It may sound strange, but it is real! In Iwoye-Ketu, a border town in Imeko/Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State, the use of umbrella is not only forbidden, it is considered a taboo.
Under no circumstance; whether it is drizzling, raining heavily or even under the scorching sun, should any living being spread an umbrella over his or her head without incurring the wrath of “Orisa Nla”, one of the town’s revered deities.
The traditional ruler of Iwoye, Oba Joel Ademola Aremu and the Oluwo, Chief Adesina Adejumo during an interview with the Sunday Sun said grievous consequences await anyone, whether male or female, native or stranger who flouts the law.
His words: “The use of umbrella as a shield, during the rainy or dry season or any occasion for that matter is forbidden here (Iwoye-Ketu). There are grievous consequences for anyone flouting this order,” Oba Aremu warned.
According to him, “the use of umbrella is not just a big offence, but an abomination and effrontery against one of our revered deities.”
He added: “A stranger to Iwoye cannot even make the mistake of using umbrella without incurring the wrath of our ancestors because somehow, he or she would have been forewarned before he got here.”
Sunday Sun also gathered that aside from umbrella, it is also forbidden to rear pigs in Iwoye-Ketu, an agrarian community with expanse of land which hosts the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, FUNAAB.
Oba Aremu explained that the two taboos were meant to ensure tranquility and peaceful co-existence among the people, whether natives or strangers in the area.
On his part, Chief Adejumo said: “It may sound strange, but that is what happens here; we inherited it from our forefathers and we have been jealously respecting the culture; guarding against the taboo so as to ensure harmony and peace in our town.”
Asked what would happen if a stranger contravened the agelong tradition, the Ooye said: “I don’t know how it has been happening, but one good thing about this town is that no person, whether stranger or not has ever contravened the tradition.”
“But what are the consequences for a son or daughter of Iwoye-Ketu who uses umbrella outside the town?” Oba Aremu was prodded and he responded this way: “Nothing untold will happen to such a person or group of persons
“Even as I am talking to you, I have umbrella in my car which I use outside my domain because of our age-long customs which forbid its use here (Iwoye-Ketu). As a native of this town, who lives outside Iwoye-Ketu, you can use umbrella anywhere, anytime, any day without incurring the wrath of our ancestors. What is forbidden is for anyone, whether native or not to use umbrella within what is today known as Iwoye”.
He also disclosed that the use of umbrella is forbidden in other few communities outside his domain where “Orisa Nla” is worshipped.
“This taboo does not preclude our sons and daughters from being members of a party that has umbrella as its logo. What is forbidden is that such a party can’t come here during its campaign and spread its symbol as it normally does anywhere it goes.
Historically, Sunday Sun gathered that Iwoye-Ketu produced the first and the second Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland. Aside from the age-long taboos, Iwoye is also a tourist centre. In this town, it is common to find many buildings with their frontage in Nigeria, but their backyard or sitting rooms in the Republic of Benin.
In this town, a woman can be cooking and send her ward or child on an errand to Benin Republic to procure necessary ingredients like, seasonings, salt or palm oil for the delicacy to Benin Republic.
Sunday Sun observed that but for the demarcation pillar erected conspicuously within the town, it would be difficult for any visitor to know that he’s still in Nigeria or Republic of Benin.
It was also noticed that both the Nigerian currency, Naira and CFA, the legal tender of the Republic of Benin are freely exchanged in Iwoye-Ketu
Imported materials such as, wine, perfume, vehicle tyres and rice are in abundant supply in this unique Yoruba historical town.
Culled
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