For generations, Cocoa House has been one of the defining features of the Ibadan skyline, standing as a reminder of the ambition and enterprise that shaped the city and the wider Western Region. At Cocoa House in Ibadan on August 7, 2026, Goldberg Lager unveiled a monumental talking drum installation above the iconic building, bringing one of Yoruba culture’s most recognisable symbols to one of Nigeria’s most historic structures.
The unveiling brought together two important parts of the region’s story. The talking drum has long played a role in Yoruba communication, celebration and storytelling, while Cocoa House, completed in 1965, remains a landmark of indigenous enterprise. The 26-storey building was financed from the proceeds of the region’s cocoa trade and was widely recognised as West Africa’s first skyscraper when it was completed.
The decision to bring the two together speaks to a shared history of identity, ambition and
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