Photos : Magic river, school, on 'magical' hill in Nigeria

Many Nigerians would have sworn that they have heard about the magnificent Idanre Hills in Ondo state, southwestern Nigeria.

Not only have some been there before, they have also witnessed the wonders of nature on this gigantic Nigerian peak, but not many can boast of totally completing the tasks on this mountain.




The features on this peak, one of the highest in Africa, are totally endless. Apart from the fact that there are about 660 steps before reaching the top of the hill, there is a jungle on the mountain, incredible!

Inside this jungle lies a whole community which is today known as the old Idanre, housing everything a normal community would have been proud to possess.

It was revealed that the community surrounded by gigantic rocks was built following the civilization of the locals, and our correspondents who visited were informed that the name is not Idanre as it is being widely called. Rather, it is known as “Idan re” , a Yoruba expression for

“This is magic!”

Idanre is surrounded by towns like Akure, Ondo, Ifedore, Ala, among several other towns, and the occupants’ major occupation is farming.

Mr Paul, our very helpful tour guide, said: “We also celebrate a festival here once in a year, when all indigenes of Idanre come up the hill via a rope pegged from one rock to another.”

Speaking also on one of the important and delicate features of the hill, the tour guide explained how in February, the people of Idanre celebrated a festival of A golden crown.

He explained that the present monarch of the town must come up the hill to wear the crown,
“and will dance from a spot here to the other.

“While he is dancing, the crown on his head will be expanding until it reaches the size of his body and stroll down. Before the crown touches the ground (which is a taboo), the drumming changes and the crown starts coming back up the king’s head, until it assumes its original shape.

“There is a man on this mountain known as the Lorin, he is the custodian of the whole mountain. No matter how far he travels, he must come back here to sleep because he is the demi-god of the mountain.

“You do not wear clothes into his house (which he showed our correspondents) and you also cannot enter the hut uninvited. You can not also wear shoes into his place, that is how powerful he is. He is one of the revered people in the whole community, both in the old and new Idanre.”
Below are some pictures  to show the magic on the mountain: