The History of Prison In Yorubaland started with what is known as Tubu, a word synonymous with prison. Prior to the use of Tubu , the Yoruba People did not keep or kill prisoners instead, they had a tradition of banishing offenders and criminals from the village including their movable properties or sometimes with their family members out of the village.

However, when the series of civil wars that took place in Yorubaland in the 18th century began, several kingdoms began building confines to accommodate their prisoners of war. These confines became known as ‘Tubu”. Some historical accounts suggest that it was the arrival of the European Slave traders in the previous century, that prompted the idea. It is imperative to note that these Slave traders built holes and confinement in order to keep slaves and transport them to Europe.

The Use of “Tubu” was such a widespread practice that every chief had his tubu for criminals. The offenses for which an offender could be so held ranged from drunkenness, disobedience, etc. The Ogboni society also held offenders in their prisons for offenses such as ritual murder, witchcraft, and notorious burglary.

The History of the prison in Yorubaland and Nigeria at large is highly undocumented. However, there are a few available accounts that are highly informative but are unquestionably dated. Before diving further into these accounts, it is imperative that we consider the notion of Justice and imprisonment in Yorubaland.
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