Time and place
Nigeria
2019 dates a published condition-documentation project. It is not the founding date or beginning of the living sacred landscape.
Connected worlds · Living heritage · Nigeria
Osun-Osogbo: a living sacred landscape
2019 documentation project; living heritage continues
How should a historical account approach a living sacred place?
Osun-Osogbo is a living Yoruba sacred landscape with shrines and other cultural features. A 2019 project recorded the condition of three monumental structures; that date belongs to the survey, not the origin of the grove.
Research draft · the main interpretation still needs independent reviewPage published · Source packet updated
At a glance
- Place
- Nigeria
- Dates · documentation
- 2019 documentation project; living heritage continues2019 dates a published condition-documentation project. It is not the founding date or beginning of the living sacred landscape.
- The question
- How should a historical account approach a living sacred place?
- Key finding
- The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove is a continuing Yoruba sacred landscape with shrines and other cultural features. Read the evidence ↓
- Important limit
- The 2019 date belongs to documentation, not the founding of the sacred landscape. Yoruba traditions and the Edo kingdom of Benin must not be treated as one people.
Where this case belongs
Nigeria · 2019 documentation project; living heritage continues
These points locate named sites or parts of a listed property. They show geographic references, not ancient borders or excavation plans. They make no claim about present-day sovereignty.
● Published reference point. Natural Earth public-domain land outline. No political boundaries are shown. The map does not capture scrolling.
Locations, precision and sources (1)
- Osun-Osogbo
Published heritage-property reference point; not an excavation coordinate or ancient boundary. Present-day geographic reference for the named site/component; does not date an occupation or establish a territory.
7.7556°, 4.5522° · Coordinate source ↗
Source passage and date
N7 45 20.016 E4 33 7.992
Coordinate source checked 2026-10-27.
What this case covers
What was found
The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove is a continuing Yoruba sacred landscape with shrines and other cultural features.
What it may tell us
Documentation can describe the condition of structures, while custodians’ knowledge and continuing practice need their own context.
Alternative explanations and limits
The 2019 date belongs to documentation, not the founding of the sacred landscape. Yoruba traditions and the Edo kingdom of Benin must not be treated as one people.
Access and review notes
The documentation project worked with custodial partners. That collaboration supports the account of the 2019 survey, but it is not consultation with or endorsement of WAWL. Historical and custodial review remains open; restricted knowledge and image reuse are not authorized by public access.
Read the evidence
Source links apply to specific claims. Several links can lead back to the same study. Read what each source supports.
The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove is a continuing Yoruba sacred landscape with shrines and other cultural features.
What remains uncertain
The 2019 date belongs to documentation, not the founding of the sacred landscape. Yoruba traditions and the Edo kingdom of Benin must not be treated as one people.
Method and source passage
Institutional primary description; introductory synthesis
Description and statement of Outstanding Universal Value
The 2019 project used photogrammetry and laser scanning to record the condition of three monumental structures.
What remains uncertain
A condition survey is dated evidence, not a permanent assessment of the whole grove.
Method and source passage
Primary research or collection account; access and inference limits apply
Project Resources: September 2019 campaign and methods
Artists, artisans and custodial partners participated in documentation; care for the landscape is part of its continuing history.
What remains uncertain
This published collaboration does not constitute consultation with, or endorsement of, WAWL.
Method and source passage
Primary research or collection account; access and inference limits apply
Project Resources: September 2019 campaign and methods
Questions that remain
- How should a historical account approach a living sacred place?
- Which independent evidence would refine or challenge this account?
Living heritage
Documentation can describe the condition of structures, while custodians’ knowledge and continuing practice need their own context.
Limit: The 2019 date belongs to documentation, not the founding of the sacred landscape. Yoruba traditions and the Edo kingdom of Benin must not be treated as one people.
UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Osun-Osogbo ↓Care and documentation
The 2019 project used photogrammetry and laser scanning to record the condition of three monumental structures.
Limit: A condition survey is dated evidence, not a permanent assessment of the whole grove.
CyArk: Osun Osogbo Sacred Groves documentation ↓Living practice
Artists, artisans and custodial partners participated in documentation; care for the landscape is part of its continuing history.
Limit: This published collaboration does not constitute consultation with, or endorsement of, WAWL.
CyArk: Osun Osogbo Sacred Groves documentation ↓Sources you can inspect
UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Osun-Osogbo ↗
The Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove is a continuing Yoruba sacred landscape with shrines and other cultural features.
- Passage or section
- Description and statement of Outstanding Universal Value
Access and source overlap
Institutional primary web account inspected 27 October 2026; no fieldwork or independent peer review claimed
Several links may describe the same research. Shared authors or data can limit how much independent confirmation they provide.
CyArk: Osun Osogbo Sacred Groves documentation ↗
A named collaboration documented three structures through photogrammetry/laser scanning and recorded interviews with artists and artisans.
- Passage or section
- Project Resources: September 2019 campaign and methods
Access and source overlap
Primary documentation-project account inspected
Several links may describe the same research. Shared authors or data can limit how much independent confirmation they provide.