Map of the Ground Plan of Ado, drawn by Henry Townsend in 1853

Map of the Ground Plan of Ado, drawn by Henry Townsend in 1853



The map provides important historical evidence of the elaborate defensive structure of Ado-Odo during the nineteenth century. The town was fortified with massive earthen rampart walls and deep protective trenches constructed to resist invasions and repel hostile forces. These fortifications formed a highly effective military defence system that shielded Ado-Odo from external aggression during the prolonged internecine wars that devastated many Yoruba towns in the nineteenth century. While numerous settlements across Yorubaland suffered destruction, displacement, and political collapse during these conflicts, Ado-Odo remained largely secure and intact. The strength of its fortifications, combined with its military organisation and strategic location, enabled the town to emerge as a powerful and resilient city-state, firmly establishing Ado-Odo as one of the most formidable political and military powers in Yorubaland.

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