The rock is situated in abeokuta, the capital city of ogun state. Olumo an illustrated account of the olumo rock, sacred in abeokutas history as the place where the first settlers found protection under stone. Following the citys history back to the 18th century, a period when the drums of warfare pervaded the yoruba land, the rock served as protection for the egba people. The independence of this tribe was followed by series of wars, which appeared in the end to be a catalyst for the opening of an. The name abeokuta means beneath the rockas it is situated beneath the olumo rock.
On arriving olumo town where the rock is situated or our destination, we parked our bus to one side of the road and greeted all the villagers sitting around our car park just for respect. Olumo rock located in abeokuta, ogun state is a popular tourist attraction. Olumo rock enterprises ore limited free company information from companies house including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity. Abeokuta is also known as abe olumo a settlement under the rock. Sodeke died in 1845 and until his death he was in charge of affairs in abeokuta. Egba people are direct descendants of orafiyan, son and successor of oduduwa, the progenitor of yoruba people. Any visit to abeokuta without stopping by olumo rock is widely regarded as incomplete. Abeokuta founded in 1830 has been a notable settlement in nigeria.
The most prominent of these rocks is the olumo rock, a massive outcrop of rocks which served as shelter for the egba people during intertribal wars over a hundred years ago. Olumo rock is located in abeokuta town of ogun state. The rock is a buildup of granite rocks that has been in existence for thousands of years. Olumo rock was turned into a tourist site in 1976 and was commissioned by chief olusegun obasanjo in february 3rd 2006. They consider it to be a symbol of unity and protection.
Sodeke e gba alake was the army general who led the egbas to abeokuta ably supported by lunloye o keona egba, a gbo g bagura a nd lara owu. Embassy of the federal republic of nigeria history. Culture and information about a particular community are often being transmitted. On a visit to this monumental site, you will find a fast food restaurant, a. Olumo means built by the lord its naturally furnished apartments being its caves. However, this site is not just one with a glorious past, it is also of contemporary relevance. The various rock types in this complex are exposed in the north central, north eastern, southwestern and a narrow zone parallel. There are currently 7 comments on this article so far. Suddenly, a riot of laughter evolved amidst us because of a crownlike rock we saw at a distance of about 60 meters away from olumo rock. The name olumo means troubles and sufferings are all over. The egba people were the first to settle there and in fact crevices in the rock were used as hiding places during the many intertribal wars in the early 19th century. The rock dates back to the days when songs of war dominated the airwaves in yoruba land, thats 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. Visitors should engage a guide from the tourist center at the bottom of the rock where one can explore the caves used as sanctuary during the yoruba civil war. The motto of the egba progressive association, inc.
Top 10 places you must visit in nigeria before death. Olumo rock is located in abeokuta the ogun state capital. Abeokuta refuge among rocks was founded about 1830 by sodeke shodeke, a hunter and leader of the egba refugees who fled from the disintegrating oyo empire. Originally a mashhad, a shrine for pilgrims, the dome of the rock was commissioned for not only religious but also political purposes. According to her, she was raised under the rock and had witnessed the coronation of about four alake of egbaland. The objective of the paper is to examine the political development of nigeria and the roles played by egba indigenes. A bi egbo pe won ji olumo egba ri ni ewo orisa literally meaning that the rock that binds the egbas can never be stolen due to its natural nature which is an abomination to the gods.
Olumo rock sits in the heart of abeokuta a name which means under the rock. The history of rock music the beginnings the list of serious pretenders to the title of first rocknroll song not just a title referencing the act of rocking begins with the fat man 1949, cut by antoine fats domino, a new orleans performer, which certainly sounded like a new kind of boogie. Thus, between 1825 and 1830 when it became expedient that the nation of egba can no longer withstand the frequent attacks of the slave hunters from ibadan and dahomey, the egba people, on the directives of the ifa oracle, was led by chief shodeke, on a long but tortuous journey that brought them to the western side of the massive outcrop of granite rocks called olumo, that. Olumo rock is a spectacular landmark found in abeokuta, ogun state capital. The logoemblem of egba progressive association, inc. Travel, discover touristic sights in nigeria, giant of. For one, olumo rock is still revered among the egba people of abeokuta. The rock was modified in 2006 to include restaurants, museum and an elevator to the top of the rock. Egba indigenes in the politics and political development.
The anthem of the egba progressive association, inc. This image contains digital watermarking or credits in the image itself. The language of the majority of the people of ogun state is yoruba but this is however broken into scores of dialects tourism places to visit in the state. As a child, i visited olumo rock, but admit i was never fascinated by its significance. Located in abeokuta, olumo rock is where most people found refuge during the tribal wars in the 19th century. Reading of an excerpt from a history of the yoruba people.
Brief history of tourist destination in ogun state, olumo rock. The story of olumo rock t o s i n o l a t e r u p h o t o s. Indeed, the history of olumo rock is one that is both powerful and interesting. Egba indigenes have been very prominent in political history of nigeria. 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.
