Free Things To Do In Ogbomoso City
Ogbomosho is an old city founded in the 17th century under the Oyo monarchy in the southwestern parts of Nigeria. It is bordered to the north by Ilorin, Kwara State and to the South by Oyo town, Oyo State. Ogbomoso, because of her strategic location quickly grew from a village status to a medium size town. Her people were also renown warriors.The influx of people into Ogbomoso during the period of the Fulani wars of the 19th century enhanced the size and strength of the town.
The majority of the people residing in Ogbomosho are the Yoruba ethnic group. ?Agriculture is the mainstay of the city?s economy. Crops like Yam, Cassava, Maize, and Tobacco are some of the most significant agricultural products of the region. The main street in Ogbomosho is the Oyo-Ilorin road. Centers of attraction in Ogbomoso include; Ladoke Akintola University, Baptist Seminary, Central Mosque, King?s Palace and Egungun Festival. Ogbomoso has established itself as a major tourist attraction in Nigeria, especially with the presence of the 300-year old tortoise in the city, apart from that the city's standard of living is quite low compared to other cities in the country and thus there are several places you can visit as a tourist, even if you?re on a budget.
In the event that you visit Ogbomoso between November and April, attending the Egungun festival would be a great delight. The celebration is a very outdoorsy event so for those seeking to be around people and have fun at the same time. it's their best bet. The Egungun Festival is a 2-week event usually staged at public places, special places that have been set apart for such use. Egungun Festival, The festival which dates back to the 14th century, is a hybrid and diverse mode of ritual performance, dedicated to ancestor worship by the Yoruba people. The ritual performance is a highly corporate event that engages all members of the society, solely based on the belief that the dead are among the living. The invoking of the spirits by the Chief marks the beginning of this festival. Flamboyantly girded masquerade dance and gyrate in open spaces in this annual celebration so as to give the same effect of having a spirit being amongst the people. During the proceedings of the festival, the Egungun Masquerade is code.
This institution was started by an American missionary, Charles Edwin Smith. He wanted to help train preachers and thus created a class for them. In 1948, the Seminary was officially affiliated to the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, United States of America.
The central mosque Ogbomoso is a famous landmark in Ogbomoso town of Oyo State. The Central Mosque towers above the traditionally walled compounds of private houses and the parts of the old wall that remains.The architectural beauty of the old central mosque is amazing. The indigenes of this region take religion as seriously as their lives. ?If you?re a Muslim visiting Ogbomoso you can go to the community prayer ground to experience this deep level of devotion from these people, On the other hand, people from other religions can also visit the Central Mosque and admire the beautiful architectural aesthetics which is actually?striking.
This University popularly called LAUTECH was named after the former premier of old Western Nigeria, Samuel Ladoke Akintola. It was formed on April 23, 1990, and consequently named the best state university in 2003 and 2004. LAUTECH is a degree awarding institution with a focus on Engineering, Technology, Science, Medicine. The university enrolls 25,000 students and employs more than 3,000 people. Visitors are allowed to take a tour round the school, albeit the security personnel would have to be briefed about your purpose of being within the school premises.
Visiting the palace to see the great Ogbomoso tortoise is a great delight. The tortoise is called Alagba. It is a giant male land tortoise, that is believed to have lived an extraordinary 330 years. It is generally called the ?elderly one? in the palace. It is regarded as a sacrilege in Ogbomoso, to call Alagba a mere tortoise. It is regarded as the oldest animal in the world. Locals say Alaba was brought to the palace about three centuries ago, by Soun Ikumoyede. It is said that the animal weighs over a 100kg and it eats the food of three to four people each day as well as finishes a half bucket of water, which it takes once in three months. Its meals are prepared along with the people?s food in the palace. The animal has attracted lots of tourists from all over the world, with some of them wishing to carry the tortoise with them.
The majority of the people residing in Ogbomosho are the Yoruba ethnic group. ?Agriculture is the mainstay of the city?s economy. Crops like Yam, Cassava, Maize, and Tobacco are some of the most significant agricultural products of the region. The main street in Ogbomosho is the Oyo-Ilorin road. Centers of attraction in Ogbomoso include; Ladoke Akintola University, Baptist Seminary, Central Mosque, King?s Palace and Egungun Festival. Ogbomoso has established itself as a major tourist attraction in Nigeria, especially with the presence of the 300-year old tortoise in the city, apart from that the city's standard of living is quite low compared to other cities in the country and thus there are several places you can visit as a tourist, even if you?re on a budget.
Attend the Egungun Festival
In the event that you visit Ogbomoso between November and April, attending the Egungun festival would be a great delight. The celebration is a very outdoorsy event so for those seeking to be around people and have fun at the same time. it's their best bet. The Egungun Festival is a 2-week event usually staged at public places, special places that have been set apart for such use. Egungun Festival, The festival which dates back to the 14th century, is a hybrid and diverse mode of ritual performance, dedicated to ancestor worship by the Yoruba people. The ritual performance is a highly corporate event that engages all members of the society, solely based on the belief that the dead are among the living. The invoking of the spirits by the Chief marks the beginning of this festival. Flamboyantly girded masquerade dance and gyrate in open spaces in this annual celebration so as to give the same effect of having a spirit being amongst the people. During the proceedings of the festival, the Egungun Masquerade is code.
Visit the Baptist Seminary
This institution was started by an American missionary, Charles Edwin Smith. He wanted to help train preachers and thus created a class for them. In 1948, the Seminary was officially affiliated to the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, United States of America.
Stop by at the Central Mosque
The central mosque Ogbomoso is a famous landmark in Ogbomoso town of Oyo State. The Central Mosque towers above the traditionally walled compounds of private houses and the parts of the old wall that remains.The architectural beauty of the old central mosque is amazing. The indigenes of this region take religion as seriously as their lives. ?If you?re a Muslim visiting Ogbomoso you can go to the community prayer ground to experience this deep level of devotion from these people, On the other hand, people from other religions can also visit the Central Mosque and admire the beautiful architectural aesthetics which is actually?striking.
Take a Tour of Ladoke Akintola University
This University popularly called LAUTECH was named after the former premier of old Western Nigeria, Samuel Ladoke Akintola. It was formed on April 23, 1990, and consequently named the best state university in 2003 and 2004. LAUTECH is a degree awarding institution with a focus on Engineering, Technology, Science, Medicine. The university enrolls 25,000 students and employs more than 3,000 people. Visitors are allowed to take a tour round the school, albeit the security personnel would have to be briefed about your purpose of being within the school premises.
Visit the 300-year Old Tortoise at the Palace
Visiting the palace to see the great Ogbomoso tortoise is a great delight. The tortoise is called Alagba. It is a giant male land tortoise, that is believed to have lived an extraordinary 330 years. It is generally called the ?elderly one? in the palace. It is regarded as a sacrilege in Ogbomoso, to call Alagba a mere tortoise. It is regarded as the oldest animal in the world. Locals say Alaba was brought to the palace about three centuries ago, by Soun Ikumoyede. It is said that the animal weighs over a 100kg and it eats the food of three to four people each day as well as finishes a half bucket of water, which it takes once in three months. Its meals are prepared along with the people?s food in the palace. The animal has attracted lots of tourists from all over the world, with some of them wishing to carry the tortoise with them.