Goldberg puts Yoruba heritage on Ibadan skyline

Goldberg Lager has adorned the iconic Cocoa House in Ibadan, Oyo State, with a monumental talking drum installation, celebrating Yoruba heritage and cultural identity. The recent unveiling brought together cultural leaders, government officials, entertainers, and consumers to witness the fusion of a prominent Yoruba cultural symbol with a historically significant landmark.

Cocoa House, a 26-storey building completed in 1965 and once West Africa's first skyscraper, was financed by cocoa trade proceeds and remains a defining feature of Ibadan's skyline. The new talking drum installation is designed to "come alive every hour with the rhythm of Omolúàbí," followed by the hour's chime. This feature aims to celebrate core Yoruba values such as character, respect, pride in heritage, and social responsibility.

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For over six decades, Cocoa House has been the most visible testament to the vision of our founding fathers; the progressive leaders of the Southwest who dared to build an indigenous economic empire. We have not merely added a structure to the roof; we have crowned Cocoa House with a talking drum of our civilisation as a Yoruba people. The talking drum does not merely make sound. It speaks. It speaks proverbs, conveys emotions, announces the presence of royalty and reminds us of our togetherness as a community.

Abdulrahman Yinusa, Group Managing Director and CEO of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, described the installation as a new chapter for Cocoa House, symbolizing the vision of Southwest's founding fathers. He noted that the talking drum "speaks proverbs, conveys emotions, announces the presence of royalty and reminds us of our togetherness as a community." Sarah Agha, Marketing Director at Nigerian Breweries Plc, stated that the installation serves as a lasting symbol of cultural pride and a monument to shared legacy.

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This is more than an installation; it is a celebration of our heritage, our cultural pride and the power of community. We believe it is a monument that will remain part of our shared legacy for many years to come.