I can't but remember my last trip to Igbo Ora during the last World Tourism Festival, 2022. It wasn't my first time in the area but I must give cudos to Taiwo and Kehinde Oguntoye, the community and the different supporters of the festival for a job well done and their pleasant hospitality to visitors from around the world. It was like Christmas and new year celebration. The state governor and it's entourage should be appreciated and their presence ignited the importance of the festival.
At the eve of the festival, the female members of our team became curious about the mystery of multiple birth that is unique to this ancient Yoruba town. It is important to acknowledge that the Yorubas revere twins so much that twins, multiple births and their mothers are respected and idolized.
As a graduate of Tourism and Social Science, I know that the peculiarity of the multiple births and fertility in this community is connected to the people and the environment they live in. Taiwo and Kehinde (these are names given to twins in Yorubaland. The first is Taiwo, while the second is Kehinde. Yoruba mythology believes that the second; Kehinde, is the elder because he sent Taiwo to check out the world if it's worth coming into).
The Oguntoye brothers seconded my hypothesis and told us the story of Ilasa vegetable soup and how it's been prepared in Igbo Ora. We were told that the Ilasa soup must be prepared with the water from the town and that it's the secret to multiple births fertility in the area.
During our night out we visited a food canteen and we were amazed that the owner of the food canteen was Iya Ibeji (Mother of twins). The lady who attended to us was called Kehinde (a twin). We were amazed that every household in Igbo Ora ancient town has a twins or multiple birth children.
The following morning, we visited mama Alake Alasela, who was waiting for us at her spot. She taught us the process of making Ilasa soup, the Igbo Ora method. The place was crowded with visitors, photographers and journalists who came to experience the town and World Twins festival.
Anago Osho