2022 World Twins Day Festival

According to history, In some parts of Nigeria long time ago, twins were regarded as evil and were been killed. Some communities regard twins or multiple birth as bad omen. Whenever a woman give birth to twins or have multiple birth, the children were been killed or dumped in the forest where they eventually die. This culture existed until the 19th Century when a Female Scottish missionary, Mary Slessor came to Nigeria, Calabar presisely where twin children were believed to harbor evil spirit. She saw this culture and wasn't please with it because she was a lover of children and women. So she helped them fight for their rights to life. She and few others in the state who believed this practice was wrong and barbaric fought fearlessly and saved over a hundred set of twins among the Efik tribe then. This mark the beginning of the event which led to the ban of the killing of twins in Nigeria. Imagine the number of innocent children that have died to the ignorance of cultural practice in the past.

Yoruba tribe in Nigeria is said to have the highest number of twins in the world. A little town in Oyo, Igbo-ora has been nicknamed "Twins capital of the world" and "Nation home of twins" due to high rates of multiple birth in the community. Virtually, every family in the community has at least a set of twins from grand parents to grandchildren. In some cases, all the members of the family are products of multiple births. Although the cause of this unusual high rates of twins and other multiple births in the community has not been proven scientifically, they believe it was due to some kindness of a woman who happens to be a mother of twins in the olden days. I couldn't get more explanations on that because of the bustle around.

This community started celebrating their twins twelve years ago. A festival is been held every october on the global twins day to celebrate twins and other multiple births. This year's twins festival was tagged 2022 world twins festival day with the slogan " ....Celebrating the uniqueness in multiple births ". It took place on 8th of October 2022 at Methodist grammar school arena, Igbo-ora, Oyo state. The festival this year came with lots of fun and merryment. The program includes cultural dances, award and prize giving, teaching of morals and history and speech from dignitaries across the world.

Prominent rulers from neighboring communities were present.People came from far and near. Dignitaries from all over Nigeria and neighbouring countries were also present. It was rumoured that some French citizens were also present at the occasion but I didn't set my eyes on them because I was late to the festival.The governor of the state, Engineer Seyi Makinde was also present at the occasion. He promised to flag off his next campaign in the community. He also promised to develop the community and make it worthy of tourism by constructing good roads and building infrastructures in the community.

[Source: All pictures shot by me]

It was fun being there. I saw many set of twins both old and young and almost all the twins are identical regardless of their gender. Almost everyone came in pairs with different matching outfits. I have seen twins severally but not in large number. I tried counting to get their total number but I retired at a little over three hundred counts. There were many twins and triplets present at the occasion. Another amazing thing I saw there was couple twins. It was difficult to differenciate between some couples and real twins because of their much resemblance in their different beautiful matching outfits. People look almost the same. It was a beautiful experience.The sight of them made me wish I was a twin. I wish to get married to a twin someday so that I can have twin children.

Indeed, multiple births are unique, beautiful and are special gifts from God. If you have any twins or triplets around you, treat them well, revere and respect them. They are special beings and blessings to the world.

Thanks for your time.