Owo Palace, Aghọfẹn Ọlọghọ is one of the historical places and believed to be the largest palace in Africa.
It is located in Owo, a local government area in Ondo State
The palace was built by Oba Rerengejen around the year 1340 during the reign of Olowo Irengenje
The palace sits on 180 acres. It features 100 courtyards called Ugha and 1,000 rooms/enclosures called Akodi/Orupo some of which served as shrines and places of worship of ancestors.
Some of the courtyards are paved with quartz pebbles and others with broken pottery.
Some of the courtyards are exclusively reserved for the king’s use, Ugha Akomaduse where the king is expected to relax and hold interactive sessions with his chiefs. It was a place where the chiefs are expected to pay homage to the king in the morning.
The place where the king lived was known as Ugha Gwakun, inside this yard existed Odo Uli courtyard where the king has his meal, while he has his bath at Ugha Agwe courtyard. The Ifa oracle is consulted on behalf of the king at this courtyard too.
It also hosts a museum of the ancient civilization & art of Owo
It was declared a national monument by the Federal Government in 2000
Inside the palace, there are different sizes of drinking cups known as Agho the type of cup depends on the grade or the hierarchy of the chiefs and this is only done during festivals
Some parts of the 180-acre land have been given out for development, Government Primary School besides the palace and the new mega school are parts of the palace.
The formation of the Action Group (AG) which transformed from Egbe Omo Oduduwa, took place within the ancient Owo palace durng the reign of Olowo Olagbegi II.
