An Excursion To Olumo Rock To Know The Culture Of The People Of Abeokuta.
On Wednesday, we embarked on an excursion to visit the Olumo rock after a brief class with my students and the history teacher. She taught them the culture of the Abeokuta people and then she decided to make it real by embarking on the brief excursion. Although, the journey was a little far from the city we reside in.
The journey was to know the secret behind the rock and the name of the rock. When we got to the place, it was a beautiful place and a place to be.
The students had to pass through the entrance and climb straight to halfway of the rock and were enlightened on the position they were in. They were taught how the rock had saved the warriors in the past.
Up here is about 135m below sea level and everywhere in the community is seen through. So, anyone trying to bring up war against them would be seen and the warriors would immediately adjust their positions.
Under the upper part of the rock is a cave. This cave is where they always hide themselves anytime there is an intruder. Whenever they run inside this cave, no one born of humans would see them even though it is very visible. According to culture, the cave was their hiding place.
Beside the cave, there is a secret opening which is also a part of the cave. Presently, the only ones allowed to enter the secret cave are the king and the chief priest. There is a set-aside day in which everyone in the community would come together to celebrate the heroes. They would slaughter a black cow just for sacrifice to appease the deity.
Back to history,
Abeokuta is located in Ogun state and is the capital city. The name Abeokuta is divided into two parts ranging from the existence of the rock. Abe means under while Okuta means rock. Joining the two words together gives Abeokuta (under Rock).
This name was coined from the fact that the heroes were always hiding under the rock and so they decided to name the City after the rock. This rock has saved them and has been their source of life.
Ogun means different things in Yoruba, but it's a state that holds so many records of past heroes.
These people migrated from the old Oyo empire. They arrived in this place by 1830 led by a man called Sojeke. This was the reason why Sojeke became the Balogun of Egba land. The person who discovered this rock was Adagba, the great hunter. He saw the rock from afar while hunting and later traced it down. He later settled there with his family. Others came over to dwell there with him.
The army of Benin started their war and this made them make the rock their hiding place. They were hiding under the cave. When they would later resurface, people would ask them "Where did you hide yourself?". They would say "We hide ourselves under the rock (Abeokuta)".
Apart from the fact that the rock always serves as their hideout, it is a means of living. It cures any form of sickness apart from HIV and AIDS. If you are looking for a child, just visit the rock and fetch from the little water dripping from the rock. Be it rain or shine, the water is always dropping showing a sign of reality.
Under the cave, there are segments in the form of a hole. This is where they use to prepare fire anytime they want to cook.
In another way, the name Olumo means "this is where our suffering ends or where our problems end". It serves as a safe place and a refuge for the people of the old. Their problems after too much running would end whenever they come to the rock.
In history, no one has ever died in this Olumo Rock just because it is a place of safety.
When you ascend to the upper part of the rock, this is where the warriors always view the whole parts of the town. There is nothing hidden you would not see once you are at the top of the rock.
The people of Abeokuta are known for their craft-making. They specialize in carving and are also herbalists.