So amazing it is to know that there
is a place in Nigeria where exists
the largest population of twins in
the world. This place is Igbo-ora ,
small village in Oyo State, south-
west Nigeria, more twins are born
in Igbo-Ora than anywhere else on
earth and that there are just few
households who do not have at
least one set of twins in their
family.


This has also been shown by birth
statistics which stated that there
are 158 twins per 1,000 births in
Igbo-Ora, while in Europe there are
five twins per 1,000 births. The
village of Igbo-Ora has become
popular all over the world for this
interesting occurrence. The people
of Igbo-Ora attribute the
predominance of twins in their land
to their indigenous Àmàlà and Ìlasà
meal. Àmàlà is a popular morsel
meal made from yam powder and
is popular within the SW region of
Nigeria, while Ìlasà is a special okro
soup indigenous to Igbo-ora
community.


According to medical director of the
local Olugbon Hospital, Rasak Tijani,
the delivery of twins in the local
community hospital is a routine
procedure. He also explains that,
although people in other local
government areas in the area eat
the same food as they do and have
the same culture and practice, yet
the rate of twinning is different.


However, consultant gynaecologist
Donald Imosemi at Nigeria’s biggest
medical institution, Lagos university
teaching hospital, believes that
food may indeed play a part.


Extensive studies on multiple births
have been conducted, showing that
yams contain the chemical
gonadotrophins, which helps
women produce multiple eggs.


However, one of the local residents
said that it was difficult to raise his
twins because they need twice as
much attention. “You’re now faced
with providing two things for two
people. So definitely you’re going to
spend so much for the two of
them. Nevertheless, Head Chief
Adeyemi believes that twins should
be worshipped. He believes that it
is a sort of honour to be called
“Baba or Iya Ibeji” (Father or
mother of twins) “because they are
a special breed from God.”


Although the people of Igbo-Ora
are very proud of their heritage
and are very welcoming to visitors,
however, they complain of low
tourist visitation to their community
to celebrate their twin children.

sources:

http://naijatreks.com/2013/10/visit-igboora-twins/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2253845.stm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/people/highlights/010607_twins.shtml

I strongly suspect its traceable to one or some genes. Perhaps this article "[url=]Do Yorubas Have an Origin Different from Other Africans[/url]" by Seun Ayoade has the clue.