The Deji's Palace stands in the centre of Akure and is both the formal seat of the paramount ruler and a living institution of Yoruba traditional governance. Visitors are not always admitted inside, but the palace compound — with its distinctive architecture, ceremonial courtyard, and the steady activity of palace attendants and supplicants — is worth stopping at. The building reflects the unusual political structure of Akure: a city that is technically a federation of five royal towns, each maintaining its own Oba even as the Deji holds supreme authority.
The best time to see something of palace life is during one of the traditional festivals, particularly the Ogun Festival (the festival of the god of iron) and the annual Akure Day celebrations, when the Deji makes formal appearances in full regalia. At other times, the approach through the old market area gives a sense of the layered commercial and ritual life that surrounds a Yoruba royal compound.