Idanre Hill, which was tentatively listed
as a world heritage site by UNESCO in
2007, is not living up to its rating, writes
OLUWOLE JOSIAH
Idanre Is a sleepy town of about 129,000
people located beautifully at a valley
spanning 1,914 square kilometres. For a
first time visitor, the visibly striking
features of the range of mountains with
several peaks along the undulating
expanse set the stage for an excellent
experience with nature.
However, the people are seemingly
oblivious of the intimidating heights of
rocks encircling them in a conical order,
as they go about their daily activities
ignoring the awesome natural edifices.
People in Idanre are largely farmers. This
differs from what is common in other
climes, where the location of a tourist’s
site defines the occupation and vocation
of the population around that location.
As one drives into the town, the tarred
road is halved by cocoa seeds. Most
farmers have turned a part of the road
into sun-baked ground.
It is difficult to perceive any tourism
indicators at the entrance to the town,
which is home to some interesting
ancient histories worth selling to the
world.
“The town can be described as a close
locked up by the heights of mountains.
There is only one road leading into the
town. It is the same road that you will
pass through if you are leaving the
town,” a visitor, who craved anonymity,
said.
SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that during the
pre-colonial era, some of the indigenes
had lived on top of the Idanre hill,
known among the people as Oke Idanre.
A tour guide with the Ondo State Tourism
Office, who wished to be identified
simply as Richard, said, “In the past, the
Idanre people lived on top of the hill,
which offered a plateau-like
environment, and served as home to the
various ancient Idanre communities. It
also provided a ready protection for the
people against invading armies. The
people lived on the hill for 800 years
before the quest for development forced
them down to the valley in 1928.”
The hill’s flat surface is 3,000 feet above
sea level. It is accessible by an
intimidating 660 steps laid in concrete
along the side of the hill. Climbers are
furnished with several resting places to
make climbing a pleasurable adventure.
Richard also said, “The steps were 460 in
number when it was first constructed in
1954, but with the intervention of
UNESCO in 2007, when the hill was
tentatively listed as a world heritage site,
the steps went up to 660. The ancient
community of Oke Idanre are in three
quarters, occupying a land area of 5km
radius.”
Idanre hill still retains the Old Igboore
Standard School, located in the first part
of the hill, known as Udega, established
in 1896 by Gilbert Carter, who was a
colonial visitor to Nigeria in 1894. It also
boasts of the legendary Omiapaara
(Thunder River), the Arun River,
supposedly possessing healing powers;
the court, and the mausoleum, where
kings were interred.
Although the practice of burying dead
kings on the hill is no longer in vogue,
the Idanre still bring their dead
traditional rulers up the hill to perform
the last funeral rites on them before they
are finally interred.
An interesting feature of the hill is the
inscription on one of the gigantic rocks,
similar to ancient hieroglyphics. The
letters are clear, but unintelligible and
unreadable: a perpetual mythical
mystery in the midst of the mountain
jungle.
Richard said, “The letters had been so
designated because no one has been
able to read them.”
Another notable site on the hill is the
ancient palace. The inner court of the
palace is beautifully decorated by
sculptural carvings used as pillars along
the length and breadth of the court. The
carvings, which depict the loyal servants
of the ruling kings at different times, are
in dire need of renovations and
preservation.
However, the tour guide said the
architectural design of the ancient palace
had been adopted in the construction of
the new palace down the valley. This
could be confirmed by an aerial view of
the new palace from the top of the hill.
At the courtyard are some dried skulls of
cattle slaughtered every year to
commemorate the anniversary of the
Idanre king. The number of skulls
represented the number of years a
particular king had spent on the throne.
“This place still holds great cultural value
to the people of Idanre. Any time they
want to perfect certain cultural rights,
either during festivals or coronation of
chiefs, the Idanre people will ascend the
top of the hill and return to their ancient
home,” the guide said.
The Orosun festival is a notable one
associated with the hill. The Mare festival
is a recent creation which is sports
oriented and involves mountain
climbing.
Idanre is no doubt an exciting tourist
site, with a potential to compete with
other national and international tourist
attractions across the world. The
historical sites still present there
underline this. However, it seems not
enough attention and appreciation has
been paid to Idanre Hill’s tourism
potential.
The tourism officer in charge of the site,
Mr. I. Idowu, said the site lacked the
basic infrastructure befitting a tourism
destination.
According to him, lack of perimeter
fencing and a welcoming facade reduces
its value as a tourism site.
“Whenever we have a large number of
people coming in, the community
benefits because the people buy
beverages from them. We are supposed
to have accommodation, restaurant, bar
and a car park. Then we can do a good
publicity for Idanre Hill. But these are
lacking for now,” he said.
Idowu’s lamentations are evident in the
dilapidated chalets, poorly kept
surroundings and littered environment
on the hill.