By Taiye Olayemi
The ancient Sungbo Eredo monument is tucked away in the lush greenery of the Ijebu-Ode forest in Ogun through to Ilara-Epe, the ancient kingdom situated in Eredo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.
This sacred site is the largest monument in Africa spanning 160 kilometres and has been home to some African deities.
The site has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries, attracting majorly, international tourists, who come to pay homage to the African deities.
But it is worrisome to observe that the bulk of tourists who visit the ancient beauty are majorly international tourists who frequently explore the religious benefits the site has to offer.
The Sungbo Eredo Grove, which dates back to the 10th century, is one of the oldest and most revered sites in Nigeria as it holds significant cultural and historical importance.
This mystical grove is a testament to the rich heritage and traditions of the Yoruba people.
According to history, the grove was built between 800 and 1000 AD, which was once the residence of the powerful Queen Oloye Bilikisu Sungbo, who was said to possess extraordinary spiritual powers.
It served a defensive purpose when it was built in a period of political confrontation and consolidation in the southern Nigerian rainforest.
Today, the Sungbo-Eredo Grove serves as a symbol of the country’s rich cultural heritage.
It is a system of defensive walls and ditches with unusually smooth walls and a bank on the inner side of the ditches.
The location is on Nigeria’s tentative list of potential UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The site is capable of attracting visitors with its ancient trees, shrines, and artefacts that dot the landscape.
The grove is also a place of spiritual significance, where visitors can connect with the ancestors and seek guidance.
Expressing concerns, Alhaji Olaonipekun Adewale, the Balé of Eredo village where the site is located says: “It is an issue of concern to me and my community, how many Nigerians will jettison this historical heritage and we welcome huge number of international tourists annually.
“Tourists from America, Europe, and some Asian countries usually come here in their numbers to pay homage to the deities we have here. They come haven realised how richly blessed they get upon visiting.
“Aside the beauty of the tall defensive walls and ditches, there are more reasons to visit the site.
“This site is home to deities that we call Aje, the god of wealth and prosperity; Agere and Oba Oluaiye’’.
“International tourists visit Sungbo Eredo groove to pay homage to these gods as well as appease the gods. They come with their requests to the gods, and they get answers.
“In fact, they come to appease Aje, the god of prosperity frequently, and they usually testify of answered prayers’’.
Adewale describes Sungbo Eredo as a living, breathing cultural landscape that continues to play an important role in the Eredo community.
“The grove is home to several shrines and sacred sites, where we honour our ancestors and the gods of our forefathers.
Speaking about some mysteries in Sungbo Eredo and specifically a mysterious aged pot, called Ojushi, Adewale says this enigmatic vessel defies logic by never running dry of water, which has left many perplexed. The more water is fetched from Ojushi, the more it is miraculously replenished.
According to him, the water is used by most tourists for healing purposes.
He says that most often time, ailments that defile medical intervention have been successfully cured by mere drinking of the water or using it on the victim’s body.
He explains that one of the deities in the Sungbo Eredo monument known as “Oba Oluaiye’’ usually comes out of the groove annually to offer prayers for the land, usually done in the afternoon.
He says this annual exercise by the deity has brought about peaceful coexistence in the Eredo community.
“There is a spot along the groove that is usually very hot beyond human endurance. It is believed that there is a deity there as well.
“This place was home to Queen Bilikisu who is likened to the biblical Queen Sheba, Bilikisu was buried in Oke-Eri in Ijebu-Ode and people marvel when they visit her tomb which is surrounded by trees and no leaf falls on the tomb.
“This is one of the signs to know that she was not an ordinary person,’’ he says.
Adewale appeals to the Lagos State Government on the growing need to preserve the sacred site for future generations.
He says efforts should be made to protect the site from erosion, deforestation, and human encroachment to promote sustainable tourism practices that respect the site’s cultural and spiritual significance.
“Sungbo Eredo is a truly unique and fascinating destination that offers visitors a glimpse into Africa’s rich cultural heritage.
“Regardless of being a spiritual seeker, a history buff, or simply someone looking to connect with nature and culture, Sungbo Eredo is a must-visit destination that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Also, Mr Dayo Adedayo, an independent documentary photographer and cultural anthropologist, who derives joy in documenting Nigeria’s rich heritage sites through photography, says the Sungbo Eredo grove is one of the most beautiful heritage sites in Nigeria he has seen and photographed.
Recognising tourism as the highest employer of labour, Adedayo says the Federal Government or Lagos State Government must look in the direction of Sungbo Eredo grove to properly develop and conserve it to woo tourists.
He says the heritage site should be developed as a religious tourism space, explaining that Ogun State should be considered the religious hub of the nation, where religious tourism could be developed for wealth creation.
Adedayo says that churches and Islamic gatherings that accommodate the largest members were all located in Ogun.
He says government needs to look in this direction of developing religious tourism in Nigeria, which can be a money spinner for the nation.
He explains: “Ogun State should be the Jerusalem and Mecca of Nigeria. All the largest churches in Nigeria are domiciled in Ogun; the Redeemed Christian Church of God that attracts at least one million visitors every month is there.
“The largest Islamic gathering is also in Ogun State, the Living Faith Church, with their large congregation; the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), which used to be the largest church in the world, is also in Ogun.
“The founder of this church was also buried in Imeko, Ogun, where adherents go to yearly, the biblical Queen Sheba was also buried in Oke-Eiri, Ijebu area of in same Ogun. The same Ijebu-Ode hosts an annual carnival Ojude-Oba.
“These are iconic structures and beautiful potentialities to develop religious tourism in Nigeria; Saudi Arabia generates a minimum of 20 billion dollars from religious tourism annually.
“Jerusalem and Israel are also making a lot of money from religious tourism, Nigeria needs to look in this direction’’.
