Any one Visiting Abeokuta city without branching at olumo rock which is the fortress of Abeokuta have made an incompleted journey. It was not surprising that this beautiful rock is been situated in Abeokuta, because Abeokuta is been known in English as “under the rock”. To the egba land people, this olumo rock has served to be a rock of offense and a fortress to them, even over 19th century. You will be able to view lot of attracting things in olumo rock such as the rock gardens, the broken pathways, unusual trees and so on which you wont be planning to miss.
The rock is 137 meters high which is somehow easier to climb. In fact, there are artificial stairs which were been craved by men into the rock, which will make climbing easy for visitors even the less fit ones. Likewise elevator is available which will want to take you to the apex of the rock, but the elevator is not free.
History
As the news of the Ilaris death reach the Alafin, He didn’t waste any time in releasing his army to demolish the Egba but Lisabi was already prepared for them by making plan for his own army of vengeance and Egbas freedom was seal from Alafin bondage. In 1829, the then Egba balogun, who is called Lamodi of Igbehin, was staying in Maye’s Camp ground in Ibadan, make the decision that Egba people should look for a way of escaping from the bondage of Maye. Abeokuta have been heard of by the Egba earlier on when they were looking for a good security place to live in so they Baamokun of Ilugun which is Chief Sobookun and some other people to go and bring a handful earth and the outcome was favorable. It was been made known in the history that the Egbas didn’t arrive in Abeokuta at the same exact time. The first to arrive are the Egba Alake, the Oke Ona and the Gbagura respectively. Later the Owu were been led to Abeokuta by Olufakun and others followed. The leadership mantle was handed over to Sodoke by Lamodi who die trying to save his first son from the hand of the Maye army. In 1830, finally bring the Egbas to Abeokuta. It was made known to them that there was a chief called Idowu Liperu who have been living in the place before their arrival, he had settled on a farmland after crossing the River Ogun with three other hunters in person of Jibulu, Ose and Olunle who joined him.
The Olumo rock have been a source of safety for the Egba people during the inter-tribal wars, the rock serves as fortress for the people in defending their new habitat and as well serves as a viewpoint in supervising their enemy move which lead to their triumph in the war.
Best Olumo Rock Visitation Time
The best time to pay a visit to the Olumo Rock is around the month of March which serves as the dry season and this will also give you the opportunity in enjoying razzle of their festivals (both Olumo and Lisabi festival) which do happen at the Rock of Olumo.
Things you can do at Olumo Rock
Those who engage in visiting the Olumo Rock usually have different interesting activities they engage themselves into, a tour guide is always available who is good in the history of Olumo rock and also the people culture in showing you around the places which will be of interest to you. In case you visit Olumo rock, make sure you start from the stairs which was carved into the rock. Climb the uneven sized rocks which is on the narrow passage leading to the rock top. You can enjoy the view of the cowrie statues, the rock cravings and also greet the 131- years old priestesses who lives under the rock.
