An archeologist, Prof. Akinwumi Ogundiran, has cautioned against
\ndestruction of Bara, a historically significant town of the ancient Oyo
\nEmpire, through deforestation caused by arable farming and cattle
\ngrazing.<\/p>\n
Bara, located in the Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara, is noted for
\nbeing the burial site for past Alaafins of the old Oyo Empire.<\/p>\n
Ogundiran, also a cultural historian, said on Wednesday\u00a0 that there was
\nthe need for the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and other
\nstakeholders to intervene and prevent Bara from destruction.<\/p>\n
Ogundiran, a Professor of African Studies, Anthropology and History at
\nthe University of North Carolina, Charlotte, U.S., spoke to the News
\nAgency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.<\/p>\n
He regretted that Bara had yet to be recognised by the National Park
\nService.<\/p>\n
He said that Bara, with such an ancient heritage, should be a tourist
\nattraction, but had yet to be given due attention.<\/p>\n
The don, who authored\u00a0 \u2018The Yoruba \u2013 A New History\u2019, called on Alaafin
\nand other stakeholders\u00a0 to salvage the site from rapid deforestation.<\/p>\n
According to him, thousands of trees are being cut illegally,
\nprecipitating a looming environmental crisis and destruction of
\nhistorical artefacts.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese include an ancient wall in the old town, which scholars believe
\nshould be a protected heritage site, due to its special significance in
\nYoruba history.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are fears that if something is not done urgently, there will be
\nlittle or nothing to salvage in an ongoing 10-year archaeological
\nproject that holds the key to a better understanding of the Oyo Empire
\nin particular and Yoruba history in general.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is one of the well-preserved sites that should be maintained. We
\nare recovering some evidence to tell generations that this is what
\nhappened at this place,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ogundiran disclosed that based on findings over the last five years, he
\nwould collaborate with the Nigerian National Park Service to recommend
\nBara to the Federal Government for protection as a historical site.<\/p>\n
He, however, said that hopes were fast fading as the town\u2019s historical
\nintegrity was being compromised on a massive scale.<\/p>\n
According to Ogundiran, archaeology\u00a0 is a prolonged process.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes time to accumulate data. You can only be here for a month at a
\ntime or a maximum of two months.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe collect data and go back, but it takes a lot more time to process
\nthan even excavate it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The professor noted that Alaafin\u2019s intervention would help to stop
\nBara\u2019s destruction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe intervention would take many levels. The first is for the Alaafin
\nto send delegates to take possession of the site.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is easy to do because all he has to do is consult with the Emir of
\nBani; this place is now under the jurisdiction of the Emir of Bani, who
\nunderstands the importance of this place.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next thing is for the Alaafin to send delegates there; at least
\nmaintain a presence at the site,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The don said that the Alaafin should thereafter initiate the process of
\nhow the site could become a historical one.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have all the pieces of evidence that we can use.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome places in Nigeria do not have this level of importance but are
\nenlisted as historical sites,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The professor added that Alaafin\u2019s intervention on the burial site of
\nhis predecessors such as Ajagbo, Obalokun and Onisile would be needed to
\nsave the site from invaders.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can graze in limited areas to allow archaeological work to continue
\nbecause it would take 20 years of archaeological work before we can
\namass all the data we need,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ogundiran said that he had been undertaking an archaeological project in
\nBara since 2017.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we have done so far is important.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have made some great discoveries, but if we can preserve this site,
\nthere is more to learn about the history of the Oyo Empire,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
An archeologist, Prof. Akinwumi Ogundiran, has cautioned against destruction of Bara, a historically significant town of the ancient Oyo Empire, through deforestation caused by arable farming and cattle grazing. Bara,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":80384,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-other-news"],"yoast_head":"\n