The Great Wall of Ijebu Ode Kingdom

The Great Wall of Ijebu Ode Kingdom

To the southwest of Ijebu Ode in Ogun State, Nigeria, lies the formidable Sungbo Eredo, a thick crimson defense wall stretching 100 miles and standing 70 feet tall. Archaeological studies suggest that this impressive structure, encircling the entire Ijebu Kingdom, was constructed by locals between 800 and 1000 AD. The wall forms a 16,000-kilometer network, partially concealed under the area’s rainforests and covered in patches of moss.

Legend has it that Sungbo Eredo was named after the noblewoman Oloye Bilikisu Sungbo, predating the trans-Atlantic trade and European contact. Recognized for its historical significance, Sungbo Eredo became a UNESCO World Heritage site on November 1, 1995.

Built during a time of political unrest and consolidation in the southern Nigerian rainforest, the Eredo served as a critical defensive structure. Its construction was likely influenced by the same processes that led to the creation of similar fortifications across western Nigeria, including the earthworks around Ifẹ̀, Ilesa, and the Benin Iya—a 6,500-kilometer network of connected but separate earthworks in the neighboring Edo-speaking region. The Eredo is believed to have unified diverse communities into a single kingdom. Builders aimed to reach groundwater or clay to create a swampy bottom for the ditch, stopping at shallow depths if necessary. In some areas, small conical idol statues were placed at the bottom of the ditch, adding to its historical and cultural significance.