IGBO ORA

• IGBO ORA "THE TWIN CAPITAL"

Igbo-Ora is a city and the headquarters of Ibarapa Central, Oyo State, south-western Nigeria, situated 80 kilometers (50 mi) north of Lagos. In 2006 the population of the town was approximately 72,207 people. In 2017 the population is estimated to be around 278,514 people

The city known for the highest population of twins is Igbo-Ora, a small town in southwest Nigeria. The town has gained worldwide recognition for its unusually high rate of twin births, which is estimated to be around 50 twins per 1,000 live births. This is thought to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors, although the exact reasons are not fully understood. The town celebrates its twin heritage with an annual Twins Festival, which attracts visitors from all over the world. research has suggested that the multiple births could be related to the eating habits of the women in the region.[Though no direct relation between dietary intake and twin births has been proven, a research study carried out at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital has suggested that a chemical found in Igbo-Ora women and the peelings of a widely consumed tuber (yams) could be responsible. A possible explanation that the large number of twins being born here could simply be a matter of genetics

• History

Short oral history of Igbo-Ora by a native speaker

Obe Alade, a descendant of Alaafin of Oyo with his family migrated from Oyo town several centuries ago following a chieftaincy tussle and when he and his kinsmen lost the contest, (As usual in those days, once you lost any chieftaincy tussle, people tend to leave the town). While coming from Oyo town, Obe Alade and his kinsmen came with idols mainly Egungun and Alaale which they worshiped.

• First Settlement

Obe Alade and his family first settled at a forest name after them, a forest of immigrant (Awon to sako wa lati Oyo). Igbo-Asako, about three kilometers away from the present-day Igbo-Ora market.

It was at Igbo-Asako that Obe Alade became the first Baale of Igbo-Ora (Now Olu of Igbo-ora) as usual for a founder, hence the appellation “Omo Igbo-Ora Lasako”. The scarcity of drinking water and mosquitoes’ bites drove out the Igbo-Ora people From Igbo-Asako forest Hence the appellation “Bi o ri emo ri, ki o nso ni Igbo-Ora Lasko, abongangan ibr ju esi ode lo, yanmuyanmu ibe ju ikamudu” meaning “If you want trouble, go to Igbo-Ora in Asako where mosquitoes are as big as hunter flies and bigger than other insects”

• Second Settlement

Due to unfavorable conditions, harsh weather and insect bites, they left Igbo-Asako. Igbo-Ora people now found another site called Igbo-Ayin near Ayin river and they settled there. They relied on this Ayin river for drinking water and other domestic purposes. There is a flat rock, and on that rock, they established a big market called “Apata Itaja” Market.

• Third Settlement (Last Settlement)

The Igbo-Ora people left Igbo Ayin to find another forest which was in a marshy and swampy area (“Ira”) an unseasonal river called Igbo-Ira (Igbo inu Ira) and the present site. It is here the town derived its name when people refer to the people of the settlement as Omo Igbo-Ira later it was shortened as Igbo-Ora.

At each of the above settlements people name the town with a prefix of the forest:

Igbo-Asako

Igbo-Ayin

Igbo-Ora

This led to the appellation they gave to the people “Omo Igbo-Ora Lasako” in other to link them with their Original settlement.

• Igbo-Ora is a predominantly Yoruba-speaking town in Nigeria, and like most Yoruba communities, it has a rich culture and traditional beliefs that have been passed down through generations. Here are some of the beliefs of the people of Igbo-Ora:

• Ancestors: The people of Igbo-Ora believe in the importance of their ancestors and the role they play in shaping their lives. They believe that their ancestors continue to watch over them and protect them from harm.

• Religion: The majority of the people in Igbo-Ora practice traditional Yoruba religion, which involves worshipping a pantheon of gods and goddesses, as well as ancestor veneration. However, there are also significant numbers of Muslims and Christians in the town.

• Twins: As mentioned earlier, Igbo-Ora is known for its high rate of twin births, and the people of the town have a special reverence for twins. Twins are believed to be a special blessing from the gods and are treated with great respect and admiration.

• Taboos: There are several taboos in Igbo-Ora that are strictly observed. For example, it is considered taboo to point at someone with your index finger or to eat in public during the annual Yam Festival.

• Festivals: The people of Igbo-Ora celebrate several festivals throughout the year, including the Yam Festival, which is held in August and is a time of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. Other festivals include the Egungun Festival, which celebrates the ancestors, and the Oro Festival, which is a time of purification and renewal.

Article credit; Ademola Tiify

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