Are
you kidding me Ryta?
If I ask you to take a
wild guess of the town that has the highest number of twin birth in the told
what will be your guess? As you thinking about that, let me tell you a little
story… once upon a time in 2011 I was posted to Oyo State for National Youth
Service Corpse Service to serve my dearly beloved Nigeria. I was excited because I had long yearned to
wear khaki.
At
NYSC Orientation Camp; Isenyi
Anyways, the three weeks spent
in NYSC orientation camp located at Isenyi, Oyo state was a beautiful
experience. It is funny how most graduates’ longs for NYSC even when they have
no inclination of why NYSC was instituted. I honestly appreciated the
initiative of our leaders in instituting NYSC as this gives every Nigerian
graduate the opportunity to serve the nation for one calendar year. This service is aimed at fostering cultural
integration and unity through diversity judging from our multi-cultural
background as a nation. (You may not agree with me though)
I was not really
particular about serving in the capital city of Oyo state (Ibadan), I did not
mind being posted in any of the 33 Local Government area in Oyo state. Whenever
my friends asked me where I will like to be posted for my PPA (Place of Primary
Assignment) I always replied “wherever, so long there is light, internet, water
and road I’m good”. I’m not sure I meant it though, that was just the answer
that came easily to me. At the end of the three weeks, I received my posting
letter and it read “Idere, Ibarapa Central Local Government Area”. Ibarapa Central has two towns, villages sorry
(Igbo-Ora and Idere). From some of Yoruba friends in camp, I was told that “Igbo”
meant ‘bush’. I was not put off by that though. I quickly located the vehicle
that was to convey my fellow compatriots and I. and off we went.
The
Journey from Iseyin to Ibarapa
Central
The journey took us 60
minutes although it seemed like 60 hours. I saw a lot of bushes, I was still
not perturbed, “we will soon get to the town babe” I encouraged myself. I sat
by the window so I busied myself my admiring some of the birds that flew by. I
closed my eyes at some point to drink into nature.
You
are Welcome to Igboora, the Nation’s
Home of Twins
As I flipped open my eyes,
I was greeted with the inscription “You are Welcome to Igboora, The Nation’s
Home of Twins” this followed by shouts of ‘welcome’ by previous batches of corps
serving in Ibarapa Central Local Government called me back to reality. My first
reaction to the environment was that of disdain. Although I never attempted to
influence my posting but at that point I did not know whether to regret my
decision or be excited. “Dear Lord! What am I doing here? You mean I will be
stuck here for the next 12 months?” I muttered loud not aware of the tears
streaming freely down my cheeks. “kopa welcome. To our land; the home of twin”
a kind looking man said to me. I managed to flash him a smile. “Home of twins
indeed; who cares?” I muttered inaudibly.
My
First shocker
The shouts of jubilation
from the house next to the coppers lodge where we putting up for the night drew
our attention. News reached us that a
woman just gave birth to her fourth set of twins. My eyes almost bulged out “are
you kidding me” I blotted out as I could not contain my amazement. Out of curiosity,
I mobilized some of my colleagues and we went to pay the family a visit. Sorry I
did not tell you that corpse members are highly respected, it was like an
August visit. One of my colleagues, Alex surprised said “Is the same person
that was sulking a while ago?”
Igboora; Twin Capital of the World
It turned out to be a
memorable twelve months. Each day was adventure for me. I appreciated culture
and NYSC first hand. Not joke, you will
not find a household without at least a set of twin. It is their pride and
heritage. Research
into multiple births carried out at Lagos's University Teaching Hospital has
suggested that a high level of a chemical found in the Yoruba women and the
peelings of the tuber could account for the high level of multiple births. A consultant gynecologist at
the hospital explains: “These
substances are usually linked to the release of more than one egg, which
usually leads to twin pregnancies. That means that there is possibly an
environmental factor that encourages the high level of this chemical substance.”
My Favourite meal; Amala
and Ilasa
You can trust that Amala and Ilasa became my
favourite meal through my stay there. I consumed it as though there was no
tomorrow. I told all my friends and family about it. I pitched its effect to
anyone that cared to listen to me. I was disappointed when I was told that the
effect was only seen on bona fide sons of the soil that the probability that
non indigenes will give birth to twins after consuming Amala and Ilasa was very
slim. You can imagine my disappointment. “Why did you not tell me early enough”
I quarreled with them when they told me few weeks before passing out.
So? What about the
Twin Capital of the World?
It may seem like
another story, but this is phenomena that is worthy of recognition. The question
I asked myself through my stay there as a corpse member is “how do we preserve
this yam? How do we replicate this outside? Can’t this place be a research
institute? Can’t this natural endowment deliver revenue to this people? What story
do we tell from this? What can we do about this? What can our government do
about this? If cultural innovation is a true concept, what innovation can stem
out this phenomenon? How do we tell this story?
My fears?
Should this yam go
out of extinction, will history forgive us for not preserving and sustaining Amala and Ilasa.
Written by Ryta Moemeke
08034896979
ritamoemeke@gmail.com
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