IBADAN, a town of British West Africa, in Yorubaland, Southern Nigeria, 123 m. by rail north-east of Lagos, and about 5o m. north-east of Abeokuta. Ibadan is the largest negro city in Africa, having an urban population of over 17 5,000, and with its farm suburbs, 387,133 inhabitants. It occupies the slope of a hill, and stretches into the valley through which the river Ona flows. It is enclosed by mud walls, which have a circuit of 18 m., and is encompassed by cultivated land 5 or 6 m. in breadth. The native houses are low, thatched structures, enclosing a square court, the only break in the mud wall being the door. There are num erous mosques, orishas (idol-houses) and open spaces shaded with trees. There are also buildings in the European style. Most of the inhabitants are engaged in agriculture; but a great variety of handicrafts is also carried on. The administration is in the hands of two chiefs, a civil and a military, the bali and the bal ogun. There is also an iyaloda or mother of the town, to whom are submitted the disputes of the women. The town is in the province of Oyo and is subject to the authority of the alafin (ruler) of Oyo, who is guided by the advice of a British resident. For many years the Ibadans had shown a tendency to flout the authority of the alafin and set up a separate rule under their own bali. This tendency to the disintegration of Yorubaland was checked, and misrule replaced by good government through re forms instituted by Sir F. D. (Lord) Lugard in 1914-18. (See also YORUBA.) (F. R. C.)