By the use of Laurie Kerkman
October 19, 2024 | 10:00 am
Igbo-Ora, a city in southwestern Nigeria, is celebrating the unusually excessive variety of twin births with a vigorous competition, highlighting the cultural significance of twins in Yoruba society. On a standard day, a customer would possibly move by Igbo-Ora with little greater than a double look, questioning why so many pairs of residents are sporting matching garments. However lastly…
Igbo-Ora, a city in southwestern Nigeria, is celebrating the unusually excessive variety of twin births with a vigorous competition, highlighting the cultural significance of twins in Yoruba society.
On a standard day, a customer would possibly move by Igbo-Ora with little greater than a double look, questioning why so many pairs of residents are sporting matching garments. However final weekend nobody doubted what makes the town in southwestern Nigeria so particular.
With fanfare, pageantry, expertise exhibits and even a royal go to, lots of of individuals gathered within the self-proclaimed 'twin capital of the world' to rejoice the unusually excessive variety of a number of births.
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“There’s hardly a household right here in Igbo-Ora that doesn’t have a twin brother,” stated visiting Yoruba King Oba Kehinde Gbadewole Olugbenle, himself a twin brother.
Yoruba tradition reveres twins, and their first names are historically mounted: Taiwo means “one who tastes the world” for the eldest little one, and Kehinde means “one who got here after” for the second little one.
Town even stands out within the wider Yorubaland area, the place inhabitants specialists say there may be an above-average price of non-identical twins.
The worldwide common beginning price for twins is round 12 per 1,000 births, however in Igbo-Ora it’s believed to be nearer to 50 per 1,000, in response to scientific research and hospital knowledge.
Explanations for the abundance range.
Many residents attribute it to weight-reduction plan, particularly okra leaf or ilasa soup with yam and amala (cassava flour).
Fertility specialists – and several other residents – are skeptical, saying there isn’t a confirmed hyperlink between weight-reduction plan and the excessive twin price.
Scientists are investigating genetic components and the way the twins' particular cultural standing could make the twins extra prone to discover a mate and have kids.
READ ALSO: 'Olokun competition stimulates improvement of tradition and custom in Yorubaland'
'Reward from God'
Regardless of the cause, everybody on the town agrees that the abundance of twins is a blessing – and much more so this yr, as Nigeria grapples with its worst financial disaster in a technology.
Suliat Mobolaji gave beginning to twins eight months in the past and says the household has been showered with presents since then.
“It modified my life,” stated the 30-year-old, as he held a son in every arm. 'You possibly can't have twins if you happen to're fortunate. It’s a present from God.”
Taiwo Ojewale, a analysis assistant specializing in Yoruba tradition on the College of Ibadan, stated the celebration of twins is “rooted in conventional spiritual perception.”
Twins are seen as a present from the supreme god Olodumare, he defined, and Igbo-Ora oral historical past describes them as a reward after a collection of disasters that befell the group.
Town erupted with pleasure because the occasion began on Saturday. On the competition website, employees rolled out a crimson carpet for dozens of twins, younger and outdated.
They paraded in impeccable matching outfits – from glamorous sun shades and patterned materials to a pair of toddlers sporting purple clothes and an identical purses.
Dozens extra twins watched from the stands or walked facet by facet via the town.
The competition's organizers – twins themselves – say they finally need to set a world report for the biggest gathering of twins on the earth.
READ ALSO: Nwoko, Oduah and others rejoice Igbo tradition throughout 'Nma Oha' play
Taiwo and Kehinde Oguntoye, 39, additionally stated they hope to prepare a mass wedding ceremony of dual {couples} subsequent yr.
“Gemini brings favors, fame and wealth,” stated Taiwo. “That’s the reason we Yoruba rejoice their beginning, and maybe that’s the reason God blessed us in Yorubaland with the best variety of twins on the earth.”
“It's a blessing,” the Oguntoye twins nodded in unison.
