A Visit To Idanre Hills : The Story Of The Outcast

When we were kids we thought we wil always be together.But as the years go by we drift apart, looking at the yesteryears I feels like it was just yesterday.

I can recall vividly seven Yeard ago when I took a trip I idanre hills with my departmental mates, we were in our final year then at the federal university of technology Akure.It wasn't easy getting every one to go as every individual had a tourist preferences.

It took the effort of those who have followers to commit every other person to choose idanre hills.This tourist attractions. was chosen because of its history and isolation.

The idegines have a strong attachment towards this epic mountain.I'm the early 70s during tribal wars it a place of refuge for its citizens in the suroundimy communities.As a matter of fact enemies always turn back when a the villagers run to the hill to seek refuge.The reason is not farfetched, it is said that there is a shrine with a very powerful deity that strikes a man dead when the pursurer does not quit chasing its foe into the hill.

Secondly it is said that does who commit heinous crimes seek refuge in these mountains.The refugee is then considered untouchable as he is now a ward of the gods. But during festive seasons the wards are used as sacrifices to the same dirty that shielded them.

The refugees who latter comes down from the hills to live with the populace is not harmed but lives in stigma as he can not marry a regular villager.He is considered an outcast.

Worthy of note is that when non indegenes visit the villages they offer them gifts as a sign of respect to the gods.The outcast must seek a fellow outcast to marry.The most painfull aspect is the children from generation to generation are then regarded as an outcast.

A part of the forest was then allotted to the outcast to within themselves. this community over time began to expand and it is now what we call Idanre, as faith will have it a lot of outstanding citizens have proggressed most are professors, entrepreneurs and great articians .My believe that why we have so Manu great men and women Xing from this community is because of the zeal to be better than their oppressors.

It was said that anyone who kills an outcast is in return sacrificed immediatemy to avert the anger of the gods.
The shrine is well hidden in the mountains, and can be accessed by a guide who ist inform you remove your shoes.I can assure you that it a day trip to get to the top of the mountains.I can recall that the guide after requesting f or tips warned us that we should not wear a cap or carry a load on our heads as it portends bad luck unless it is a sacrifice.

Our finding shows the remains of animals that have been sacrificed to the gods,When it is time for a new king to emerge ,he is locked of in a dark enclave in the mountains without food or water for seven days, if he survives, he is regarded then as the true king, this I occures because most late kings give birth to make children from different mothers as it is the practice then as every prospective vies for his father's throne, he must fortify himself for the Labour ahead.

As part of our planing we fortified and equipped ourselfs with food and beer.
I hope I have able to entertain you with my trip to the land of the outcast.The hills is now a popular tourist attraction visited by tourist from far and near *