Yoruba: History Behind Olowe of Ise’s Crafted Door For Ogoga of Ikere In 1953
In 1953, the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Adegoriola, received a throne donated by the British Museum.
Earlier, in 1924, a door crafted by Olowe of Ise for the palace at Ikere, Nigeria, was exhibited at the British Empire Exhibition, Wembley. In exchange, the Ogoga presented the Museum with a European-style throne made in Britain.
Ulli Beier first encountered Oba Adegoriola in 1953. His inaugural article for Nigeria Magazine, published in 1954, focused on the Ogoga’s palace. Developing a close rapport, Ulli was allocated a room above the palace’s main gate for his visits to Ikere. The Ogoga actively participated in Ulli’s weekend school on Yoruba culture in Ede, 1954, and contributed an article titled “The Administration of Ikere” to the magazine Odu.
Sources: Omoluabi: Ulli Beier Yoruba Society