afin

African palace

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July 23, 2026

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The afin is the palace of the oba (king) in Yoruba towns in Nigeria. These palaces traditionally serve as the center of the town, with roads radiating outwards to divide the settlement into quarters. In precolonial times, some afins were vast, covering hundreds of acres and featuring substantial buildings with verandas supported by carved pillars. While many Yoruba palaces have adopted Westernized architecture, traditional elements like courtyards and high walls often persist. The term "palace" generally refers to a royal residence, which can also function as a seat of government or religious center, and often represents the architectural and social values of its time and culture.12

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Ile-Ife
…of modern Ile-Ife is the afin (“palace”) of the present ooni, the spiritual head of the Yoruba people, who has custody of the sacred staff of Oranmiyan (Oranyan), an 18-foot (5.5-metre) granite monolith in the shape of an elephant’s tusk. The palace compound is also the site of the Ife…
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…of modern Ile-Ife is the afin (“palace”) of the present ooni, the spiritual head of the Yoruba people, who has custody of the sacred staff of Oranmiyan (Oranyan), an 18-foot (5.5-metre) granite monolith in the shape of an elephant’s tusk. The palace compound is also the site of the Ife…
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African architecture
Palaces and shrines
…have as their centre the afin (palace) of the oba, from which radiate broad roads dividing the town into quarters, each with its compound of a subordinate chief. Some afins in the precolonial era were of great size, encompassing much of the surrounding bush; the afin of Oyo, the capital…
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…have as their centre the afin (palace) of the oba, from which radiate broad roads dividing the town into quarters, each with its compound of a subordinate chief. Some afins in the precolonial era were of great size, encompassing much of the surrounding bush; the afin of Oyo, the capital…
Read More