A Day At Layipo, Our National Heritage Going Obsolete

Myself At The Bower's Tower

Saturday, October 2nd, 2021, was a day to remember for me and the entire Alamu Football Academy, Iwo, as we embarked on a memorable jaunt to one of the best places in the country.

While we were growing up, even till now when we are grown, it is unhesitating that one would have heard about a popular patois or perhaps an argot used mostly in colloquialisms that goes "Ìbàdàn l'omọ̀, ó mọ Láyípo."

The Yoruba words can be simply translated in English to "You only know Ibadan, You don't know Láyípo." I can only say I have been dwelling in naivety on how to understand the words, not until yesterday.

                                  

The Team Players 

It is a natural and regular act for Alamu Football Academy, Iwo, to go on a tour, probably after a tournament, or a football match to ease the stress and of course, seek more knowledge and expose the young players to more experiences around the world as the Academy is not only pinned on football but also education, religion and all other aspects of life.

We had earlier gotten to the UI zoological garden which was quite pleasurable, especially for the young players who were able to see the animals that have been existing to them only on TV screens. 

The next stop, Láyípo, sent some queries into my mind and pushed me to ask the Team Manager what exactly makes where we are going a worthy place. He simply replied, "just let's get there, it is the most beautiful place I've ever been".

                                 

Obviously, the response sent some curiosity and at that point, I could not wait to get to Láyípo, the most beautiful place someone that has traveled around the world has ever been.

We reached Bẹrẹ, a popular area in Ibadan and our vehicle moving could only mount roads in a very distasteful condition, with potholes that look like a pond, and absolutely terrible roads that are nothing to write home about.

Getting disgusted and worried about how this kind of route can lead to a beautiful place. Perhaps, Engineer Olalekan only teased me or his most admired place has turned into something he, himself is not yet aware of.

These silly thoughts ran through my mind but the only hope I had is the "personality" of the person that told me where we were going.

The Captain And Team Manager

                              

Alas, we reached there but we were not even able to pass through the main gate as bushes have taken over the place, we could only go through the back gate and we dropped.

Wow, the cool breeze that met a beaming smile on my lips welcomed us. Very friendly weather, the ambiance of the place, and just the comfort of the location where it is sited were comforting for any lover of nature.

Apparently, a lot of people believe the tourist center is no more existing because of the poor maintenance by the government over the years, which has made people think the tourist center is completely dead.

The bushes there were growing thick that one could hardly notice there were buildings that looks like chalets and cabins on both left and right sides of the gate, which in history, served as a restaurant and some offices for those working there many years ago. 

All the buildings have been deserted, and doors look so old and weak, obviously, no activity is going on there, anymore.

We stepped forward and met those in charge and charged a certain amount before we headed to approach the real reason why the place is called "Láyípo".

Myself And The Academy Players 

The caretakers had warned a group of people up to 30 could not visit at once, spitting into two was the best option and luckily, some of the boys were skeptical about mounting the place.

It was a very long tower called the 'Bowers Tower ".It is a renowned monument put up to honor a certain Captain Robert Lister Bower.

I learned he was the first British resident in the ancient city of Ibadan and was appointed by the British government to administer the whole of Ibadan in the 18th century.

The Tower was designed by a certain Taffy Jones, the engineer who also designed the famous Mapo Hall in the same Ibadan city.

The tower, if I am not wrong is up to 55feet high and has a narrow staircase that leads to the topmost part of the tower. 

The most admiring part of it that made me extremely surprised and impressed is how everywhere can be seen from the summit of the tower.

                                             

I could see almost every part of Ibadan, notable places I pointed my eyes to include: the Ibadan roundabout, the newly renovated Adamasingba stadium, and of course the identity of the city which is the colorful conference of rustic brown metal roofs which covers up to 90% of the buildings in the ancient city. 

I can vow it is the most beautiful scene I've ever witnessed in over 3 decades of my existence.

I was told if I was living in Ibadan, my sight wouldn't have been limited to only those ones. The inhabitants of Ibadan would sight other notable places in the city like The Lagos-Ibadan toll gate, Ife- Ilesha toll gate, the whole of the University Of Ibadan, the UCH, and the Ibadan Polytechnic among others.

I snapped enough photos, made video calls, and had fun with other team players for about 30 minutes before I descended.

I continued to notice certain things while coming down the staircase, only one person can take one step at a time and I consciously counted the stairs to be 47.

A perfect architectural project that would only permit someone to go through both sides of the tower in one journey, when one is climbing up; you only see those climbing down and vice versa. 

You will also be able to see people coming out from the other side of the staircase through the weeny holes on each of the steps. 

The circular movement in the steps begot and brought forth the mantra "Ìbàdàn lo mọ, o mo layipo".

While checking the photos I took at the top, I stayed silent when other members of the team were still having fun, I eavesdropped on a conversation from other visitors which further gave me an insight into the whole proverbial statement.

When the step was officially commissioned over 80 years ago, the then inhabitants explained the circular staircases by saying "ní se là ń yípo, là ń yípo títí tá a fi dé òkè "In English which means "we were just going around the stairs, going around the stairs till we reached the apex". 

When they got up the tower and noticed the plentiful hills in Ibadan, they were so surprised that Ibadan is surrounded by hills, and hence conclude by saying, "Ibadan lo mo,o o mo layipo" (you know Ibadan but you do not know Layipo). 

This was said to describe the efficiency of the tower that even if a person knew Ibadan city very well but had not visited the Bower Tower where everyone would practically "yipo' (go around the tower), such a person could be easily regarded as someone that is yet to know the city."

We left for our football academy base with a lot of things running through my mind.

A National treasure and an absolute historical asset of such value do not deserve such treatment. It is obviously the reason many people even those living in Ibadan do not know about the place. 

Before civilization, the hill where the tower is located was a center of excellence for the Ibadan warriors as they could sight from afar when enemies were coming from other cities to wage war against them. 

This would enable Ibadan warriors to swiftly prepare and attack the warriors even before they could enter the city, hence, the reason Ibadan was never defeated in any war in history.

The last renovation of Bower Lister's tower was done in 1999 and no government either at the federal or state level or even the local level has deemed it fit to touch the beautiful location.

Tourist attraction according to my understanding is not just to increase IGR for the government, it is also medicinal as many use it to minimize emotional problems like loneliness, depression, and other things many people are facing, and of course, an avenue to learn the history of Ibadan and the Yoruba race in general.

A day at Láyípo made me realize our tourism level in the country is low and poor, and most of our national heritages are going obsolete.

Akham Papa

akhampapa@gmail.com

+2347038214622