By Kehinde Adejumo
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Wonders they say will never end. River Oha in Ipinsa in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State poses one of the very many wonders in the world where fishes caught in Omi Oha River, will remain raw when cooked, no matter how long it remains on fire.
The Akapinsa of Ipinsa Land, Oba Omoniyi Olufunmilayo J. P revealed this to Community Hope during a recent visit to the area.
Ipinsa is one of the traditional towns in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State is situated along Orita Obele road off Ijare road. It is about 10 kilometers away from Akure, the state capital and the head quarter of Akure South Local government.
Ipinsa play a very significant in Akure’s traditions because it announces the beginning of Akure’s traditional year. “No festival starts in the kingdom until masquerades from Ipinsa pay homage to the Deji of Akure -land “, the Akapinsa said.
According to the monarch, Akapinsa was the first child of Deji, the first Akapinsa was named Kejeje. He was a warrior at the age of 30. He went to his father, the then Deji and told him to vacate the throne for him so as to become the next Deji.
His father, been a wise man, sent him to the nearest village where he became the king.
Omoniyi said in the olden days, it was the Prince from Akure that rules in all the suburbs and villages around Akure.
The monarch said as Kejeje was searching for where to settle, he got to a river called Omi Oha, where he took his bath and was refreshed, because he was tired.
He consulted Ifa god who told him that, that is the place where he will settle. That is why any one that is crowned as the Akapinsa must go to the river to bath.
After bathing with the water, the monarch must not see the river or bath with the water again. The only time they will use the water for him is when he dies. That is the water they will use to clean his body ahead of his burial.
“Anyone that brings the water to the palace while the king was still alive will incur the wrath of the gods.”
This river is located in the extreme end ,of the town, according to him, river Oha is a mysterious river where anyone that fishes on it will miraculously disappear, especially when he or she does it intentionally.
Apart from this, any fish caught in the river will remain raw, no matter how long it is cooked or roasted.
The major festival that Ipinsa is known for is Opa festival. It normally takes place once in a year. The festival is where the indigenes willing offer themselves to be flogged with cane called ” Atori” in local parlance. The unique thing about this festival is that they express their joy and happiness while been caned.
The monarch said anyone that participated in the festival will not fall sick for the rest of the year, and if sick, after the festival, he or she will be healed. “A true son of the land is not afraid of been caned, even if the person sustained bruises as a result of the lashes he received during the festival. This is because before the next day, the bruises will disappear.