Olumo rock is a popular tourist attraction in the city of abeokuta, nigeria. Abeokuta was originally inhabited by the egba people who found refuge at the olumo rock during intertribal wars in the 19th century. Olumo rock, sacred to the egba people, is on the east side of the ogun river. It was at abeokuta located on olumo rock that he, as a man of god made certain pronouncements about the june 12 in june 1998 on the first sunday immediately he was released from abachas gulag. The rock functioned as a tower of strength for the egba people in their wars to. History of abeokuta abeokuta was founded in 1830 after the intertribal wars ravaged refugees in egba forest from their original homes between 1817 and 1830. They were surrounded by the ikija and ikereku people mostly. The egbas, the owus, and the dahomeans african history. The wars eventually came to an end and the egbas climbed down, settled into the valley and established the town with the name forever honoring the rock. It has a rich history and awesome facts that will blow your mind.
On the site you can find 3 museums that showcases the beautiful artwork of these people, some of their popular adire materials and a restaurant and open barbecue spot. From an egba man living in the oke ona section of egbaland in abeokuta. At the rocks summit, visitors can enjoy a tremendous view of abeokuta and the ogun river. The town depends on the oyan river dam for its water supply, which is not always dependable. The egbas have been significant members of ruling political parties. Olumo rock is a massive outcrop of granite rocks of primitive formation from which abeokuta, the capital of ogun state, derived its name. They were under a federation of three groupsake, okeona and gbagura scattered over 150 towns and including the modern city of ibadan, oyo and ijaye. Chaliph abd elmalik placed the monument on the haram assharif, the noble sanctuary, in order to enshrine the sacred rock from which, muslims believe, muhammad made alisra, the night journey and ascended to visit allah in heaven koran 17. The rock is of historical significance and serves as a. Apart from the profile on olumo rock, a more interesting part was the interview of chief mrs sinatu aduke sanni the iya orisa who is said to be 1 years old and has stayed under olumo rock all her life. Abeokuta is an ancient city and olumo rock was used as a fortress in those early times. Olumo rock in abeokuta, birikisu sugbo shrine at okeeri, yemoji natural swimming pool at ijebuode, oyan dam in abeokuta north, iwopin boat regatta and ebuteoni in ogun waterside.
The town itself has a considerable deposit of huge rocky mountains, but the most. Olumo rock, one of the most popular tourist destinations in nigeria, is located in the ancient city of abeokuta a name which loosely translated to under the rock. Examples of such granite hills are the olumo rock in abeokuta, ogun state. Abeokuta lies below the olumo rock, home to several caves and shrines. Olumo rock located in ikija, abeokuta is the ancestral home of the egbas, also a significant landmark culturally, historically, and socially. The egbas were peaceful forest dwelling members of the yoruba nation of whom nothing was known until their 1775 uprising against the central authority of the oyo empire. In fact, olumo rock gave its to abeokuta which means under the rock.
An excursion to olumo rock in nigeria we said go travel. According to the history books, olumo rock once served as a sanctuary and fortress to the egba people in the early. Ensure that removed information is present in the image description page and replace this template with metadata from image. Another interpretation of olumo is oluwa fimo meaning god puts an end to the hostility against the egbas.
Olumo means all the troubles and sufferings were over. Travel, discover touristic sights in nigeria, giant of africa with giant of attractions jerry, sampson, jones, anderson, koumana, morgan, tinge, simion, odinga, maklele on. The rock is a massive outcrop of granite rocks of primitive formation and symbol of egba unity. Olumo rock, now a major tourist destination played a significant part in the history of the ancient city. Olumo rock ogun state visit olumo rock and youll be left many days pondering over the wonders lavished on the earth that we are living in. Abeokuta, town, capital of ogun state, southwestern nigeria. Abeokutas living history was published on april 16th, 2014, with the tags abeokuta, egba, history, olumo rock, slavery, yoruba history, under the adventures, history, observations, travelling category. If a nonwatermarked version of the image is available, please upload it under the same file name and then remove this template. The rock functioned as a tower of strength for the egba people in their wars to defend the new settlement as well as a vantage point to monitor the enemys advance. The name of the town abeokuta was derived from the protection which the fleeing settlers sought under the olumo rock, now a tourist center in the town.
Olumo rock, abeokuta tourist attractions in abeokuta. History, culture, tradition of the egba people of ogun. The settlement was called oko adagba, the initial name of abeokuta. The history of the rock dates back to the 19th century oyo empire when abeokuta was inhabited by the egba people who found refuge at the olumo rock during intertribal wars. Olumo an illustrated account of the olumo rock, sacred.
Till today, the egbas prides themselves in their rich history and their tribesaving rock. Read the story of this woman has lived under olumo rock. Egba people were parts of the famous precolonial african oyo empire kingdom in. Abeokuta was originally inhabited by the egba people who found refuge at the olumo rock during intertribal wars in. Today, it is one of the most popular tourist centers in nigeria. The popular olumo rock is located in abeokuta south, ogun state.
667 702 490 1409 698 898 739 1125 416 548 18 1137 838 284 1275 813 1392 670 580 59 1458 1341 813 1190 1413 1084 214