The Sorry Situation Of Oke Idanre Cultural Landscape Today And the Need For Community Involvement
By Charles Oladipo Akinde PhD.
A visit to the foot of Oke-Idanre also known as Idanre Hills yesterday made one shed tears as the place had become a shadow of itself when the journey was started in 2006. I would not believe that the place has become as bad as it is now, so devastated and destroyed. In the long journey from 2006 until now, I was involved and I participated fully in the process of transferring the site and its associated buildings to the State government and through it to the Federal government for possible inscription to the prestigious UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
In fact, the site was recommended by the National Commission of Museums and Monuments (NCMM), a Federal Government’s agency, as one of the National Monuments in 2014 as one of the 100 sites throughout Nigeria to be so declared as part of the centenary celebration landmark marking the amalgamation of Nigeria.
Oke Idanre, also known as Oke Idanre Cultural Landscape, is a culturally significant site located in Ondo State, Nigeria. It was added to Nigeria’s UNESCO Tentative List on October 8, 2007, as a cultural property. The site encompasses a high plain with spectacular valleys interspersed with inselbergs rising approximately 3,000 feet above sea level; its notable features include Owa’s Palace, ancient shrines, the Old Court, a belfry, Agboogun’s footprint, the unreadable script on rocks which is now made readable by the discovery of Oduduwa alphabet called Aibajiogbe by Chief TaiwoTolulase from Cutonou, Benin Republic; and various burial mounds and grounds, in fact the immediate past Owa of Idanre was buried there.. For these reasons, Oke Idanre Cultural landscape remains a treasure trove of history, natural beauty, and cultural heritage.
The ancient hills, with their mystic caves, sacred shrines, and colonial relics, once stood as a symbol of the rich traditions, pride and resilience of the Idanre people. The site is renowned for its rich biodiversity, including unique fauna for instance, Perret’s toad (called Bufo Perreti) or (Amietophrynus perreti) which according to Prof. Arne Schotz, a Danish citizen, is known only from this locality; I am not sure whether the toad is still there today because of the incidents of bush fire and farming. Additionally, its variety of flora is impressive as catalogued and documented by the research team of late Prof Afolayan of the Department of Eco-tourism and Wildlife management of the Federal University of Technology Akure. Apart from these, it also holds significant cultural heritage, with festivals such as Orosun festival, the Ogun festival and the Ije festival, which are celebrated to honour local deities and traditions. Today, this remarkable heritage site faces serious neglect, environmental degradation, and a worrisome decline in preservation efforts.
The Journey So far and suggested solution
In 2011, Nigeria submitted a nomination dossier for Oke Idanre Cultural Landscape to be considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, the nomination was withdrawn at the request of the Nigerian authorities during the 35th session of the World Heritage Committee. As of now, Oke Idanre remains on Nigeria’s Tentative List and has not been inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Over the years, the Oke Idanre cultural landscape has suffered from several challenges like neglect and poor maintenance as many historical sites, including the ancient palace, shrines, and colonial-era structures, are deteriorating due to a lack of maintenance; it also suffers from known and unknown looters and treasure hunters. The once-thriving cultural tourism potential that is Oke-Idanre, is now overshadowed by the ruins of abandonment. Deforestation, erosion, and the encroachment of modern development threaten the natural beauty of the hills. Without proper environmental conservation measures, the delicate balance of the landscape is at risk. Due to poor infrastructure, inadequate promotion, and lack of proper management, the influx of visitors has dwindled. Tourists who do visit often face challenges such as poor road networks, accommodation, and lack of trained tour guides, they often return disappointed. Less recognized is the loss of cultural practices like traditional festivals, (except Orosun festival), oral histories, and some important rituals once integral to the site’s identity and pride are slowly fading or have disappeared totally; the younger generation now shows less interest in these traditions which further endangers the cultural legacy. The most worrisome part is the imminent government negligence, despite Oke Idanre’s UNESCO status, government efforts to preserve and develop the site have been insufficient. Policies remain on paper, while tangible actions to restore and maintain the site remain elusive.
The Need for Community Involvement
While government intervention is necessary, the real custodians of Oke Idanre’s heritage are the people of Idanre who, contrary to common practice of tourism everywhere, are excluded from the management of the site. Community involvement is more crucial in this particular case, in ensuring the preservation and revival of this cultural landmark. The community is ready now for Community-Based Conservation Programs (CBCP) where residents, traditional rulers, and local organizations will lead the efforts in restoring and maintaining the historical sites on the hills, organizing community clean-up days, repairing broken structures, and enforcing environmental conservation rules on the hills and the surrounding areas.
The community is also ready on special days like yesterday, being “ASA Day” throughout Yoruba land, to highlight the revival of traditional festivals and cultural activities – events such as the Ulesun, Upadan (bats festival), leading to orosun festival and other local celebrations. These festivals should be promoted to attract tourism and rekindle cultural pride among the youth. Schools and local groups can be engaged in storytelling, folklore, and craft-making workshops.
We are also ready for other tourism development initiatives like collaborating with investors to develop tourism-friendly infrastructure, such as guesthouses, guided tour services, and a cultural centre showcasing Idanre’s history. Local artisans and entrepreneurs will also be encouraged to create souvenirs and traditional crafts for visitors as initially planned in 2006. The community realises the importance of education and awareness creation like teaching the younger generation about the importance of their heritage through schools, community gatherings, and digital platforms which can foster a renewed sense of responsibility towards Oke Idanre cultural landscape.
Even the most convinced optimist will agree with me that the current state of Oke Idanre calls for urgent action. If nothing is done, this cultural and historical landmark may soon be lost to history forever. Of course there is a need for government and private sector support; traditional leaders and community associations will from now on be encouraged to actively participate in Idanre tourism initiative, while we will actively seek support from local and international agencies for funding, restoration projects, and promotional campaigns. We should together make a concerted, well-organized community-driven efforts that will convince the government that we are ready for actions that will improve the situation of the site. Idanre people only wait until now because of our hope that the landscape will be inscribed into the world heritage list. Now that we are aware that only the tourism potential of Oke Idanre is emphasised, there is a need for strong community involvement to make revitalization possible. It is by taking responsibility, of preserving our traditions, and working collectively towards making the landscape come to life again that the people of Idanre can reclaim and restore the glory of their ancestral home; realising that Oke Idanre is not just a relic of the past, that it is the soul of the community, a living heritage and that its survival depends on those who cherish it.
Submitted by Charles Oladipo Akinde, PhD.
The Osore of Idanre Kingdom, and Chairman of Idanre Community Tourism Committee.
Idanre, February 26, 2025.