FUNNY AND AMAZING FACTS ABOUT ABEOKUTA CITY
Abeokuta is the only city I know in Nigeria having funny names
as it suburbs, towns and places and I’ve often wondered how the names of those
places come to be or who name these places and why they are been named this
way.
Oke-ilewo... top of the
building collapse
Alabata: shoe licker
Ita Ika: Front yard
of wicked peopleIyana Mortuary:
Tunning to the MortuaryOke Saje: The hill
of witchesAgo Oko: Camp of
stonesAgo Ika: Camp of
wicked peopleIta Eko: Place
where they sell papOjeere: Wise
people's cribAdatan: Cutlass has
finishedIdi Aba: Big yansh
Itoku: Dead people's areaFatola: oracle urinate okroKuto: die and urinateItoko: Place where they sell stonesEleweran: The leaf meatsellerAsero: Place to drop passengersKotopo: Very smallOke 'Mosan: The hill where people drink orangeEnu gada: The mouth of the bridgeIsale Ake: The bottom of the axeArinlese: You saw my legApakila: killer's hand Adigbe: Feaces blockerSomorin: You fit waka?Totoro: Very narrow Oke ijeun: the hill of where they eatIsale ijeun: the bottom of where they eatIlugun: The town is longOmida: water don finishIberekodo: bend down do wetin u wan doMawuko: don't cough
Ijeun titun: the new style of eating.
That’s
by the way; My Visit to Olumo is what I’ve got for you today
Olumo
Rock is a popular tourist attraction in the city of Abeokuta, Nigeria. It was
used as a fortress by the Egba people in the early 19th century. Olumo rock,
one of the most popular tourist destinations in Nigeria, West Africa, sits in
the ancient city center of Abeokuta – a name which means “Under the rock”.
Abeokuta was originally inhabited by the egba; People who found refuge at the
Olumo rock during inter-tribal wars in the 19th century.
Egba is the name of the local people of Abeokuta who once live under the Oyo
Empire. As of 2005 Abeokuta and the surrounding area had a population of
593,140.
The rock named
“Olumo” had two levels of meaning. The first is “Olu” (God) “Mo” (Molded) the
second is “Oluwa fi mo” (God has put an end to our wandering and suffering).
The rock was turned into a tourist site in 1976 and thus commission in February
3rd 2006 by chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The rock dates back to the days when songs of war dominated the airwaves in Yoruba land, that’s was in the first quarter of 19th century when Oyo empire was falling apart from pressure of Fulani attacks from outside and fraternal conflicts from within.
The rock provided sanctuary to the people as well as a vantage point to monitor the enemy’s advance leading to eventual triumph in war. The town of Abeokuta eventually grew as these new settlers spread out from this location.
The rock dates back to the days when songs of war dominated the airwaves in Yoruba land, that’s was in the first quarter of 19th century when Oyo empire was falling apart from pressure of Fulani attacks from outside and fraternal conflicts from within.
The rock provided sanctuary to the people as well as a vantage point to monitor the enemy’s advance leading to eventual triumph in war. The town of Abeokuta eventually grew as these new settlers spread out from this location.
On the way back down the rock, the sight of the Ogun river running like a
silver chain amidst a forest of aged red corrugated roofs bordered by thick
green forests which melt into the horizon is breathtaking.
Domestic and
international tourist now explore the special features of the rock which
include the gardens on the rock, the natural tunnels and cleft path ways, the
natural cantilevers and overhangs, the unusual trees, relics of the belief
system of the early settlers on the rock. There is also three heavy escalators
now installed at the 3 natural heights of the rock, covering a total of about
20 floor of a high rise building, tourist also experience a scenic and
panoramic views of the ancient city from the highest peak of the rock.
We were showed the Ancient way which led to the top of Olumo rock,
the height of the rock is 137meters above sea level and at this point the whole Abeokuta could be seen e.g the first Church in Nigeria, N.T.A Abeokuta, Baptist Boys High School, The family house of late Abiola, the Central Mosque, Sanatan, River Ogun etc.
And not forgetting there is this cool elevator there for people who do not have the strength to climb using their legs like we did, I took the elevator though and it was fun.
We were showed the Ancient way which led to the top of Olumo rock,
the height of the rock is 137meters above sea level and at this point the whole Abeokuta could be seen e.g the first Church in Nigeria, N.T.A Abeokuta, Baptist Boys High School, The family house of late Abiola, the Central Mosque, Sanatan, River Ogun etc.
And not forgetting there is this cool elevator there for people who do not have the strength to climb using their legs like we did, I took the elevator though and it was fun.
My Tour guide
made me understand that the rock was discovered by a hunter famer named Adagba
who found the rock to be a natural place of refuge from wars and threat of
wars. Adagba retreated with his wife to the safety of the rock whenever the
need arise. Egba reconnaissance men (consisting of three hunters) who met with
Adagba where brought to the rock and were convinced that their search for a new
secure home base is over. With the surrounding fertile wooded savannah and the
presence of Ogun River, they believe that they have arrived at the promise
land.
The death is
Human beings(usually strangers) was said to be used as an annual sacrifice to
celebrate the rock but now things has changed has we've entered a civilized
world they now use animals and fruits. They have this accient shrine inside the
rock in which all these sacrifices are being done. There are many heroes statue
there under the rock, I mean heroes who fought for the community.
It was noted that during the raining season Olumo rock produced water that could be used by local herbalist to cure sickness and diseases but it stopped producing water 50years ago, close to this point was a tomb behind the house of a chief called Sonni Osi-Toko who died on the 23rd January 1956 at 122yrs.
It was noted that during the raining season Olumo rock produced water that could be used by local herbalist to cure sickness and diseases but it stopped producing water 50years ago, close to this point was a tomb behind the house of a chief called Sonni Osi-Toko who died on the 23rd January 1956 at 122yrs.
The very tall
tree amidst the rock, I was told is over 300 years old.
Till the time of
writing this post, I learnt people still come from time to time to the rock to
pray and ask of certain things from the rock they believe in it lie a power.
Other tourist places include Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, Yemoji
Natural Swimming Pool at Ijebu-Ode, Oyan Dam in Abeokuta North, Iwopin Boat
Regatta and Ebute-Oni in Ogun Waterside.
The Ogun state
people are known for making batik known as ‘Adire’. Ogun State is bordered by Lagos
State to the south, Oyo and Osun states to the north, Ondo State to the east
and the Republic of Benin to the west. It has 20 Local government areas and has
important cities and towns such as Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Ikenne Remo,
Ilaro, Ijebu-Igbo, Aiyetoro
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