony. It’s our history standing tall again.”

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Did You Know? 🔍

Mapo Hall was completed in 1929 under the supervision of Captain W.A. Ross.

It was designed by Engineer Robert Taffy Jones, a Welshman, and constructed by the Public Works Department.

The hall’s seven steps at the entrance represent the seven hills of Ibadan — symbolizing completeness and strength.

Mapo Hall remains one of Nigeria’s oldest surviving colonial-era civic buildings.

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In Closing

Mapo is more than a venue — it’s the beating heart of Ibadan’s identity.

Each coronation there is not just about crowning a king; it’s about honouring the warriors who built Ibadan, the elders who guided it, and the people who keep its spirit alive.

So, the next time you see the city’s crown placed upon the Olubadan’s head at Mapo, remember — you are standing on the very soil where Ibadan’s destiny was first written.

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📸 Mapo Hall, the seat of Ibadan heritage — and Oluyedun, descendant of Ibadan’s warlord lineage, who shared this untold story.

Tags: Ibadan History, Mapo Hall, Olubadan Coronation, Yoruba Culture, Oyo State Heritage, Benny News Hub, Feyisetan Hamzat

✍️ Written by Feyisetan Hamzat, Journalist and Cultural Advocate — Benny News Hub