There are some journeys in life that remain unforgettable, not because of how far you traveled in life, but because of how deeply they touched you. My first experience in Abeokuta, Ogun State was tantalizing, I still have that memory in my heart.
Abeokuta! Abeokuta!! is often called the “City under the Rock” as the name implies, just because of the famous Olumo Rock that watches over the town. I remember standing at the foot of that rock, looking up, and feeling inspired. When Climbing the rock, it wasn’t just an adventure, it felt like walking through history, knowing that this rock once served as a refuge for people during wars. The rock served as protector for the people of Abeokuta then when there was great war, when l visited the "Olumo" rock, the story was narrated to us by Old women who stays there who knew history.
What caught my attention mostly, was the warmth of the people. Everywhere I turned, there was a smile, a greeting, or a story waiting to be told. There is a popular Market in Abeokuta known as Lafenwa Market, there is nothing you want to buy there that you won't get there like Food Stuffs, Clothes, Kitchen Utensil E.T.C. I could hear the rhythm of traders calling out, the aroma of local delicacies filling the air, and the colorful fabrics dancing in the wind. It was noisy, vibrant, and yet so full of life.
Moreover, another part of Abeokuta that amazed me was its blend of tradition and progress, l mean the way they speak their dialect (like Aaareee, baawaa and so on) and that is the reason why they called Egba reeewa (Abeokuta).
l could see old buildings standing proudly beside modern structures, a reminder that growth doesn’t have to erase heritage. It was like watching the past and the present shake hands. The Abeokuta people, their main work is "ADIRE", they are good in dyeing clothing and weaving it to Adire form; their main headquarter for production Adire is "lTOKU MARKET", its a very popular market.
My First experience in Abeokuta, Looking back wasn’t just about seeing a new city, because Abeokuta has developed rapidly with a lots of Fly overs Bridge across the city where Cars, Bike passed without any form of traffic jam just like Lagos State congested with a lots of traffic jam spending a lots of hours there but there is nothing like that in Abeokuta. To be Frank, the atmosphere was comfortable for me, feeling connected to a history, a people, and a culture bigger than myself.