Tourism is not complete in Nigeria without a reference to Alagba, a giant male land tortoise believed to have lived in the palace of the king of Ogbomoso for 324 years.
The ancient town of Ogbomoso and second largest city in Oyo state, has continued to attract tourists from all over the world because of Alagba, the legendary giant male tortoise that has lived and witnessed the installation and coronation of 17 Soun’s of Ogbomosoland who have reigned in the town since its inception.
Popularly called Alagba as a sign of respect because of their claim that it is the oldest living animal in the world, the tortoise has been acclaimed to be 324 years old by the people of Ogbomosoland. In deference to its age, it is called Alàgbà, which means ‘the elderly one’ in Yorubaland.
Since Alagba is believed to be older than everyone in Ogbomoso, its true age relies heavily on oral history. Its present age was arrived at by calculations done from the period the Soun who brought it to the palace reigned. Mr. Ajamu Oluwatoyin, the secretary of the current Soun says dating of the kingship of Ogbomoso was started by the elite in 1797 during the reign of Oba Toyeje Akanni (1797 to 1825), the fourth Soun and one time Are Ona Kakanfo, the Yoruba Nation Generalissimo.
Since it was customary in those days to transfer the property and all palace belongings to the new monarch, Alagba had allegedly remained in the palace till date.
Mr. Adeniyi Alabi, Kakaki Oba (the oba‘s praise singer) and Mr. Adeyanju Areo, who used to carry the umbrella that shields the oba from the sun, also carry out the oba‘s instructions to take care of Alagba. They say the animal drinks water once in two weeks and that when it does, it finishes a 25-litre bucket.
Alagba is said to eat everything that human beings eat but likes pawpaw particularly. It is said to detest heat and plays a lot in the rainy season. Alabi and Areo put Alagba‘s weight at approximately 100kg since, according to them, its weight is equivalent to two bags of cement and it requires four men to lift it up.
No matter how heavy you are, Alagba will carry you on its back and be moving about,” Areo says and adds that the incumbent oba, who cares so much about the well-being of Alagba, was the one that stopped people from climbing the back of the animal as the animal was getting old.
Areo says.Nevertheless, all sorts of myths have been woven around Alagba. Some say it hears what people say but cannot speak, Alagbe says. It recognises kabiyesi‘s voice. If kabiyesi calls it Alagba, it will be shaking its head in agreement, while some people stay near Alagba to offer prayers for longevity.
A palace source said, for a long time since its existence, Alagba was the only being that the king‘s wives usually run to for refuge to avoid the king’s anger. The king usually pays him a visit whenever he is coming back from an outing or strolling around the palace.
Whatever might have been anybody’s offence to the king, the kabiyesi overlooks it if such person runs to Alagba for protection.” she says.
There are also myths that allege that it is a particular oba that had become so old that turned himself to Alagba during a festival in the palace.
Mrs Olajumoke A. Morenikeji, a Zoologist at the University of Ibadan and Director of the institution’s zoological garden, who said it is possible for Alagba to have lived that long, having seen one who lived long before . It is oral evidence and there is no scientific evidence to support it.
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