₦airaland Forum

koruji: @ndu_chucks
This news is not new. The story you posted is 23 years old (circa 1999).
It is your right to post it, but could have been labeled with the date to give readers context.

This story is new to me and most NLers. Whether the achaeological discovery was made this year or 30 years ago is irrelevant. I did not know about this story, saw it on twitter today, and posted it. shi ke na. I don't know what contextual value would have been added if I had stated that I just saw the story on twitter but it was first published in 1999.

If you can add to the story in any meaningful way, we'd appreciate it.

Not sure where to post this. This is a remarkable find.

A team of British scientists may have rediscovered the centre of one of Africa's greatest kingdoms - and the possible burial place of the legendary Queen of Sheba.


Dr Patrick Darling: "The locals believe the legend - and that's what's important"
Hidden in the Nigerian rainforest, the earthworks at Eredo are just a few hour's drive from Lagos.

The team from Bournemouth University, working with archaeologist Dr Patrick Darling, have completed a preliminary survey of the wall and ditch measuring 70ft high in places and around 100 miles long.


While not approaching the complexity of a project like the pyramids in Egypt, the builders would have shifted an estimated 3.5 million cubic metres of earth during construction of the ramparts.

This is one million cubic metres more than the amount of rock and earth used in the Great Pyramid at Giza.

The wall marks out what the believed boundary of the original Ijebu kingdom, ruled by the 'Awujale' spiritual leader.

Civil wars and the arrival of the British eventually broke the kingdom's centuries-old Lagos lagoon trade monopoly.
But the Awujale of the modern day town of Ijebu-Ode still holds a traditional position of responsibility.

Dr Darling, described the Eredo site as a breathtaking find with many of its remains relatively intact, though overgrown by the rainforest.


The Awujale: Link to Sheba?
"We are not linking what we found to a city, but to a vast kingdom boundary rampart," he told the BBC.

"The vertical sided ditches go around the area for 100 miles and it is more than 1,000 years old.

"That makes it the earliest proof of an kingdom founded in the African rainforest."

Love story

But more intriguing still is the suggested link to the Queen of Sheba, one of the world's oldest love stories.



According to the Old Testament, the Queen, ruler of Saba, sent a camel train of gold and ivory to King Solomon.

Solomon wooed and married the queen after she became overwhelmed by the splendour of his palace and their son began a dynasty of rulers in Ethiopia.

The Bible dates the queen's reign to the tenth century BC and modern scholars have speculated that a link between Judea and an ancient African queen led to the emergence of Judaism in Ethiopia.

In a tale closely linked to that in the Bible, the Koran describes the Queen as a sun worshipper based in the Arabian peninsula who was converted to Islam.

Arabian legend names the queen "Bilqis" and links her to the incense trade which was then a source of great regional power.

Bilikisu Sungbo

Lovers: Figures of legend...
But 500-year-old Portuguese documents hint at the power of an Ijebu kingdom and build the case for Sheba being on the other side of the continent.

Local people near to the Eredo monuments link the area to Bilikisu Sungbo, another name for Sheba, said Dr Darling.

Local tradition speaks of a great queen building a vast monument of remembrance and there is an annual pilgrimage to what is believed to be her grave.

The region's long history of gold and ivory trade and the cultural importance of eunuchs linked to royal households further support the Sheba link.


... and Hollywood film
"I don't want to overplay the Sheba theory, but it cannot be discounted," said Dr Darling.

"The local people believe it and that's what is important.

"Hundreds or thousands of pilgrims come to this area every year to honour what could be her grave, a magical shrine grove under tall trees.

"She's very much a real figure to local people. She is associated with the earlier figure of Bilikiso Sungbo, but I think the traditional figure was a powerful matriarch.

"The most cogent argument against it at the moment is the dating."

World heritage


The Pyramids: Could Nigeria find rival the great wonder?
Dr Darling, a member of the African Legacy educational organisation which is working with the Nigerian Government, said that Eredo could become Nigeria's first world heritage site, joining monuments like Stonehenge in the UK and the pyramids of Egypt.

He said Eredo had remained hidden to the outside world because of the lack of scientific and archaeological research in west Africa.

"What is exciting about this for me is that we are beginning to bring out the tremendous political and cultural achievements of black Africa," he said.

"But there is a lot more work that we can do in the region."

Source

I can authoritatively tell you people that there was no such declaration in Ogoniland and the Ogoni people are oblivious to this declaration.

This is only an internet affair. The perpetrators of this criminal provocation are currently being hunted down. May I also inform you people that the great Nigerian Army, Airforce, and Marines are ready to crush wayward rebels at a minute's notice. Those in doubt should ask the biafrans who are still suffering from their foolish attempt to secede.

@Beaf, BlackPikiN & other OAM4J critics, you people need to grow up and learn to follow rules instead of whining like kindergarten pupils. The mods are doing their best and it behooves you people not to expect perfection from them since you are not perfect either.

Have you ever wondered why you keep getting banned, and why the majority of the patrons of the Politics section do not have the same complaints you do? People like Dede1, Ndu_Chucks, or even olodo Onlytruth, who are just as opinionated as you people manage to respect the rules and do not get banned like you all. You need self examination. The mods are doing just fine.

