₦airaland Forum

olyrayy:
Cool. You appear quite intelligent. That's hard to find nowadays with other babes clicking on Instagram. Does your website have an email signup form? I want to be a regular reader. I don't do social media.

No, but you can bookmark for now. Thanks a lot.

bigclem22:
I advice u get a good phone with good camera before u spend money on ur next trip

I'm saving the money for it

TIDDOLL:
Nice one Bbsharon..

You still need a boogie boogie boot though.

Lol... Yes, thanks I would when money comes.

pinkcottoncandy:
Cocoa farm or cave

You jus want to show ur face and sell your market on nairaland shebi?

Yes, sell my blog content.

qanda:
Well done and thank you for sharing.

Thanks

daveP:
Bbsharon, are you still in Ado?


Guess u love daring task. noticed for quite a while.

No, left already.

Ayoslimzy:
Nice one op

Thanks

mhisbliss:
I'd love to do this too, travel around Nigeria and write about it, but the fear of skull mining, once chance robbers and ritualists, rapists on the prowl, infact Nigeria as a country is what I'm worried about.

You have to overcome those fears somehow somehow. At least one thing will have to kill a man.

Icon79:
Thanks for sharing, Sharon.


O pari

You are welcome

Kunlesina:
The world is devoid of true journalism, Iyin Ekiti is my home country and I know Esa cave very well.That's not d picture.
Esa cave is an "untaped"place of tourist attraction in Ekiti State.

You've been there?? I was directed to this place by an elderly man in the town. I did not just go to take pictures for posting sake. I also saw a documentary on YouTube channel on the place and it's same place I visited.

babtoundey:
This is impressive OP. Maybe one day, I will be able to embark on adventures as this.

Thank you so much.

lx3as:
Very nice OP.

However, the account was not completed, the wars were mainly with the Bini forces on one hand and Ibadan forces on the other hand; and these happened before 1895. Iyin warriors did not live in Esa caves but the Aged, Women and children and the place stocked with food. Iyin forces would rather fight to finish than lose a war; the 'Odun Opa' was created to instill toughness and perseverance in every age group from Eso, Origbo, Egiri, Agba-akin, etc. The four Quarters and sub-quarters of Iyin have different war chiefs being led by Saruku, Oisangan, Oisa, Balogun, etc. They are all being led by a General called Saribi. Iyin warriors were well organised and sometimes, the Oluyin, the king followed 'Omo Owas' to war. Two kings were captured by Ibadan but one was ransomed and came back to Iyin....

Iyin only had base around Ureje to join Ado forces against Ikere that was backed by temporary Bini forces in Akure and Ikere. The four Quarters of Iyin were not really together because of her wars until 1950.
In those days, the cave could house all Iyin people and more.

I don't know why the cave's mouth is still being closed; the ancient guides: a leopard and some rock pythons should be dead by now (don't even believe there are those animals there but to scare children away from entering the cave then).

Wow... Thanks for this. I got my own narration from the man at the farm. I didn't even get all this information you stated here online. Thanks for this insight.

Gengetiele:
I don't know that somewhere like this is in my village.
It should be after odoro...

It is before you get to Ado.

chatom143:
Ekiti State should be one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country and also as a means of generating IGR for the state, but our government is playing politics with everything.

It should and can be if the focus is made right.

EdoNation:
interesting

NwanyiAwkaetiti:
Impressive.

Thanks.

Treasure17:
Pictures from your adventure Bb.

I just uploaded.

Well I did no go through any of that process. I got to the town and interacted with the locals I met at the park and related to them my intention. One of them directed a bike man to take me to the site. There I met an aged man, by name Baba Bose whose cocoa and palm-tree farm is located close to the cave. He has just finished work for the day and was gathering his cocoa pods to go home. I greeted Baba Bose and told him of my intentions to find out about the cave and it's history. He was glad to see a young lady interested in the story of his town. So he was the one who related the story to me while I jotted down.

Baba Bose at the farm showing me around.

There is an orange tree also around the farm and I decided to take one and relax before leaving.


Full story on my blog @ ;
https://www.demitalks.com/2019/02/01/my-visit-to-the-ancient-esa-cave-iyin-ekiti/

For now the entrance is closed and blocked deliberately with a giant rock to avoid entering or trespassing. Also, because it is believed to harbor wild animals that only skilled hunters can capture. Which have to be hunted from a safe distance on top the rock. To get to the top of the mountain, there is a wiggled tree to climb through. Which if one is not fit or well balanced can lead to a serious accident.

The site is meant to be an advanced tourist centre but unfortunately it can even go unnoticed as nothing makes it look special from just viewing it except the story behind it. I got to know there is a guide assigned to the site, an 82years old village chief whose forefathers were believed to have been the first dwellers of the cave. For him to guide you here you have to first go to the Oba's palace, bring a signed letter, and have some agreement before being led to the cave.

