Another trip by the LEGACY group (click here), this time to Abeokuta which is also the capital state of Ogun. Ogun is just north of Lagos and by train, you could get to Abeokuta in about three hours...less by car (we've tried it using the Lagos-Ibadan expressway).
Back to Ebute Metta junction like the last time, and this time it was a different locomotive and carriage too! BTW, it was a chartered train...From Ebuta Metta to Abeokuta and back only, and not stopping to pick up any other passengers along the way, if you're wondering.
I took the last carriage, the old yellow one in the rear for more 'action' and also it was suggested by Seun...again. I did not hesitate in fact it does bring back memories of childhood when I used to travel by train with my late grandparents to Penang. Ok..it wasn't a bench seat, but still the ambiance was quite the same.
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| my carriage/wagon |
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| the interior |
We departed at about 9.30am and the skies were gloomy. It has been gloomy for days now hope in Abeokuta, the weather will be welcoming. We will be going to the Alake's palace and climb the Olumo Rock. Anyway, the train looked full. Most seats were filled and I had a travel buddy this time. A police officer which introduced himself as Abi and he is a native of Abeokuta.
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| moi.. |
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| Mushin |
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| the old signboard |
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| hope you saw what it was....eh hennn |
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| Itoki, just a small stop |
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| barber by the rail ooo |
One after another station we passed. All with similar character and heavily populated, especially in Agege where we stopped for awhile waiting for another train from to arrive first before we continued the journey. Hour and a half into the journey, we were in Ijoko. A place I went during the last trip, also with LEGACY and it was busy as usual.
From there onwards, the train passed acres and acres of sugarcane plantation. Irene (click here) as its known in this part of Nigeria is either consumed directly or processed into sugar. There were also cassava plantation among the sugarcane and the odd palm tree here and there stood like a shepherd tending to his flock. It was a total contrast, Lagos a metropolitan and Ogun, land so fertile that green color ruled the landscape.
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| rail switch on a raised platform |
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| cassava and sugar cane in the distance |
We made slow and steady progress along the track all the way to Abeokuta and it was about 3 hrs (from Lagos) we arrived at the train station. It was riot of senses....I was ecstatic to be finally set foot here. Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun state...the Gateway State, that's the state's nickname.
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| Abeokuta!!! |
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| small inspection car |
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| our tour guides |
We were ushered into the waiting coaster and off we go to the Alake of Egba's palace about 15 minutes ride from the station. The Alake of Egba is the paramount Yoruba (one of main tribe in Nigeria) King of Egba, in Abeokuta. The tour guide also mentioned about the famous Ogunian like the current VP of Nigeria (Prof. Yemi Osinbajo), musician and composer (Fela Kuti), past Nigeria President (Chief Olusegun Obasanjo) and THE nationalist to Nigeria's independence (Chief Obafemi Awolowo) - now eternalized on the N100 note (click here) .. so you can't miss him, he's from Ogun and related to the present VP.
The tour guide showed us around the town... The Church of St. Peter, the first church built in Nigeria, also in Egbaland and Ogun state. The Ogun river, which the state got its name from and some residence of the local rulers in the town (OK...it's complicated..I know) before we arrived at the Alake's palace. There was a feast going on to celebrate His Majesty (obviously) and we were allowed to drive all the way in into the palace complex where there were other structure (palaces) as well built during different era.
Naturally, it was during this time the sky suddenly opened up and it drizzled. Ouch! There was a welcoming committee to receive us and he explained briefly about the palace. The one he's standing in front of was the old palace where the Alake's ancestors used to receive guests and discuss matters of the state. The palace was adorned with wooden sculptures and I can imagine in the early 1800's it must've been THE place to be.
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| wooden sculpture adorned the old palace |
We went to the palace ground where the celebration was being held. I totally forgot to ask what was it because too busy looking for the source of the loud booming sound. It sounded like a canon..honest. It was that loud! At the same time, there was a procession of the elders, the Obas (King) and Alake (Paramount Ruler) towards a small structure beside the new palace to pay respect to his ancestors and pray. Some say, it was also part of the old palace. To us, we were simply happy to be there and witness all these ceremonies even from quite a distance. It was such an experience!
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the source of the loud boom....a musket (I think) and he's filling
the barrel with gunpowder. |
That was the first item on the itinerary and we had to rush to another spot to do a bit of climbing. Then, we will understand the people and the city much better.
End Part 1
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