Take a tour of the Centenary Hall in Abeokuta.

By Esther Omuzor

19 November 2019

Egba has a veritable traditional and cultural heritage, which is highly cherished among them and worthy of emulation by others, particularly among the Yorubas.

The Egbaland centenary hall was built by the settlers to monumentalize their one hundred years story of peaceful existence at Abeokuta after the inter-tribal wars. It was constructed in 1950 directly opposite the current Abeokuta south local government. Portrait pictures of past Egbaland heroes are put on display for historical purposes.

the centenary hall
The Centenary hall

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 The Hall and courtyard occupy a land area of 3,196.038 meters.  It is not just a one of its kind hall in Abeokuta but also the entire old Western region. It is a unique hall of fame for the Egba people, which in the past served as a venue for most town hall meetings and an avenue for interaction and socialization, among the Egbas.

Another fascinating thing about this place is the smell of history oozing uncontrollably inside the hall. Regardless of how old it is, the centenary hall remains an architectural delight, standing adjacent to the palace of Oba Okukenu, the first Alake of Egbaland who was crowned on August 8, 1854.

The idea of the building was originally introduced by one of the past Alakes, Oba Ladapo Ademola II who according to documented evidence, got the consent of the Egba Authority in a meeting held 2nd January 1930. The foundation stone was laid by Oba Ladapo Ademola II later that year.

Artifacts at the Centenary Hall
Artifacts at the Centenary Hall

The centenary hall is worth exploring and makes for a great location to take great pictures. In spite of it being a historical centre, it is not restricted for event usage although a token fee will be required.

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