Yesterday’s road-trip led dignatories and people from all walks of life to Igbo-Ora, a small town in Oyo State reputed for having a large occurrence of twin births.
Only two other towns in the world share this phenomenon – Kodinhi, India and Candido, Brazil, but Igbo-Ora has the largest population.
Igbo-Ora, is famously known as the “Twin Capital of the World.”
It is believed that one in every four births in this community results in twins. This rate is incredibly high, considering that the global average is estimated at one in every 80 births.
The phenomenon of twinning in Igbo-Ora has been a topic of interest for decades, and researchers have been studying the town to try and unravel the mystery behind it. While there is no conclusive evidence to explain the high rate of twin births in the community, many theories have been put forward.
The people of Igbo-Ora have a deep cultural appreciation for twins, and they are viewed as a symbol of good fortune and a source of pride in the community. Twins are often referred to as “Ibeji,” which means “double birth.” The town celebrates Twins Festival annually, which attracts people from all over the world who have an interest in twinning.
Apart from the fascination with twins, Igbo-Ora is also a beautiful town with a rich cultural heritage. The community is known for its skilled craftsmen who create exquisite wooden carvings that are sold all over Nigeria and beyond. The town is also home to the popular Oke-Mosan Hill, which provides a panoramic view of the town and its surroundings.
Igbo-Ora is a unique town in Nigeria that has gained worldwide attention due to its high rate of twin births. While the mystery behind this phenomenon remains unsolved, the town continues to celebrate and cherish its twins, who are viewed as a blessing to the community.
Against this background and in its annual practise, the Oyo State Government , through the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Ibarapa Central Local Government and in conjunction with TWC Intercontinental today celebrated 2025 World Twins Festival in Igbo- Ora town.
The theme of this year’s celebration is ” Twinning For Youth Re-orientation And Empowerment “.
The festival which attracted hundreds of twins and their families, also featured traditional music, dances, and rituals to honour the twins and seek blessings from Ibeji.
Symbolically, a mother of twins presented her children to both the Alaafin and Ayaba , after which His Imperial Majesty carried the twins before they were returned to their mother amid admiration from the crowd.
The well attended event was colourful, as the Alaafin and his entourage were warmly received by traditional rulers from Ibarapa area of the State amid drumming and panegyrics with thunderous shouts of “” Iku Baba Yeye”” from the surging crowd.
In his address, the Alaafin of Oyo , His Imperial Majesty, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, said Yoruba people are blessed with diverse cultural systems that are distinctly unique in their operations.
According to him, “”from their language to marriage, to birth or naming
ceremony, to leadership, and most significantly their songs, chants
and folks are deeply rooted in all the Yoruba cultural systems .
“”For instance, there are praise poetries and songs for children of various
birth circumstances such as Ibeji (twins). The popular question is expressed with astonishment when one sees two humans who look very similar, especially of the same sex, possibly even wearing identical clothing. Yet, as fascinating as it is, twin births are not as rare as you probably think; one in every twelve Nigerian is a twin””.
Alaafin, who was accompanied by his pretty and charming Queen Consort, Ayaba Abiwunmi, stated that twins hold a unique and revered position in Yoruba culture.
