When it was built in 1960, the palace of Ayetoro stood as a jewel of the coast. With nearly 100 rooms and an estimated cost of £200,000, it was a symbol of vision, unity, and prosperity. To the people of Ayetoro, the palace was more than the home of their king—it was the beating heart of the community, the place where history, culture, and leadership converged.
Today, that palace is sinking.
A Monument of Pride
The palace rose during Aiyetoro’s golden era of the 1950s and 60s, a time when the town earned its nickname “Small London.” Foreign visitors marveled at its orderly streets and communal life, and the palace became the centerpiece of their tours. Within its walls, festivals were held, community disputes were settled, and visiting dignitaries were welcomed with music and dance.
The Encroaching Sea
But the same sea that gave Ayetoro life has turned against it. Since the 1980s, erosion has steadily eaten away at the coastline. Broad Street, once the proud avenue of the town, lies broken beneath the waves. Homes, schools, and shops have vanished. And now, the waves crash at the very edge of the ancestral palace.
Each rainy season deepens the crisis. Foundations have weakened. Salt water seeps into the walls. What was once the proudest edifice of the Niger Delta now stands precariously, its grandeur fading with every tide.
Holding On Through Unity
Still, the community refuses to let their heritage drown without a fight. Youths and elders have joined hands to build wave breakers around the palace, gathering sand, salvaged concrete, and church-raised funds for cement. Their efforts may be small compared to the power of the ocean, but they carry the spirit of Ayetoro’s ancestors—who once dug canals with bare hands and built a city from the sand.
“This palace is more than a building,” said His Royal Majesty, the Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi JP. of Aiyetoro. “It is our memory, our pride, and our future. If it falls, a part of us falls with it. We will fight with everything we have to keep it standing.”
The Ogeloyinbo of Ayetoro community
A Call for Preservation
The sinking palace is not only Ayetoro’s loss—it is Nigeria’s. It is one of the last great monuments of indigenous architecture and communal achievement from the post-independence era. Its survival depends not only on the resilience of the community but also on the support of indigenes, allies, and institutions who recognize the value of preserving history.
The sea may be relentless, but so is the spirit of Ayetoro. Whether through communal labour, outside help, or global attention, the fight for the palace is a fight for memory itself. As long as it stands, it tells the world that even at the edge of the ocean, a people’s pride and unity cannot be erased.