What makes you people think that Dangote is personally responsible for paying the compensation? If anything, a corporate entity which is legally separate from the person of Dangote, may be accountable. I suspect that payments are slowed down because insurance companies have not yet paid up.

You people should stop maligning Dangote's reputation.

Sheikh Gumi does not fit the profile of suicide bombers and violent criminals which the usual suspects attribute to Islam, hence important news stories such as this will not be found in mainstream media.

A few extremists do not and cannot be allowed to define Islam, more Sheikh Gumis should speak up backed by the fire power of the Nigerian Army, Airforce, and Navy. We are at war.

GEJ!!!!! Please do your work. Suicide bombers who are ready to die will not think twice before lining up in the proximity of Aso Rock to fire these RPGs. 10 of them can do the same to NASS, you people are playing with fire.

The enemy has raided DIC in Kaduna several times to steal hundreds of RPGs, yet no heads rolled for the theft.

Kennyblues: President Goodluck Jonathan was quoted saying " Emancipation struggle is necessary so that one day the blackman will also be at the top and can dictate to the rest of the world"...GEJ

I thought a blackman is already at the top and can dictate to the rest of the world. abi Obama is now a Korean ni? GEJ needs a new PR crew.

To make matters worse, my brother in law don dey wait for money wey him go take start project since last year. If these fools release appropriated money, both my inlaw, his sister (my 3rd wife), and everybody go happy. Some of de money go trickle down sef. What nonesense!

[quote author=Frank-C]^^well, they don't fire ministers from NL or from ACN/CPC media war room.[/quote]why are you people so violent, is killing all you can think of?

The Minister explained that, “if you measure what’s been implemented over the entire budget you get 13.7%. But because we’re talking about 4months, the implementation is 41%”

This is an admission of blatant failure, whichever way you choose to interprete the statement. We are in August, they've implemented only 13.7% of the entire budget. That means only 13.7% of the infrastructural expenses have been disbursed and obviously less than 13.7% of the infrastructural development which we desperately need have been implemented to date for(2012).

The minister and her entire team need to be fired immediately.

CHESSBOARD: Shatapp, wetin concern u, parasitic agbaya

baba re, ati baba baba baba re, ni agba ya. egbe ndi biafrans lo ma fo e lori

deleted, due to Eze's foolishness

Frankly, the Ogonis are one of the most marginalized Nigerians followed very closely by the Almajiris. Their land has been decimated by pollution and unforgivable neglect. That said, they shouldn't have made this treasonous declaration.

Their leaders must be imprisoned right away.

Something tells me that that olodo Eze Onlytruth will arrive on this thread shortly.

Ranting of ants. Mtcheeeew

Eziachi: The same northerner you guys claimed voted for GEJ in their millions are now evil but not their vote?
You guys should surely make up your minds about this Boko Haram, because a week never pass without telling us who is behind them.
Jonathan said that he knew them and they are serving inside his government (please quote me wrong). Is IBB and Buhari part of his govt?
Another week you guys said its Atiku behind them, next its IBB, Buhari, El Rufai etc.

Meanwhile Jonathan's self appointed Bamanga Tukur said they are fighting for freedom and non of you wimpers any word. The new guys appointed by GEJ claimed to have their cellphone numbers.

And the so-called Boko Haram was there when Yar Adua was in charge but becomes deadly by taking advantage of a leader they can see that is weak, just like Ironsi before him wants to pacify everybody including his enemies because he loves to be in power instead of doing the right thing.

Clarke has always been a divisive figure and empty inconsistent tribal bigot. Where was he when MEND were introducing kidnapping, murder, bombing, which Boko Haram has now perfected?

^^^^ Thank you sir for always speaking the truth even when it is bitter

ifihearam: On a more serious note since they are faceless we expected their elders to run national service by exposing them so the government can apprehend or dialogue with them but alas what meaningful contribution have we gotten from IBB or Buhari,sentiments aside. Over to you.

I was disappointed to find out that you are naive enough to believe the story that those who have succeeded in killing thousands of Nigerians are faceless. How come the US government was able to identify their 2 top leaders and named them as terrorists, officially? If the government believes that some of the leaders in the North including IBB and Buhari are sympathizers of BH, is it not dumb to expect these same people to expose the BH leaders.

If the government has any evidence that any of the leaders are BH sponsors, why have they not arrested them yet? What is stopping the government from seeking the assistance of our friends abroad in smoking these faceless foes out? Gross incompetence I reckon.

^^^^ I rest my case

Beaf: I thank God for good upbringing that is lasting a lifetime, bruv. I am not for sale like you, and I'm happy that you can see it.
Please lets stay with the topic where your statements have been intellectually deleted. Don't allow the shame make you get personal.

Thank you.

Maradonna, playing victim ko?

Go and tell the birds that you are not thick skinned. Getting personal in a faceless forum is an oxymoron, olodo. I repost an excerp from my previous post and await you reaction, if you are bold.


