Hey loves we’ve got another travel post! *Does a happy dance*
ETP X Olumo Rock
Modupe Ojelabi, Opeyemi Olatunde & ETP
So I’m in Abeokuta for a couple weeks and I thought I just had to visit the famous rock that gave the name to the state capital, at least according to the tour guide anyways lol. It was my friend Opeyemi Olatunde’s birthday so she organized a little trip to the Rock – thank you darling!!
The Birthday Girl!
So we pulled up at the huge gate and we met a woman selling street food – but it wasn’t the usual boli (roasted plantain), she sold ofada rice! So we got some chow in take away packs and proceeded to pay for entry.
It cost us N700 each (apparently it used to be N500) and to be able to use a digital camera in the venue you’d have to pay N1000 – more than the cost of entering as a human lol. I put my Nikon away and was content with my phone camera. 😂
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e proceeded to take a couple photos and then began climbing to level 1 - it was 120 high steps and I felt like I had done 100 squats by the time we reached level 1 Lool. The tour guide told us about the tree that was there, it was called Pansheke and had an interesting looking plant. We were already thirsty so we bought drinks, which we soon realized was going to be available at each level of the rock, talk about strategic positioning 😂
View from Level 1 (Featuring Modupe Ojelabi) Next we proceeded to the shrine (I was praying over us lol) and we were told that the Olumo Rock worshippers sacrifice a black cow there every 5th of August, as it’s believed to be the reason why there has been no casualty among the Rock’s visitors. Also, there’s a part that had dripping water and it’s believed to have “healing powers” which herbalists use in their concoctions.
Moving up we saw the part of the rock where the ancient Egba people used as a shelter during the Egba Vs Benin Republic War; they apparently used to cook their foods (pound yam, grind egusi (melon seeds) and pepper) in holes in the ground of the rock!
folklore states that when the Egba people were asked where they were during the war they said “Abe Okuta” which translates to “Under the Rock” – and it’s believed that’s how the state capital got its name!
The Holes where the Egba People grounded their foodstuffs.
Now we can say we’ve been to “Abe-Okuta” Next we climbed a very rocky terrain (before this we had been climbing steps) to reach level 2 where we saw the statues of the first king – Ogunkenu*, A strong warrior, Agagala* – the man who called the Egba people to hide under the rock, Madam Tinubu – the only female figure there and Sodenke* – the first Balogun of Egba land.
The rocks were so tricky to climb! Hands were needed to support oneself 
But we made it!!
Even Feyikemi (front) who was super anxious the whole time we were climbing lol And then finally finally, we reached the top!
Feyikemi thanking God for getting to the top successfully
It stands at an impressive 137 meters above sea level! The climbing was actually so much fun I must say – and the photos from the top were so cool! Just look let me not talk too much haha:
I’d definitely suggest visiting Olumo Rock to anyone that goes to Abeokuta! It’s a great experience – especially being right at the top 🙂
Till next time,
ETP xo
