NIGERIA: Ogun: Trip to Abeokuta with LEGACY Group (Part 2)

We drove towards the famous Olumo Rock in Abeokuta and  passed by a textile market in the town. Abeokuta is also famous for its adire textile which is 'tie and dye' technique, in Yoruba language. According to the guide, behind the market which the artisans still live is where the textile is made. 

textile market

We passed along old houses and narrow road, quite hilly actually. There were some houses built on top of boulder or boulders as we approach the rock complex. The whole of Abeokuta seems to be on boulder....granite rock actually.

At last we arrived at the famed Olumo Rock and like seasoned tourist, we made our way to the top and since it started to rain..again; there's no time to lose! 

there's a dot on the highest point...a man actually

hurry ooo...got to climb fast fast

The first stop was after 120 steps. We arrived at a clearing and to catch our breath. The steps were at best, irregular height and made it quite difficult to climb. BTW, the two towers you see are equipped with an elevators, but not in service during our visit. 

My friend from Malaysia Trade Office in Lagos, Saifudeen had visited this place more than a year earlier told me that there are goats roaming freely in the area and YES there were! The cliffhanger hanger goats seemed to be at home among the rocks and no wahala (no problem) for it to climb up. 

Like I said earlier, we stopped at the clearing and a guide from the complex welcomed us and began to talk a bit about the area. Congratulated us on the first 120 steps took to get to the landing. She cautioned us to be careful while climbing the stairs and later on some rocks to get to the top.

On the city, Abeokuta means "under the rock" and the people of Egba were the first settlers here. During the 1830's they fled from the Oyo Empire and took refuge here among the rocks. These rock formation protected them and outlast the declining Oyo Empire. 

Underneath the rocks, they built living quarters and continued living. It wasn't once but a few times that the Egba took refuge here and the rock gained its legend and eventually a god-like status among the people. The Olumo Rock also according to the guide, if I hear it clearly; Olu = God, in Yoruba language and Mo =  fashioned or molded the rock (Olumo Rock), and the other one was "God has put an end to our suffering". 

The next stop was a shrine built among the rocks. It is said that only the Alake of Egba is permitted to enter and give offerings and asks for blessings from their god. 

Underneath the huge granite rock, we saw the spot where they used to prepare food and the living/sleeping area built not far from it. The gap between the floor and ceiling (if you could call it) was about 4feet or less in certain areas. 

where food was prepared

remains of a living quarters

permanent house under the rock and the home of the revered Iya Orisa of Olumo (Mother Goddess of the Rock), she's 131 y.o
(Her actual name is Chief Mrs. Sinatu Aduke Sanni)

At last we came to the last section of the tour which was to take up a "few" flights up onto the top of the rock. Remember the tower with the elevator? There's another one at the back which you can't see but beside it, there's a baobab tree as tall as the tower! 

We took our turns to climb up the stairs and one of the guide  showed me the ancient route which the Egba used to climb all the way up to the top. 

the old way...I don't think I can fit

the last hurdle....

The view was amazing! Almost 360deg view of Abeokuta at 137m above sea level and I can imagine in those days, with so many granite rock outcroppings in the area and each of the boulder so huge...to find a single human would be quite impossible. Just look at the 4th picture, there's a man on top of the highest rock..but at that range..nothing, not much actually. 

There's lot to see on top of here...like some mosques, NTA station, MKO Abiola's family house, the newly built overhead bridge, the Ogun river in the distance and of course my travel buddy's house. I spent about 15 minutes there until I'm happy with the pictures I took and went down with my travel buddy and some new friends I made during the journey, Muhammad and Kenana. I also met a Singaporean who volunteered for Legacy on this trip...I think her name was Irene...hope to see her again on other trips by Legacy. 

Muhammad (in white shirt)

Abi pointing to the baobab fruit

Coming down was faster than the other way around. Not to mention we're happy to be down here than up there as it started to drizzle again and we went to the canteen to buy ourselves some refreshments. It was on the way down, the resident animals came out and showed themselves. Yes, the goats were really enjoying the terrain and the attention. 

the four legged sentinel...

The children were busy snapping photos of this particular one with their phone camera and the nanny goat was just happy to oblige. It just stood still, not even a single bleat from her... a sign that its too used to human presence...that is until the owner comes to collect her for bbq. 

one of the mosque nearby the area

keke marwa or napep

Abeokuta station

We left the Olumo Rock complex and headed for the train station at the other end of the city. The train were already there waiting for us. One by one, we boarded the train and without much drama head back to Lagos.

Back in Lagos, from green landscape....now crowd of people thronged the railway. Not just at the station, but any available space. It was very colorful and I love colors. Some of the best pictures I snapped during our stop in Agbado and Agege before my camera somehow just went kaput. Not the first time, though. We arrived in Ebute Metta junction at about 7.30pm and I told myself the next trip would be all the way to Ibadan or Florin, maybe. But first, need to fix the camera.

a masquerade walking among people in Agbado

Seye looking out the window to buy some plantain,
then the camera went kaput....just soft focus pictures
all the way to Lagos....sigh

I do hope, the next trip would be in a few weeks time. In the meantime, Makoko Island would be nice too. After all, the proceeds goes to the school. BTW, you guys at the LEGACY rocks!