Significance of Cultural Heritage Assets in Relation to Urban Morphology a Case of Egba-Ake

ABSTRACT This study explored relationship between the importance of cultural heritage assets and formation of Egba-Ake town. Cultural heritages include man’s physical imaginative products which can be touched and seen include buildings, crafts, tools, ivory, cowries, paintings, textiles, pestles, mortars, food, wooden objects, tombs & grave goods, temples, dresses, pottery & potsherd pavements, monuments, books and artifacts. Morphology are factors that influence city/community formation which are determined by synthetic and natural determinants. Cultural heritage assets is whatsoever is valued by people today that was also cherished by former generations. This research explored the importance of cultural heritage assets in relation to urban fabrics formation of Egba-Ake. Qualitative method was adopted in this study, in-depth interviews and personal observation was used for data collection while place, sustainable theories, Nvivo words tree and satellite imagery were used to analyze collected data. Ake’s palace and Itoku market is located at the center around which the Egba-Ake evolved. Ake’s Palace (political and cultural hub of the town) and Itoku market (the economic heritage of the town) was used to preserve various aspects of Egba-Ake cultural heritage. Ela festival (new yam festival) is annually celebrated cultural activity in Egba-Ake. This finding is relevant to policy makers as it allows the support of potential common structures for heritage administration in Egba-Ake. Further studies will enhance the implementation issues which may arise from the creation of a framework for cultural heritage management, with emphasis on risk management and risk reduction of cultural heritage. Keywords: Urban cultural heritage, Cultural activities, Egba-Ake morphology, Identity.