The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has revealed that 16 gold-plated beaded crowns were looted from the Alaafin palace during the British invasion of Oyo in November 1895, describing the missing artifacts as sacred emblems of Yoruba cultural, spiritual, and historical identity.
The monarch made this known while receiving the Director-General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Olugbile Holloway, at his Boroboro private residence in Oyo town, Oyo State.
According to a statement by the Alaafin’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, Holloway assured the monarch that the commission would “work assiduously on the repatriation of Oyo artefacts as the agency has done for that of Benin.”
Responding, Oba Owoade reiterated the deep historical and cultural value of the crowns, stressing that their return would help restore an important part of Oyo’s royal heritage.
