vicadex07:
The fact is other major parts of Nigeria were still living in mud and thatch houses when millions of Ibadan indigenes and residents were already using zinc roofs and later on cement buildings. Some of the earliest mud houses in the ancient city were just upgraded with zinc roofs before the owners decided to stop at that or make a complete overhaul. With the earliest form of civilized settlement not only in Nigeria but Africa as a whole, Ibadan is a city blessed with rich cultural and historical heritage. As at Nigeria's independence, Ibadan was the largest and most populous city in the country and the third in Africa after Cairo and Johannesburg. Ibadan had been the center of administration and capital of the old Western Region, Nigeria since the days of British colonial rule hence her many firsts in accomplishments. First TV station in Africa, first University in Nigeria, first sky scrapper in Nigeria, first modern stadium in Africa, among many other accomplishments due to early civilization.

What makes the brown roof phenomena quite alluring and exceptionally striking is the topography of the large expanse of land and the very large clusters of homogenous settlement. Standing at a vantage point like atop its most popular hill Oke-are, of which Ibadan is noted for many more, or at the top of the bowers tower which is the highest point of the city (this is where many of the popular brown roof pictures are taken) the view of the historical city sprawls out in an alluring manner with all its splendor. You cannot just resist the aura of a feeling of deep rich history.

According to J.P Clark a very famous poet, "Ibadan is a running splash of gold [/b]and [b]rust, flung and [b]scattered [/b]among seven hills like broken china in the sun".

The problem with Ibadan and its negative perception is...over "scatterness" mainly because of its hilly terrain, hence why most visitors and passer-by's who are most guilty of spreading its negative stereotype never stop to take it all in.

Bodija is cut off from Challenge!

Mokola is cut off from Eleyele!!

Moniya and Akinyele is more of a voyage to Felele!!!

Now we have also Iroko, lalupon, egbeda, old lagos road, etc. The bazillions of towns around those places can actually make another state.

Venice is one of the world’s biggest tourist destinations, described as an open air museum with ancient buildings and artifacts. As old as it is, most of its ancient buildings have brown roofs but Venetians and historians have never called the city dirty because of that. So why should we call Ibadan dirty because of that too? Of all my years in this city I have always considered the brown roof as a form of art and beauty and I would love Nigerians to stop and look well. We only start appreciating ourselves when a foreigner tells our story but for once lets tell it to them.

The brown roofs is due to years of use of the steel pan roofs and the more the rust the more the years of use and yeah, the more its beauty. I’m not saying people should not use their asbestos or stone coated step tile roofing sheets. I just really love the vintage look the roofs gives the city.

So you see, people are right when they say Ibadan has brown roofs; many of them I tell you. Ibadan has more brown roofs than anywhere in Nigeria. But do you know the bigger truth? Ibadan also has more modern houses than anywhere else in the country.

Match all the modern houses in the biggest city in all geopolitical zones across the country with those in Ibadan, when the houses in those cities finish, the remaining modern houses in Ibadan WILL still be more than those in the next two biggest cities. Fact!

To summarize this my narrative, let me quickly quip in a remix version of JP Clarks popular quote about the ancient city.

"Ibadan has more gold and more rust than anywhere else in Nigeria"

vicadex07 ---- 2015

DavidAdeyemo:
May God bless you op.

wiseoneking:
Brown roof city. It sounds odd. It looks as if the city is under developed. Ibadan is sure a big urban town but i notice also a very good number of houses are not painted making it to look old and un attractive. They should start renovating the houses there. Ibadan need a "CHANGE"

OZAOEKPE:
"Break a calabash on the ground, that's how IB looks like." Quote me anywhere.

menabadoo:
Op keep giving excuses for the high rate of poverty in ibadam

vicadex07:
this one is pained....hater alert

Refute any of my assertions otherwise remain silent forever

JingoOAU:


Have they come cap in hand begging for your donation and sympathy?

OZAOEKPE:
"Break a calabash on the ground, that's how IB looks like." Quote me anywhere.

SOUNDKING:
Yerrober defending their brown roof disease since 1888, yerober and lies are like,,,,,,,,,Aboki and gworo.

menabadoo:
what gibberish do you want me to refute? what fact do you have to back it that other cities were in mud as at when Ibadan started having zinc .

What is it to tell a deluded soul who thinks ibadan is alluring?

If you call ibadan alluring then I'm sorry I can't help you.

SOUNDKING:
Yerrober defending their brown roof disease since 1888,how much do you generated to the zoo,,,,,from taurism,,,,,,since Ibadan has become a museum........yerober and lies are like,,,,,,,,,Aboki and gworo.

vicadex07:
lol...you go hear am today

Elruhamah:
You for put picture for those of us who haven't seen the "running splash of rust and gold".