The highly anticipated 2024 Igboora World Twins Festival kicked off on October 7th, 2024, with the Oyo State Government unveiling plans to place this unique cultural event in the Guinness World Records. The festival, which runs from October 7th to October 12th, celebrates the phenomenon of multiple births in Igboora, a town globally recognized for having the highest number of twin births per capita.
Opening Ceremony: A Celebration of Culture and Multiple Births
The festival began with a world press conference and prayers held at the Igboora Town Hall, drawing attendees from across Oyo State, including prominent figures such as Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, the Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, and Hon. Sola Adeleke, the Executive Chairman of Ibarapa Central Local Government. The opening remarks from local government and community leaders expressed gratitude for the event’s cultural significance. They reaffirmed their commitment to making this year’s festival the most remarkable yet.
The festival’s planning committee, led by HRM Oba Jamiu Adedamola Badmos, the Oluaso of Iberekodo, outlined an exciting lineup of activities designed to celebrate Igboora’s rich cultural heritage. These include cultural performances, sports events, and educational programs promoting twin births as a symbol of the community’s unique cultural identity.
Read: Igbo Ora: A town in Oyo State where every family has multiple sets of twins
Oyo State Government’s Vision for Global Recognition
One of the major highlights of this year’s festival is the Oyo State Government’s plan to secure a place in the Guinness World Records. Represented by Dr. A.M. Ayoola, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the government emphasized its commitment to showcasing the global significance of Igboora’s twin birth phenomenon. The festival’s global outreach aims to boost cultural tourism and attract international visitors, researchers, and dignitaries to witness the spectacle of twin births in Igboora.
Dr. Ayoola states, “This festival is not just a celebration of our cultural heritage but also an opportunity to make history by placing the Igboora Twins Festival on the Guinness Book of Records and UNESCO. The government is fully committed to supporting this initiative, and we invite all Nigerians to join us in achieving this remarkable goal.”
Significance of the Igboora Twins Festival
Since its inception, the Igboora World Twins Festival has become a symbol of cultural pride and unity, drawing attention to the community’s extraordinary twin birthrate. Oba Jimoh Titiloye, the Olu of Igboora, spoke about the festival’s historical significance, reflecting on how twin births have shaped the social fabric of Igboora.
He noted, “Igboora is naturally blessed with these bountiful twins. Unlike other regions where twins were once rejected, our ancestors revered and celebrated them. This festival, free from any fetishes, allows us to honor these blessings with prayers, cultural festivities, and unity.”
This year’s festival also serves as an opportunity for scientific research into the twin phenomenon in Igboora. Researchers continue to study why the town has such an unusually high rate of multiple births—5 out of every 1,000 births recorded as twins—a mystery that has yet to be fully explained.
Cultural Activities and Expected Highlights
The week-long celebration is packed with vibrant cultural activities, including performances from traditional troupes, exhibitions of local crafts, and a grand finale at the Methodist Grammar School Playing Ground in Saganun, Igboora, on October 12th. The grand finale is expected to draw over 10,000 attendees, including dignitaries, local leaders, and international visitors.
Among the prominent figures expected to attend are the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Engr. Oluwaseyi Abiodun Makinde, and the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, who will serve as the Royal Father of the Day. The Chairman of the 2024 Igboora Twins Festival, Hon. Abass Adigun Agboworin, has also been recognized for his contributions to public service and development in the region.
Read: Akwa Ibom to Host the 2024 ECOWAS Food and Cultural Festival
Economic and Tourism Benefits
The Igboora Twins Festival is more than just a cultural celebration; it is a vital economic engine for the local community. As Hon. Sola Adeleke highlighted, the festival showcases the economic contributions of cultural events, which help boost local businesses, encourage tourism, and create opportunities for entrepreneurship. The festival attracts thousands of visitors, including tourists, researchers, and investors, further positioning Igboora as a major cultural and tourism hub in Nigeria.
The Oyo State Government, in collaboration with Cross River State, aims to leverage the global attention generated by the event to attract investment in tourism infrastructure, including the development of a Twins Village and the establishment of a Twins Radio Station. These initiatives are expected to stimulate long-term economic growth and create sustainable regional development.
A Call for Unity and Support
As the 2024 Igboora Twins Festival progresses, the Oyo State Government and festival organizers call on all Nigerians, especially twins and their families, to participate fully in the event. Dr. Ayoola emphasized the need for community involvement, stating, “We need everyone’s support to make this historic event a success. The participation of twins from across the country is crucial in making this festival a Guinness World Record-breaking event.”
Looking Ahead: A Future of Cultural Pride
The 2024 Igboora World Twins Festival promises to be a landmark event, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Igboora while attracting global attention. As the festival unfolds, the spirit of unity, celebration, and cultural pride continues to resonate throughout the community. With plans to set a Guinness World Record and ongoing efforts to promote cultural tourism, Igboora is on track to further solidify its place as the Twins Capital of the World.
As we look forward to the grand finale on October 12th, the message from Igboora is clear: this community’s legacy of twin births is not just a local phenomenon—it is a global story of cultural significance, one that the world is eager to celebrate.