Thousands of Twins stormed Igbo-Ora for the 2021 edition of the World Twins Festival which was celebrated with Glitz and Glamour on Saturday, October 9, 2021 for the grand finale at Igbo-Ora, Oyo State. The festival which was established to celebrate the uniqueness in multiple births marked the fourth edition in its rebranded series at the World Twins Capital, Igbo-Ora with the theme ‘Twinning for Global Medical Breakthrough’.
The historical town of Igbo-Ora that is renowned for having the world highest concentration of living multiple births was alive over the weekends as it attracted dignitaries from all walks of life to celebrate with the unique beings at the festival aimed at celebrating the multifunctional international heritage of the town that is most prominent with multiple births with record of twins in virtually every household in the community.
The one week long festival which was put together by Twins World Creations in conjunction with the entire Igbo-Ora Community has twins of different classes, tribes, ages and sexes in their large numbers in colourful attires at the festival. In Yoruba land, Twins are often referred to as ‘Oba Omo’ literally meaning “King of other children” and this connotes why they receive so much respect and honours in the society.
According to His Imperial Majesty, Oba Dr. Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo who expresses his joy at the festival, said it is a great pride and blessing that all over the world, it is in Yoruba land that we have the world highest concentration of Twins. The Royal father added that other Nations with high numbers of twins include China and Brazil but are not as prominent at what we have here at Igbo-Ora.
The first class monarch who is also the life grand patron of the festival also emphasized his gladness that the Almighty blessings of goodluck as having the world ‘First’ with the multiple births. He prayed for blessings for the twins, their parents, lovers of twins, the entire Nation and the world at large.
The Special guest of honour at the festival, Chief Okikiola Olusegun Obasanjo (GCFR), the Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, who was represented by his wife Chief Mrs Bola Obasanjo who doubles as the mother of the day, expressed her happiness in associating with the festival. Also, said Chief Obasanjo sends in his greetings and would have loved to be at the festival as a father of Twins but was attending to another assignment outside the country.
According to her, “this is unique; the festival can attract tourists to our country which will help our economy to grow”. She therefore calls for supports from government and corporate organizations for the festival.
In his address, The Olu of Igbo-Ora, Oba Jimoh Olajide Titiloye said “in Igbo-Ora, there is no household without twins or other multiples. This phenomenon has been associated with so many things but the most important is the blessings and favour of Almighty God on our town; the people, the water, the soil and the environment are all blessed”.
Meanwhile, the Ibadan Oyo State born twin ambassadors and festival facilitators, Taiwo and kehinde Oguntoye in their joint address stated that the festival happens every second weekends of the month of October annually and attracts dignitaries on a pilgrimage tagged ‘Twins Pilgrimage’ to the land of twins. They further said that “Leveraging on the successes recorded at the previous editions which staged the World Largest gathering of Twins (Multiple births) on Saturday, 12th October, 2019 with 3,200 and on Saturday, 13th October, 2018 with 2,034 sets of twins in attendance respectively. Last year editon of the festival was a mini-celebration due to the ravaging global covid -19 pandemic as we are optimistic that this year festival is just a tip of the bigger picture of what to expect in the coming year 2022 when all components of the festival will be included.
According to the Oguntoye Twins, “The birth of twins and multiple births is a blessing and has in some ways reduced the rate of maternal mortality, however, there are some associated challenges that occurs during the formation in the womb and one of the prominence is having twins conjoined. This is one of our premises to celebrate one of our medical breakthroughs as it relates to multiple births.
“The twin brothers also known as The Most Famous Twins in African Tourism, futher said “Today, we are celebrating the medical team that separated the coinjoined twins at National Hospital Abuja in year 2020 which was a major medical breakthrough for us as a Nation of multiple births. Also, we are showcasing to the World our uniqueness in well packaged cultural contents. We hereby call on all and sundry to support our drive to celebrate multiple births as a unique creation of God . Also, we seek that all hands must be on deck to ensure that the United Nations (UN) passes a resolution to declare a day for the celebration of Multiple Births as ‘World Multiple Births Day’”, they concluded.
At the festival arena, the Obasekore Twin Sisters who can’t hold their joy as it was their first time in Igbo-Ora land and attending the event. They however expressed their excitement with the fun at the festival and promised never to miss subsequent editions. The duo who hailed from Oyo town said they were happy to see the Alaafin physically for the first time. Also, the Ogunshola Taiwo and Kehinde who travelled down from Ilorin, kwara State to attend the festival said even though they have always done things together and have not being separated but only the NYSC that separated them for the first time.
However, the opportunity to see thousands of twins at the festival has accorded them the privilege to appreciate their uniqueness the more. In their own words, the Ibitoye Twin sisters who came in from Ikire in Osun State said they have taken enough pictures but they are still tempted to take more pictures with their likes. Also, the Oshigbo Twin brothers from Ikale Okiti Pupa in Ondo State said they appreciate the organizers for the great work of bringing the twins together and also appreciate the Kings for supporting this festival. The Igbo-Ora born Mojeed Twins who are male and female expressed their gladness seeing dignitaries storming their town said they wish the festival could hold every weekend.
In his goodwill message at the festival, the Director General of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Mr. Folorunsho Coker who was represented by Mr. Rotimi Aiyetan said NTDC is proud to be associated with this event and felicitate with the Igbo-Ora community. He however expresses the interest of NTDC to collaborate with this unique festival. Meanwhile, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde who was represented by the Chairman Oyo State Council for Art, Culture and Tourism Board, Surv. Adebowale Adejumobi said the government will work with the organizers to take the festival to greater heights.
According to the Chairman Local Organizing Committee, HRM Oba Adedamola Badmus, the Olu Aso of Iberekodo, Igboora emphasized that all the entire six communities that make up Igbo-Ora has abundance of multiple births. The royal father however said the festival is improving yearly and calls for corporate supports and sponsorship.
Highlight of the festival grand finale was the circus performances, cultural display, twins parade, and fashion show, Awards, twins talent show, with the Gbolarunmi Twins special acrobatic display among other activities.
