The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has called for greater investment in cultural tourism in Oyo State, saying the preservation and promotion of indigenous traditions could strengthen the state’s tourism appeal and support economic development.
Oba Owoade made the call in a message to this year’s World Twins Day celebration held in Igbo-Ora, a town renowned for its high incidence of twin births.
Represented at the event by his Queen Consort, Ayaba Abiwunmi Olajumoke, Oba Owoade lauded the people of Igbo-Ora for preserving their history, heritage and cultural traditions, which he said had helped attract attention to the community as a tourist destination.
The Alaafin’s wife was warmly received by traditional rulers in the Oke-Ogun area of the state.
The monarch said twins occupy a unique position in Yoruba culture, where they were traditionally associated with spiritual significance, blessings and prosperity.
He explained that twins, known as Ibeji in Yoruba, are celebrated through special ceremonies, festivals and artistic expressions that reflect their importance to families and communities.
According to him, the annual World Twins Day celebration in Igbo-Ora offers an opportunity to showcase Yoruba traditions, strengthen cultural identity and pass indigenous values on to younger generations.
Oba Owoade also acknowledged the contributions of the Oyo State Government to cultural re-engineering, growth and development, while emphasising the need for sustained efforts to preserve and promote the state’s cultural assets.
Igbo-Ora has attracted national and international interest because of its reported high rate of twin births. Although the reasons behind the phenomenon remain inconclusive, researchers have continued to explore possible explanations.
The community has embraced its twin-birth heritage as a source of pride, making the annual festival an important platform for cultural celebration and tourism promotion.
This year’s event attracted hundreds of twins and their families and featured traditional music, dances and rituals in honour of twins.
A symbolic highlight was the presentation of a set of twins by their mother to Ayaba Olajumoke, who received the children amid excitement from participants.
