TRAVELOGUE 7

Busayo Fakunle NSI with the Alado of Ado-Awaye

 TRAVELOGUE 7

I was happy to leave my bed this morning having taken permission from the right quarters to be at Ado-awaye, a town close to Iseyin to celebrate the 60th World Theatre Day organised by Ado-Awaye Tourism Heritage Development Initiative (ATHDI) and the Oyo State Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria (TAMPAN) and being the venue of this month Ana-Oyo literary reading . 

Historically and as being rightly informed by the king, the Alado of Ado-Awaye, Oba Ademola Olugbile Folakanmi, Ado hill is the initial settlement place of Ado people that houses cultural and historical spots. Its unique formations delight the eyes and as I observed while climbing, there were unique resting spots named after the heroes of the town. It is also historical to be in the company of ANA Oyo State chairman, ANA National Assistant General Secretary, a Ghanaian Ebedi Fellow and notable people. 

Within the five minutes  thereabouts encounter, the Alado affirmed that Iyake suspended lake is the only natural suspended lake in Africa and at that point, I wondered why it has not been fetching the state government income. Then Ikogosi came to mind, the attention it received and what it has become today. Ikogosi waterfall is at Ikogosi Ekiti, a place where warm spring and cold spring meet at a confluence. Today, the Ikogosi- Ekiti warm spring tourist centre is a tourist destination which offers you numerous values ranging from historical to rich cultural heritage of the people. Unarguably, having experienced it during my undergraduate days, it is a wonder to behold. 

After taking two pieces of meat offered me (without palm wine), I convinced my Ghanaian friend to climbing the Ado hill. He thought of waiting behind but trust me, I convinced him. I knew his fears. He is just recuperating but then, what other better exercise would have been suitable for such individual if not one like this? Immediately he agreed, we set out at around 3p.m

While we were walking towards the Ado hill, we took a street that looked like a GRA. I marvelled at the sight. The rustling of the trees and the sounds of birds that littered the sky, close to our heads. I also imagined how dreadful it will be to walk around there in the evening. And just few steps away from the Ado hill, we saw a group of kids who had come for a trip, I couldn't tell where they were from but then they were students of a private school. I interacted with some whites amidst them and they confessed how loveable the sight was. Still with the people at the bottom of the hill, a young lady, dressed in shorts with canvass in a car noticed the difference in our accents and when I told them I am a Nigerian the man in the second car argued, asking for my village in Ibadan. Don't I look like a Yoruba man? 

When our tour guards came around, we set out at around 3:20 p.m. The tour guards were of 10 or 12years old. Surprised, but I knew it's what they could do. After all, they were children who were yet to stress their backs like us. Hugged them and they smiled. Their smiles were not for free, it came with a token and took awhile before it disappeared. I observed they still had their full sets of teeth and that surprised me. How can you be a kid and possess a complete set? Have they not been running around like those ones I have? One of them had his tooth removed and said their aunty told him to throw it up on the roofing sheets and run in and out of the house for three times. That reminded me of similar experience while I was a kid. 

'Are you sure you can do this', I asked the boys.

'This is our third time today', they responded.

As we moved on, I hurriedly climbed the hill just to encourage my not-too-fast fellow. But then, I got totally exhausted at some points, yet didn't want him to know. We took pictures, a lot of them for documentation that we were there. I also did a Facebook live video. 

My friend exhausted his water while my bottles were almost empty. The boys did a lot of encouragement and at few minutes past four, we got to the top of the lake. Even while the weather was hot, the cold breeze announced the lake. 

It was peaceful. The atmosphere was lovingly attractive. It is impossible to be on that top and not think about how wonderful the creator is. Well crafted hills. The slippery terrain with its small potholes.

'You see this water, people come for it, pray to it, drink and get healed', the boys said. 

Faith! Beliefs! 

I didn't even say anything about it. I went around, took many pictures again and on our way coming down, silence walked within us. And that has always been an amazing opportunity for me to interact with self. 'If these kids could be generating ... daily, government will eat here o.' I thought of the advantages that even the kids will enjoy more than this  amounts if we have a government  that is serious about tourism.  Iyake suspended lake should be a great pride to Oyo State.

If you care to know, tourism in this modern dispensation of diversification, is a great sector that is rapidly growing. The industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. To start telling you that some countries' economy depends largely on tourism will be a waste of time. One is Dubai/ UAE. Have you been there? I want to go too. You can guide my feet and help my pocket. Have you also heard of tourism festival? I heard of Dubai's expo 2020 then. More seriously, tourism generates wealth, employment and it's a major source of income for many countries. Why can't we tap into this amazing tourist center at Ado-Awaye? 

When we came back, the programme was almost ending and I pleaded to read a poem. But before then, the king in his full regalia offered the gods some dance steps and the deep Yoruba songs rented the air. Indigenes shaped the soil with their legs as they joined the king in dancing. The drummers increased the energy and the man singing calmly began to sing the Oba's Oriki (panegyrics). I was moved. I loved the uniqueness. The sounds of their voices. Their kind of Yoruba accent. In fact, Yoruba is a rich culture. Argue with your pads. 

Some other notable tourist attractions aside Iyake suspended lake as read in the book that  Oba gave us are Elephant Tree ( we saw this too afar),  Ladebo Cave, Ishage Rock, The remains of Ancient Alado Palace, Adventure Forest, Verge of Death and Life, Iyaalaro Lake, Feet of Elders, Site of the Mysterious Chain and Opon Ayo Local Game. Honestly, government should hasten up and do the needful.

Meanwhile if you care to taste  from the king's wine inside the fridge, let me send you my account details and I would get at least a spoonful delivered. 

Enjoy your evening. Enjoy the picture Gallery.

Busayo Fakunle NSI writes from Ebedi International Writers Residency Iseyin Oyo State.