[6][7] In their oral tradition, Owo traces its origins back to the ancient city of Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba culture.

During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, Benin's rulers increasingly utilized insignia made from ivory, and imported Owo's art objects and recruited its artisans for their own royal workshops.

[17] Owo is an agricultural center involved in the growing and trade of yams, cassava, maize, okra, peppers, cocoa, and cotton.

There are, however, other commercial activities in the town including but not limited to timber, sawmilling and soya bean processing plants as well as blockmaking businesses.

[5] Owo is situated in southwestern Nigeria, at the southern edge of the Yoruba Hills, and at the intersection of roads from Akure, Kabba, Benin City, and Siluko.

Due to Owo's location between the two famous art centers of Ife and Benin, the site reflects both artistic traditions.

For hot-weather activities, favoring clear days with temperatures between 75 °F (24 °C) and 90 °F (32.2 °C), the "best" time to visit Owo is from somewhere around early November to mid-February.