Adeleke Gbenga
They are often what archaeologists described as ”Megalithic ruins. Of course such ruins or relics especially if they are ancient are often objects of interest and curiosity to archaeologists, anthropologists and others just as they have attracted the attention of the staffs of National Commission for Museums and Monuments(NCMM)Ilorin, Kwara State in recent times. They are ancient stones, an old Oyo antiquity of immense historical values at Bamidele Compound, sandwiched between Idi-Ape, an ancient quarters of an ancient city of Ilorin and another quarters, the Gambari area. It is an old Oyo antiquity owed by the old Oyo empire, because an ancient city of Ilorin of that period, about 17th centuries ago was once an outpost of the collapsed Oyo empire. That historical and cultural values however have been lost. The building(Bamidele Compound) where these ancient stones are located is not distinctive in any feature or characteristic to make it an object of attraction.
Curiously while outsiders who are not members of that compound but have heard one thing or the other about the ancient stone generally believed to be where Ilorin derived its name ”Ilo-irin” however controversial that account maybe, especially students of history and culture often show interest in stones, the reverse seems to be the case for the younger generations of that compound. Ask any of them, especially the youths, of what values are those stones to their identities or who they are or what creative things they can do with the antiquated stones to turn them to opportunities? The answer one will likely get from them maybe less than satisfactory. It is apparent that the antiquity means little to most of them, if responses from those of them with whom The Herald on Sunday had little chat last week, were anything to go by. Between their generations and those of the distant past, especially the generations of centuries ago to whom the stones were valuable is a forgotten or lost history.
Ironically the Idiape Descendants Union(IDU)is fighting to reclaim its lost glory in Ilorin while unfortunately the younger generations including their parents appeared to have lost touch with the traditional roots.
Some called the site i.e Ile Bamidele as ”Ile-Ilorin” meaning compound where metal objects are sharpened. Unfortunately, most of the ancient stones had been submerged, an indication that they had been neglected. Sometimes ago, the staffs of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Ilorin visited the compound having learnt about existence of an antiquated stones at the area, according to the curator of the Museums, Mrs. Bimpe Oladele who in an interview with The Herald on Sunday last week said the Education Department of the Museums visited Ile Bamidele to make enquiries about the ancient stones because they are national monuments under the Nigerian laws despite the fact that they are presently under private custody.
“Though we were not formally invited but our Education Department which I headed then before I became the curator visited the area because it is part of our outreach programme. The Museums is in charge of all the monuments in Kwara State. We went there to persuade those who owe the monuments to leave them for us. Though they are immovable objects, but once they surrender them to us, we will give them accession numbers and register them with us. And we will regularly visit the site to make sure that they are not tampered with. The people of Ile Bamidele however have not formally approached us. Normally there are some ancient sites that are of no values to us because they do not have history. Ancient sites must have history before the Museums can have interest in them. Iam not saying these particular site i.e Ile Bamidele’s ancient stones do not have history. The fact however is that the stones are not presently known to the Museums because the owners have not formally invited us. But we are still in charge of the ancient stones because they are national monuments under the Nigerian laws. We can go there at anytime. What Iam saying in essence is that the Ile Bamidele’s ancient stones are not yet declared sites. For those sites that do not have history, that does not mean we will neglect them. The Museums will not neglect such ancient objects. This doesn’t say private museum is not allowed but they must be registered with us and put under the watch of the Museums. For the movable ancient objects, they are prohibited under the Nigerian laws from being taken away from their sites even if they are under private custody let alone taking outside Nigeria. If they are artworks, i.e not original objects, the owners still need to get export permit from the National Commission for Museums and Monument’s. Taking them out is illegal whether they are artworks or ancient objects. All the security agents in Nigeria are working with us on illegal exportation of the national antiquities. If people of Idi-Ape wants National Commission for Museums and Monuments do something about the ancient stones, there are ways they can go about it. They can approach us here in Ilorin or Abuja” she says.
In his own views, the President of the Afonja Descendants Union(ADU)Alhaji Olola Kasum told The Herald on Sunday last week at his residence in Ganmo that though the history and culture of Yoruba in Ilorin have been gradually eroded because of the neglect of the ancient stones. He said the Union is doing something to revive the values of the antiquity. ”We want the ancient stones of the Bamidele Compound to be the beginning of the Yoruba’s history in Ilorin. We are appealing to the Ilorin National Commission for Museums and Monuments to take over the ancient sites. All our well to do sons and daughters had equally been approached to come to our aids. This is part of how we can assert our identity and cultural rights as Yorubas of Ilorin. We have begun the processes of building monuments in memories of our past heroes, especially the legendary heroes of the ancient times. This is how we can preserve the Yoruba heritage in Ilorin” he says.
Also speaking was Magaji Ile Bamidele, Alhaji Issa Ahmadu who claimed that Ile Bamidele falls under Gambari quarters, so the people of Idi-Ape can not claim the ownership of the ancient stones. The man who described himself as “Oloye Oba Ilorin” insisted in an interview with The Herald on Sunday that they have their own version of history of the ancient stones. He said researches are still ongoing on the ancient stones and history of Ilorin in general.
Well, those who are interested in these ancient stones and other forgotten monuments that are scattered all over Kwara are waiting in bated breath to see what will eventually come out of these recent efforts to revive the monuments across the State. The neglect these monuments have suffered in the past in Kwara speaks volume of the low priority or poor attention tourism, especially cultural tourism gets in the scheme of things in the State.
After all the Christians’ Holy book, Bible in the old testament recorded that God instructed the children of Israel not to remove the “ancient landmarks” of any lands he acquired for them as promise lands. And if the Jews removed these ancient landmarks, perhaps they may not have the State of Israel today.
For the Afonja Descendants Union, if the Union does as Olola Kasum revealed, maybe the ancient landmarks of the Yoruba in Ilorin might be restored. And perhaps the rejected ancient stones of Ile Bamidele might eventually turn to be the pillars of the house. Time will tell.
