Developing Interpretation Plans for Pre-colonial Sites in the South West Zone

Heritage interpretation is the communicative bridge between the technical knowledge generated by archaeological research and the diverse publics who engage with cultural heritage sites. In southwest Nigeria, where pre-colonial sites of exceptional historical significance including Old Oyo National Park, Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, and the Ile-Ife archaeological landscape attract both domestic and international visitors, formal interpretation plans are either absent or significantly outdated. This study develops a heritage interpretation planning framework applicable to pre-colonial sites in the South West zone, using a multi-site case study approach encompassing Old Oyo National Park in Oyo State and Ile-Ife in Osun State. The framework is grounded in recent interpretation theory including the Tilden principles adapted for African heritage contexts, universal design standards for inclusive interpretation, and the ICOMOS Charter for the Interpretation and Presentation of Cultural Heritage Sites. Data collection included visitor surveys at both sites, in-depth interviews with site managers and community stakeholders, and critical review of existing interpretive materials. Findings reveal significant gaps in multilingual provision, tactile and sensory accessibility, digital engagement, and the representation of community-based and living heritage perspectives alongside the dominant architectural and object-centred narratives. Pilot interpretation plan outlines developed for each site are presented and evaluated against visitor preference data. The study provides a practical template for interpretation planning that Nigerian site managers can adapt across diverse pre-colonial contexts. Keywords: heritage interpretation, South West zone, pre-colonial sites, interpretation planning, public archaeology.