Trip to Ogidi-A paradise in the wild
Hey đź‘‹
Happy New Year!!!Hivers!!!
How time fly quick and the fun is paused quick. We’ve passed the year 2021 of hurtful memories I won’t lie and also come with a fun time to be honest. I guess it’s true what they say, to every occasion there’s a good and bad side, while I focus more on the good side and learn from the bad ills, I find peace in the this habits which was the reason I decided to take a trip to my home town.
On this trip I discovered a lot and I must say something discovered me as well; Nature. All the beauties I meet there gave me a different perception about life in general.
The Journey
A day after Christmas celebration 26th I traveled to a place called Ogidi in Nigeria’s middle belt region a Yoruba tribe speaking community with a special dialect called “Ede”. Ogidi is an enclosed settlement which is surrounded by high rocky hills, just like the cavemen of the ancient days, ahaha. As I took my journey on this 4 hours drive, I could not help but wonder how well my hometown is changed, hmm! It’s still in existence I said to myself and I really wished for a great time. After several drops at Bustop, I finally took an “okada” (a commercial motorcycle rider) which dropped me in front of the compound, woah I finally arrived after few hours and even tho I was tired, I could not wait to get sightseeing so I got in my flipflops and I must confess that evening was an amazing.
Ogidi
A well planned settlement by good creator you can say, surrounded by hills and high rocky uplands with flat and steep tops/edges. A town known for farming and textiles designs with arts as its founding roots, where it is believed that ancestors found this sacred place when they took the journey from Ile-Ife in search of a greener pastures, but when the Fulani Scholar Islamic Usman dan-fodio war started, they were forced to hide within caves and behind rocks while the warriorswent out to defend the fighting from the top of the rock by throwing hardrcoks and other materials from there. What a clever way to fight. After the war, some of them returned back from the compulsory exile and started to build the ruins left. It is believed that some still live in the caves till now and far deep in the rocky forest living with Bamboos and chimps.
The culture and traditions are still held in high esteem even with the advent of Islam and Christianity. The people of Ogidi hold greeting in high esteem as they can stand for mintue3s just greeting on their bended kneels, I couldn’t keep up with the lengthy greetings lol. The ways “Asa” and customs “olukede” of the ogidi people for hospitality still remains top notch as I could get food especially pounded yam (a special dish) from anyone for free; cool.
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My Tour
I had a couple of places to visit especially ontop of the rocks, and since I had no tour guide I toured myself.
Visit to the Nike Art Gallery: the Nike Art Gallery is a cultural place where all the good stuff concerning Art is made and displayed place. She a great textile artist was able to carve a name for herself which makes her one of the leading individuals in art in culture in Nigeria and Africa at large (visit her IG page: @nikeartgallery (blueticked) for amazing photos too. And every 31st of December, she organizes a carnival but unfortunately I couldn’t attend because I had to travel back.
I will be posting a 3speak video about my time on the top of the hill but for now serenate on these wonderful shots I took while up there.
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