Eripa is a sleepy town in Osun State.
The town’s name asks a question, meaning: “ Did you succeed in killing it?” Killing what? Hold on, please. The myth of Eripa’s evolution is steeped in the communal self-preservation battle waged by the rocky town against a ghastly elephant that tormented the populace several years ago. This particular rogue elephant periodically escaped from the pit of hell, swooping on the town, destroying mortals and materials.
The lethality of Eripa’s elephant resided in the element of surprise with which it launched its attacks. Whenever the mammoth visited the community, it stomped “sorrow, tears and blood” along its path, galloping down the hills, disappearing into the greenery. Maybe, the murderous elephant would’ve been captured alive if Eripa warriors had collaborated with their invincible counterparts in the neighbouring land of the valiant, Igbajo, where palm wine is savoured in brass goblets. But Eripa warriors won’t share their glory with warriors from another land. Exasperated by the elephant’s impunity, one day, Eripa warriors converged and went after the male beast. At an age when the gun was alien, the warriors only had juju (oogun abenugongon), spears, daggers, machetes, clubs and their limbs to do battle. The red elephant (erin pupa) couldn’t contain its rage upon seeing the derring-do of the warriors. It came surging . But the warriors stood their ground in the intense battle. Blood flowed from men and animal. Eventually, the beast fell, men yelled in victory and the indigenes asked their returning warriors, ‘Eripa'? “Did you succeed in killing it?”
A prince of Eripa and retired lecturer at the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta, Dr Bade Adeyemo, said unity and collective will were key to the killing of the elephant.
Adieu, Eripa elephant.
Lesson: Unity is the foundation upon which any society or nation can be built.