Ife

The city of Ife is the chief shipping and marketing hub for cacao products. Ife is located in the Osun state, which lies on the southwestern part of Nigeria. The people residing in the Yoruba town consider Ife as their sacred city. This is because the city had its origin in the 1300 BC by Oduduwa, a legendary character. Among the Nigeria cities, Ife boasts of being the most mighty and powerful kingdom. The city of Ife also portrays the best works of African art and architecture.

The city of Ife is also known as the Ile-Ife and is considered as the principal city by the people of Yoruba town. According to the survey conducted in the year 1995, the population of Ife was recorded at about 289,500. The adjoining areas are rich in oil, palm, cacao, cassava, corn and yams. The industries specialize in manufacturing cocoa and palm products. Cotton and saw milling are also done by these industries. The city has an university, Obafemi Awolowo University, imparting quality education to the citizens. Yoruba Art museum and the Museum of the Institute of African Studies stand in Ife. They attest to the rich heritage of art from the region. Among the attractions of Ife, the city is an abode of the remarkable masterpieces of African art. The city shelters some of the finest terracotta and bronze heads, which are renowned throughout the world. The city also houses the towering palace of Oni, one of the chief Yoruba religion leaders. For all its advancements, the city was subjected to many obstacles and it was destroyed in the year 1849. The city of Ife was reconstructed in the year 1882.

Ife has much to offer to the world. This Nigeria city is worth visiting.