Meanings of Images on Carved Doors in Oyo Palace

What is it about?

Yoruba carved doors are usually embedded with numerous images that are representations of the attributes of gods and the kings who reside in them. This paper examined carved doors and panels in Ọ̀yọ́ the with a view to providing information about their provenance and their relevance to the history of the Ọ̀yọ́ palace.

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Why is it important?

Carved doors and panels in Yorùbá palaces in South-Western Nigeria are important parts of the architecture. While a number of these have been studied and analysed, the doors and panels in the palace of the Aláàfin of Ọ̀yọ́, one of the most important of the Yorùbá kings and an ancient town have received little mentioned devoid of any analysis to provide a better understanding of the images on the door especially in the historical context. Carved doors and panels in Yorùbá palaces in South-Western Nigeria are important parts of the architecture. They are usually embedded with numerous images that are representations of the attributes of gods and the kings who reside in them. While a number of these have been studied and analysed, the doors and panels in the palace of the Aláàfin of Ọ̀yọ́, one of the most important of the Yorùbá kings and an ancient town have received little mentioned devoid of any analysis to provide a better understanding of the images on the door especially in the historical context. The study show that the carved doors were the works of artists from Ọ̀yọ́ town and those there were part of the larger Old Ọ̀yọ́ Kingdom. The embedded images reveal gods, the Aláàfin and his subjects. It also captures scenes from the history of the new Ọ̀yọ́ and that of the activities of the people.

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