Renowned Archeologist and author, Dr. Akinwumi Ogundiran has called on the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and other custodians of Yoruba culture to intervene and prevent Bara, a historically significant town in the old Oyo Empire and burial site for past Alaafins, from being destroyed.
He said that Bara is currently undergoing rapid deforestation due to the scale of arable farming and cattle grazing in the town. Thousands of trees are also being illegally leveled which has added to the deforestation and brings the added risk of an environmental crisis. He also added that the ancient town wall, which is a significant part of Oyo History, is currently being destroyed.
Dr. Ogundiran who is also an Anthropology lecturer at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, has led the Bara, Old Oyo Archaeological project since 2017. He disclosed that he had planned to recommend Bara as a prospective historical site to the Federal Government based on his findings but that may not be possible anymore as the situation of the town is rapidly deteriorating.
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He also said that there are fears that if the situation is not remedied immediately, there will be very little left to salvage from a town that holds the key to understanding the Oyo Empire and Yoruba history better.
He said: “This is one of the well-preserved sites that should be maintained. We are recovering some evidence to tell generations that this is what happened at this place. Archaeology work is a prolonged process; it takes time to accumulate data. You can only be here for a month at a time or a maximum of two months. We collect the data and go back, but it takes a lot more time to process the data than even excavate it. This thing takes time, but unfortunately, we are running against time and also the priorities of other people who are here.”
The professor also opined that it is only the Alaafin that can stop the destruction of the town. “He is the only one who has the moral authority to intervene. Intervention would take many levels. First is for the Alaafin to send delegates to take possession of the site. That is easy to do because all he has to do is consult with the Emir of Bani. This place is now under the jurisdiction of the Emir of Bani. And Emir of Bani, I believe, understands the importance of this place.”
“The next thing is for the Alaafin to send delegates here; at least maintain a presence at the site. The Alaafin as well should initiate the process of how this site can become a historical site. We have all the pieces of evidence that we can use. Some places in Nigeria do not have this level of importance and are enlisted as historical sites.”
“Immediately Alaafin can come in, and say: ‘Listen, this is where Ajagbo, Obalokun, Onisile and many other Alaafins were buried; I want to take possession of my ancestral land.’ That does not mean kicking people out, but just saying there are rules of engagement. You can graze in limited areas to allow archaeological work to continue because it would take 20 years of archaeological work before we can amass all the data we need.”
Dr. Ogundiran, who published ‘The Yoruba – A New History’ last year, further said of the ongoing Bara archaeological project: “What we have done so far is important. We have made some great discoveries, but if we can preserve this site, there’s more to learn about the history of the Oyo Empire.”