This piece is an attempt at immortalizing one of Nigeria’s beauties,Idanre Hills,a task almost impossible.I am also convinced that the article can reawaken the interest of countless,both within Nigeria and beyond,to find their way down to come enjoy a miracle…Nigeria’s miracle.
1.As we took the last bend
Towards the ancient city
Right ahead emerged giants
Glassy with fluffy clouds as crowns
The hills appeared stunning & transparent
These must be gods, I concluded
2.With shock I starred
It was like the mountains returned my gaze
I felt like I saw a smile from one
A wave from the other
This can’t be hallucinations
The hills even breathed on me
3.As we climbed I shivered
I felt the hands of the hills enveloping me
It was beautiful & peaceful
Simply a miracle Nigeria owns this
Just ahead I saw one of the hills
I was later told she’s named ‘ Orosun’
4.’Orosun’ fought great battles
Fearlessly with a strength simply divine
When the time came she got transformed
Into an edifice the emblem of strength
I was tempted to go embrace ‘Orosun’
Then I saw her,blowing me a kiss
5.Happily I climbed on
Determined to see the mystical foot print
That fits any foot placed into it
Except those of witches & wizards
Who,upon detection,were made to confess
Cleansing Idanre of wickedness
6.As we snaked on
We stumbled on another warrior,’Olofin hill’
We were told ‘ Olofin’ was married to ‘Orosun’
A union in which they gave birth to’ Ojimaba’
‘Ojimaba’ hill had a childish beauty
Open-mouthed,I couldn’t take in all the grandeur
7.We were told that yearly
The Idanre people gathered at the hills
In celebration of’ Orosun’,the beautiful warrior
And ‘ Olofin’ her husband
Also in honour of ‘Ojimaba’ their child
Silently I wondered if ‘Ojimaba’ was a male or female
8.As we continued the climb happily
We reached a river,’Omi Apaara’
Where before Idanre warriors depart for a war
They were religiously gathered to drink
“The cloud thunders as a sign
When whoever will die in battle drinks,” we were told
9.A part of the hills was reached
Where calmly sitting on the ground was a piece of rock
Scantily smooth as a grinding stone
A rock to be carried by any man who desires to marry
Failure to lift the rock to your chest level rules out your ambition
I didn’t bother touching the rock
10.Our tour guide hinted gladly
That at the next spot we would see ‘the unreadable letters’
Then we reached the massive rock
With its back turned in our direction
Scribbled right there were ancient symbols
Only a giant would have been able to write there
11.As we trudged on I wondered
At the meaning of the letters
How my land holds so much wonder
How my country holds so much beauty
If the Idanre hills should swallow the Olumo rocks
They would remain hungry,I childishly thought,as they are massive
12.We got to the spot named ‘Ode Oja’
Where a crown allegedly stolen from Ile-Ife was buried
Oba Idanre comes there once a year
And puts on the crown in the middle of the night
The crown is usually called forth from the earth
Imagining the magic,I smiled at my ancestors’ wit
13.We saw the palace surrounded by rocks
We saw the skulls of cows stacked in the palace
Signifying the number of years the king has been on the throne
In a palace surrounded by statues ingeniously carved
We saw a windowless ante-room by the palace
Where the king is locked up for seven days before coronation
14.I wished the world could gather in Nigeria
To fellowship with the rocks at Idanre
To step on the dance floor with Orosun
To share sweet palmwine with Olofin
To teach Ojimaba new tricks from distant lands
Enjoying the splendour of Idanre hills
15.We may be battling terrorism
Our politics may be sitting on broken stools of lies
But we have Idanre hills
We have monuments indeed priceless
Monuments whispering messages of peace & victory
Foretelling the beauty my home,Nigeria,would become
16.As we left Idanre I became very sad
Because we couldn’t reach the mystical footprints
I left Idanre a defeated man
Not knowing if I am a wizard or not
But how can I forget the beautiful glassy hills
I knew I would return someday
Soyombo tweets from @alabaster85