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.

On Friday, August 7, premium, award-winning pale lager, Goldberg, unveiled a monumental talking drum installation above the iconic 26-storey 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 decision to bring the two together speaks to a shared history of identity, ambition and cultural expression. The talking drum was not simply an instrument for entertainment. Skilled drummers used changes in pitch and rhythm to convey praise, proverbs, announcements and messages, allowing stories and information to travel across communities.

Speaking on the significance of the installation, Abdulrahman Yinusa, Group Managing Director/CEO, Odu’a Investment, described the drum as a new chapter in the story of a building that has represented the region’s ambition for more than six decades.

He said, “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. This building has weathered many storms, witnessed history and remained the enduring face of our collective ambition.”

“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.

“Every day and night going forward, it will remind us that our culture is not a memory. It is alive, it is assertive and it is proud. It is a reflection of the Omolúàbí values that have long been associated with Yoruba culture and form an important part of Goldberg’s identity,” Yinusa added

Speaking at the event, Sarah Agha, Marketing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, said the installation was designed to celebrate that heritage while creating something that could endure beyond the occasion itself.