“Ibadan’s Identity Cannot Be Captured from a Single Perspective”— Falola at Ladoja’s Coronation Lecture

At the coronation lecture in honour of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the newly installed 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, world-renowned historian and Ibadan-born scholar, Professor Toyin Falola, has urged Nigerians and the international community to see Ibadan as a city whose history, identity, and future cannot be reduced to a single narrative.

Delivering the lecture titled Ibadan in History: Issues in Tradition and Modernity on Wednesday, September 24, at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Prof. Falola traced the city’s growth from a nineteenth-century military powerhouse to a twenty-first-century cultural and intellectual hub.

“Ibadan is not just a historical entity but a living tradition,” he declared.

“Its identity cannot be captured from a single perspective, whether political, cultural, economic, or intellectual. Ibadan is all of these and more.”

Falola highlighted the city’s enduring influence, describing it as both a custodian of Yoruba tradition and a global contributor to African identity.

“In the nineteenth century, Ibadan was the largest city in sub-Saharan Africa and a hub of palm oil production exported to Europe. Today, its influence is felt not only in the Amala we eat or the Yoruba proverbs we share but also in the literature, scholarship, and ideas that have emerged from this city,” he said.

He argued that Ibadan has successfully woven together its diverse strands, warrior past, cultural heritage, intellectual contributions, and modern governance, making it a city that defies singular definition.

Commenting on the significance of Oba Ladoja’s ascension, Falola noted that the new monarch brings a rare blend of political, administrative, and traditional experience.

“Having a former governor and senator as Olubadan is historic. It symbolizes the possibility of balancing tradition with the challenges of modernization, waste management, urban development, environmental protection, and democratic governance,” he remarked.

He added that the institution of the Olubadan itself is an evolving one, negotiating legitimacy and cultural preservation in the face of globalization and urban expansion.

Unlike many dignitaries who often pledge monetary gifts, Prof. Falola offered the monarch an intellectual token, a 400-page book specially written for the occasion.

“My gift today is a book, not money. It is a book that connects the throne and the classroom, the palace and the archive,” he revealed.

The book, Ibadan in History: Issues in Tradition and Modernity, draws from his decades-long scholarship and builds on earlier works, including The Political Economy of a Pre-Colonial African State: Ibadan, 1830–1900 and Ibadan: Foundation, Growth and Change, 1830–1960.

Falola concluded by challenging the audience to embrace Ibadan not merely as a relic of the past but as an evolving city with a global future.

“The past is still with us in our food, language, and fashion, but Ibadan must be seen as both a city of history and a city of the future. Its identity is dynamic, and to capture it, we must look beyond one perspective,” he said.

The coronation lecture, attended by dignitaries, scholars, and traditional rulers, set the tone for the official coronation of Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, scheduled to take place on Friday, September 26, at Mapo Hall, Ibadan.