Welcome to Abeokuta, Welcome to Olumo rock
Olumo rock is gigantic historical monument standing at 137metres above sea level right in the middle of an ancient city of Abeokuta south west Nigeria. It has simply developed into a world class tourist centre.
During the tribal wars in the 19th century, the rock provided sanctuary to the people as well as advantage point to monitor their enemies before time, leading to extreme triumph in war.
We have a beautiful garden called Lisabi garden which was named after a warrior Lisabi
Lisabi fought for the Egba’s for three years because of this, he is celebrated annually. The Alake of Egbaland who is known as the king leads the remembrance of Lisabi, people around the world come to celebrate with them, that is why they name here Lisabi garden.
In the garden, there are three types of trees.
The first one is called the Panseke tree and the seeds inside always make a sound like a rain drop, the second one is Dongoyaro tree, it is called herb leaves because it can be use to cure malaria while the third one is Odon tree, in the olden days our fathers planted it at the front of their houses and relaxed under it, as you can see from the picture below, it looks like a canopy
The next place we are exploring in the Olumo rock, which is 122 steps from the ground, is the Olumo shrine. The Olumo shrine was a place where the Egbas hid during the war. After the war, the Egbas turned the large rock into a deity.
This is the Olumo shrine, 
source where all the idols are being worshipped every year. The items of sacrifice are black cow, pigeon, bird and white ram are all used for the sacrifice.
In Egba there are four kings as I have said, Alake is the paramount ruler, Osile follows then Gbagura and Oluwa.
Every 5th of august, all Egbas come here to pray for peace in Egba that’s why they worship Olumo every year. They also worship Lisabi, at the shrine women are not allowed to go in with the men. While going in to worship, the Alake of Egbaland (the king) will lead.
On the fourth day, ‘Oro’ will be carried out around all Egba. They use this to round off the worship and sacrifices. This doesn’t stop the Egbas from further worship. Anybody who has faith can come here to seek for anything they want and when their request is being granted, he or she will come back to show appreciation. Mind you, they can’t go into the shrine, they have to drop anything they brought with the priest and the priest is going to make the sacrifice.
Now let’s go to where Egba hid for three years, where its name Abeokuta was derived.
This is where the Egbas hid, but before we go there this is chief Ajimatokunje grave, 
source he was the one cleaning the rock and taking people around before they died.
Chief Ajimatokunje died on the 3rd of January, 1956, any chief that died then were buried at the front of their house and that is the baba’s house.
The Egbas hid here during the war with the Oyo’s and they had shelter here in Olumo rock.
Olumo water point is one of the numerous mysteries of the rock. When it rains water is stored up in the rock for about six to seven days after which it starts to drop on the flow and some Pastors and Imam always come there to take water and pray to it because it is medicinal and it cures sickness.
Egba came from Orile ona [Oyo Empire]. It means ‘Save us’ then what Egba is known for is farming. They gave tax to Oyo’s but suddenly they stopped, that was the cause of the fight between Egba and Oyo in 1830 – 1833.
When they came around there were bushes all around, Adagba is the one that clean up the place. There were other warriors like Ogunbona and Lisabi, they will be up and make sure enemy did not attack them. When the war ended, they named were they settled down Abeokuta, because it is under the rock they hid and that is why it is called Abeokuta till today.
Here is where they grind pepper as you can see, there are six holes here. Five houses were built here with clay but it remains one house, amongst the five houses.
These are the names of prominent kings and warriors
LISABI AGBAGBON AKALA, SODEKE, OGUNBONA, ALATIS, ADAGBA, OKUNKENU (the first king in Egbaland)
This is the top of the Olumo rock where you can see all Egba. Olumo height is 137 metres, the tree around is called “Iroko Oluwere” the tree is over 350 years.
Olumo means “lord molded it for us to live in” The Ogun River can be seen near it, from which Ogun as a state was named. The river pass through four cities: Oyo, Ondo,Osun and Lagos state.
The river has different meanings like: god of iron, war, medicine, sweat, property, long and twenty as number.
The Egba people formed their on national anthem from Olumo which says:
I will rejoice on Olumo rock, Abeokuta city
I will never forget you, they stand on Olumo rock,
I will rejoice in the name of Egba, We the children of Lisabi.
I will rejoice on Olumo rock 2x…
This means I am rejoicing on Olumo rock.
Thank You!
This is one of my wonders of the world and below are others I posted on
GATE TO HELL https://steemit.com/reachout/@bafspotlight/thor-s-well-or-the-gate-to-hell
FLAMMABLE ICE BUBBLES https://steemit.com/wondersoftheworld/@bafspotlight/flammable-ice-bubbles
Thank you
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