John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History

The John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History is a ground-breaking cultural attraction that honors the Yoruba people of Nigeria. Yoruba experts and novices alike can dive deep into the stories, myths, and traditions of Yoruba heritage, encountering immersive experiences, from the dynamism of Yoruba festivals to the rich visual culture of Yoruba history and ancestry.



The experience begins with the entrance hall, where visitors are greeted by an intricately carved house post and a beautiful display of aso oke textiles. The exhibition’s journey continues through Yoruba culture with the "Beginnings" section, which introduces visitors to the Yoruba creation myth through a visually-striking presentation. This immersive narrative uses a Pepper’s Ghost animation inside a calabash to depict the formation of the world, enhanced by woodcut-inspired animations and the powerful sound of oríkì chants.



Further into the exhibition, visitors encounter the "House of the Head" and the surrounding shrines dedicated to Yoruba deities, each carefully interpreted and adorned with beaded curtains reflecting their respective spiritual significance. The exhibition transitions from myth to daily life in a typical town, showcasing Yoruba craftsmanship, the significance of naming ceremonies, and the customs surrounding fertility and kingship.



As visitors proceed, they engage with Yoruba town life through interactive exhibits that explore weaving, marketplaces, and sacred authority, to then touching on the profound impact of colonialism and the slave trade, highlighting the resilience and adaptation of Yoruba traditions in the diaspora.



The "Modern Yoruba" section celebrates post-independence Nigeria, with a dynamic stage that brings to life the influence of Yoruba culture on music, theatre, film, and literature. This space not only honours past icons but also connects them to contemporary Yoruba art and fashion, offering a dialogue between tradition and modernity.



The experience culminates in the "Future Yoruba" area, a temporary exhibition space featuring innovative art installations that respond to the evolving narrative of Yoruba culture.