“Yoruba Architectural Sites in Nigeria”

Adedeji, Joseph Adeniran | from Multimedia Library Collection:
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The first Osogbo Palace, Osun Grove, Osogbo, Nigeria. © 2000 Gerhard Merzeder. Courtesy of Adunni Olorisha Trust–Adunni Osun Foundation. All rights reserved.

Adedeji, Joseph Adeniran. “Yoruba Architectural Sites in Nigeria.” Springs: The Rachel Carson Center Review, no. 4 (October 2023).

Heritage preservation is the strategy of conserving the cultural and environmental history of a certain time and place, and it also has political, spiritual, socioeconomic, scientific, and educational significance. The resulting heritage sites exhibit the past in the present; they are preserved with the hope of shaping an ecological future. As physical and cultural heritage, architectural sites represent the accumulated myths and worldviews of the people who acted on and transformed the land over long periods of time. Examining the aesthetics and philosophy that shaped three of the most important architectural sites of the Yoruba people in southwest Nigeria unveils the various facets and values of Yoruba heritage as it pertains to conservation and environmental protection. Some of the most significant Yoruba architectural sites are located in vast, hilly areas of primary forest in southwest Nigeria. The setting, design, and cultural meaning of these heritage sites signify hope for a harmonious coexistence between society and the nonhuman world (as for exampe shown in figure 1), while also foregrounding the vulnerability of the environment. (From the article)

This article was originally published in Springs: The Rachel Carson Center Review. Springs is an online publication featuring peer-reviewed articles, creative nonfiction, and artistic contributions that showcase the work of the Rachel Carson Center and its community across the world.

2023 Joseph Adeniran Adedeji

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