Are you concerned that GEJ is not decisive enough to take overwhelming millitary action against BH or courageous enough to offer his own amnesty program? GEJ's weakness and inaction continues to cause the deaths of both civilians and Nigerian soldiers. I hope you are bothered by this - sentiments aside.

Beaf: Dicisive force my foot! After spending $3.3billion to arm JTF against the Niger Delta, what was achieved, but loss after loss in the creeks? After shutting down the oil supply, MEND even got bold enough to attack Lagos. It was in Yar Adua's interest to follow GEJ's way out, because it is obvious even to the most leather-headed clown that you will lose any war you fight with those who control your resources.

The decisive force mantra might work in the core-North (which doesn't drive the Nigerian economy and so, wouldn't be suicidal), by pushing Nigeria into full scale war, instead of the current shameless killing of women and children in churches by bitter politiians who lost the last elections. Then the enemy will be forced to show their faces in all out combat, instead of hiding in their womens wrappers to blow up kids.

Your childish maradonna dribbling methodology has never worked and will never work as far as I am concerned. You can debate the issue of the effectiveness of decisive force in the niger delta region all you want, but that is not the issue I raised. olodo

Please comment on my post appropriately, but if you are a tail-in-butt coward who would rather not call a spade a spade, when it is glaringly clear, I'll understand. I no go come beat you. In the meantime, I reproduce my question/comments below, react to it and humour NLers:

Are you concerned that GEJ is not decisive enough to take overwhelming millitary action against BH or courageous enough to offer his own amnesty program? GEJ's weakness and inaction continues to cause the deaths of both civilians and Nigerians. I hope you are bothered by this - sentiments aside.

Billyonaire: Welcome Wise One, May your days be long! A word, they say, is enough for the wise.

wiseone ko, unpaid goon ni. de boy na olodo desperately looking for NL moral supporters like you. He should be in Abuja seeking audience with Omokri or Omobiri whatever his name is, and get paid real money, instead of seeking unfruitful attention here.

ifihearam: GEJ as a vice president took the risk at the expense of his life to go into the creeks to salvage his people who where about to be slaughtered by yaradua and the meeting was a success which finally brought about the lasting peace in niger delta,

my question now is:why has buhari or IBB done thesameir is within the threshold of the president to unleash terror on all of you there but he is a reasonable man with considerate sense of sympathy for you but if buhari and his cohorts persists terror might be met with terror.
Thank you.

Your interesting question, is really a condemnation of GEJ's actions as CIC.If we are to believe your story, YarAdua was going to use decisive force to skew things in the favor of Nigerians and put the MEND terrorists out of business. You added that GEJ's intervention facilitated Yar'Adua's amnesty program which has brought about lasting peace.

Are you concerned that GEJ is not decisive enough to take overwhelming millitary action against BH or courageous enough to offer his own amnesty program? GEJ's weakness and inaction continues to cause the deaths of both civilians and Nigerians. I hope you are bothered by this - sentiments aside.

shymmex: ^^^^^Abami eda was the greatest!!!
America had 2pac Shakur!

abi you no be student of history ni or you be teenager? 2pac sha freaking kur try to look up Gil Scot Heron and listen to some of his lyrics before elevating 2pac like that.

Old man Clark is not only senile and deceptive, he fails to live by example. I was expecting the man to say that IBB abd Buhari should condemn BH just as he, Clark condemned MEND. olodo

This old coot, Edwin Clark should be daring GEJ to name the BH sponsors in his administration as he promised to do. Nonesense.

If facial beauty is all that is considered, this babe will not win because her facial beauty is on the average side. Her shape is average as well when compared to those of the remaining contestants. Lets hope she has other talents.

jude33084: Na now you know say na War? Yet some people still believe that it is politically motivated,

The commander in chief of the armed forces appears not to know that we are at war either. My people like to bury their heads in san sand.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/648223_rak_jpg3be10a689dcae3eda0158a90666e866e

Some people are jihadists and don't even now it. Manny4life comes to mind.

Onlytruth: hehehe! Couldn't add a damn thing!
But ndu_chucks, sometimes you come off quite normal and "progressive", and gullible folks can almost believe that you mean well.
Pray what makes you think that you are in any way better than either of these two men?

Eze m maramma, I'm always normal and progressive. It is your unfortunate case of acute paranoia and phobia of 'abokis' that has exacerbated your psychotic condition. Try to stay on course medication and you'll see the light.

My Yoruba people talk say, iwò yi laro t'arugbo nsukun ọmọ (na now be morning wey 89 year old woman dey cry say she won born pikin). Nonsense and ingredient!!!

manny4life: The chief of bigots amongst them all, both on/off NL has finally endorsed our thoughts. I'm glad you acknowledged that you Muslim folks are nothing short of Extremist, Terrorist, and Islamic Jihadist... Well, they can try it up north, not down south..

shatap dia!! There are extremists on both sides and we must condemn them all. If you are doubtful, please read up on the crusaders and see how many were killed in the name of religion.

Bigoted posters are attacking Islam in the most offensive manner. These kinds of insult are why the extremists among Muslims blow you people to smitterines. May Allah/God deliver you people