The farmer's cocoa pods at the foot of the cave.

Full story on my blog @ ;
https://www.demitalks.com/2019/02/01/my-visit-to-the-ancient-esa-cave-iyin-ekiti/

The cave has an age long history of having been the safe harbor for the Iyin and Ado-Ekiti warriors during the inter-township fight with the Ikere-Ekiti people of Ekiti state. The warriors and the people would run to the cave for safety till the land is restored back to normalcy. On the long run many of the people decided to stay back and live in the cave instead than running about anytime there is a war. Gradually a lot of Iyin Ekiti people abandoned their main town and started living in the cave till about the 1930's when few of them begin to return back to their town. The cave has a capacity of about 35,000 people at a time.

The farmer's resting place and the little village around the site.

Full story on my blog @ ;
https://www.demitalks.com/2019/02/01/my-visit-to-the-ancient-esa-cave-iyin-ekiti/

At the entrance of the ancient Esa cave magnificently sitted at the outskirt of Iyin-Ekiti. Located about 3 kilometres from Iyin Ekiti and 6 kilometres from Ado-Ekiti, the state capital of Ekiti State, Nigeria.


I actually did not plan on visiting this site on my way to Ado Ekiti. I had plan to go to somewhere else at Ilupeju Ekiti, unfortunately, things did not go well as I planed as I was not given good access to my site of visit. So, on my way back I checked google and I saw the Esa cave as part of the historical place to visit when you are around Ekiti state. So I visited.

The entrance of the cave...


Full story on my blog @ ;
https://www.demitalks.com/2019/02/01/my-visit-to-the-ancient-esa-cave-iyin-ekiti/

Ayoslimzy:
Atlas one reasonable post on NL
@OP you made my day

Thank you.

TheAlchemist:
thanks for sharing your experience you truly must have a brave heart. I am too superstitious to try such an adventure.

A youtube video contrasting your day and night experience at this mystical forest igbo olodumare would be frighteningly epic.

This is another angle... I have some videos though and will upload them on my YouTube page much later.

Psalmologi:
I love your spirit, you will make a very good researcher. It's been a while I read the two books, Soyinka and Fagunwa's respective version but this sojourn of your is bringing back those memories in a speed of light. You only live once, explore while you still have the vibe. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks

alfredilly:
D.O Fagunwa. His book predated the emergence of literary icon in Nigeria. Wole Soyinka and other read him as school pupils. His style, though in Yoruba, is similar to legendary epic book such as Harry Porter, Odesius, and Lord of the rings that has found way to movies. The source of his inspiration and power of imagination still remain a mystery to many.

I believe the man was mystically inspired to write those books

sparog:
Beautiful


I'll love to visit that forest one day


Good work @Op and I must confess you look very beautiful

Thanks. You should

Godsgal:
wow. I salute ur courage o. cos u have plenty of it to have made such moves.

I only pray its not the mystical Python that drew u back to the place the second time.

Lol... No.

able1993:
This is quite impressive, I love this so much, keep doing the great works, you will one day get the attention of those that love these, however, it is sojourn and not sujourn.....

Thanks

[quote author=oluwasegun007 post=74590299]Very educative...
Am sure you love adventure.
You're pretty as well... /quote]
Thanks.

bunlizlaw:
You are brave

Thanks

ademijuwonlo:
lovely scenery !

Thanks

moscobabs:
So the characters in the book are real. Thank you op

You are welcome.

Jackossky:
I think I like the way you write. Kudos

Thanks

Abmalcom:
Good adventure
Interesting naratives!

Thanks. All you mentioned duly noted.

moscobabs:
Thank sir, I was confused when the op was bringing Igbo olodumare characters into Igboju ode ninu Igbo irunmole.

But its nice adventure sa. Op pls give me address to this village will like to spend my next vacation here thank u

The forest is in Oke Igbo town off Ife-Ondo road in Ondo State.

toby2:
pls can you send me the soft copy of the books? i have been looking for it everywhere online
tobinco55@yahoo.com

I have just the soft copy of one but not in Yoruba. The translated version by Professor Soyinka. You can search and download that online.

internetpo:
Fasinating.
I would like to read that book but I can't read Yoruba. Anyway to get d woke Soyinka translated version?

You can search and download it online

shakmati:
You dont have respect ooo! See as you put hand ontop Baba head!

kachi19:
Baba is too busy now to be slapping people

Why do I feel like I know this person, Kachy well-done o [quote author= post=74581978]BEAUTIFUL scene.......[/quote]Thanks

Funnyman:
interesting

Thanks