Medieval Ife and the World it Made: Emerging Narratives from the Cradle of the Yoruba (10TH-15TH C)

Dr. Gérard Chouin will highlight the findings from the past seven campaigns of the Ife-Sungbo Archaeological Project. she, along with Dr. Adisa Ogunfolakan, director of the Natural History Museum of the Obafemi Awolowo University, established the project in 2015. 

Our goal is to re-examine the archaeological sites connected to the largest medieval city in Tropical West Africa, which is also the most extensively excavated site in the region. Our approach involves conducting new digs at Ife and Ijebu, utilizing geosciences and archaeobotany, and analyzing the archives of previous archaeological initiatives.

Through this research, we aim to offer fresh perspectives on the history of the Ife settlement, including its urban development, industries, long-distance connections, and the regional changes that took place after its decline in the late 14th century. Additionally, we will delve into its revival as a source of power and influence in the 20th and 21st centuries.