OLUMIRIN WATERFALL: OSUN STATE GOVERNMENT SITTING ON A GOLDMINE!

OLUMIRIN WATERFALL: OSUN STATE GOVERNMENT SITTING ON A GOLDMINE!

Olumirin waterfall is one of the many wonders of the world. It is in Erin Ijesa, Osun State (Ipinle Omoluabi), Nigeria. It is 2 kilometres off Erin Ijesa town which lies 20 kilometres East of Ilesa on the well-known Ilesa-Akure Expressway. The waterfall is an assemblage of seven distinct cascades located on the lush Effon Ridge It is Situated within latitude 7°30’ and 8°45’ North and longitude 4°31’ and 5° East.

Historically, According to the custodian of the waterfall, it is said to have been discovered in the Year 1140AD, years after the Ife people migrated to Erin Ijesa which was led by “Akinla”- a Grand-daughter of Oduduwa (Progenitor of Yoruba race).

The custodian said after the migrants had settled for years, they were unaware of the waterfall. On a particular day, the hunters set out to hunt and they discovered the waterfall. They ran back and told their leader “Yeye Akinla” the mystifying thing they saw.

When the waterfall was first discovered, it was said to have given the appearance of a mysterious figure so that no one dared move near it for fear of being swallowed up. It was believed to be a living spirit through whose several months’ water gushed out; a very tall and huge spirit whose height reached to the high heavens.

The inhabitants thereafter named the fall “Olumirin”, meaning another god whose power over the whole area was only similar to “Akinla”- the founder of Erin Ijesa, but later it took another Ifa consultation to convince them that it was not another god but God’s handwork.

The road leading to Erin Ijesa is bumpy and outmoded. Driving down to Olumirin waterfall is a pain in the neck, because the road is not in a good condition. The asphalt on the road has worn off and has been overridden by sand and dirt. The path is overgrown with shrubs and bushes. On getting to the waterfall, there is a brownish black gate erected to keep intruders at bay and the fence painted in blue.

It is open to tourists throughout the year. The way-in does not capture the fascination of the gift of nature; it looks old and not well taken care of. At the entrance, a fading sign post that has seen better days confirms the arrival to the waterfall, the weather-beaten signpost reads “Welcome to Erin-Ijesa Waterfall, The Living Spring”. Although the inscription is almost fading, yet it’s still decipherable.

Stepping in, there is a crafted and molded small water-pouring pot which exemplifies the source of the waterfall. The environment is nothing to write home about, it is unkempt; Used packs of food, drinks litters everywhere. There is a stairway facing the entrance which leads to the waterfall. At the foot of the stairway lies a pile of debris which is an eyesore for a tourist centre, even the stairway is antiquated and in a ramshackle condition.

From the stairway, one has to engage in a little exercise of climbing and descending as one meanders through the enveloping rocks to get to the waterfall. It is mountainous, as one meanders and turns towards the right to the fall, what you’ll see are some dilapidated old styled cone-like structures. From that vantage point, one could also have a bird eye-view of the Erin Ijesa Community and its environs. The lapping sound of the spring could be heard as one strolls his way to the fall and the coolness of the spring permeates everywhere.

Olumirin waterfall is sincerely a beauty to behold. The water there itself is pure, white, clear, cold and refreshing; it serves for drinking and as medicine for indigenes and other tourists alike. As it was said, the water is capable of healing many ailments (which I consider as a superstitious believe), depending on the faith of its user. Many people come from all over the country to fetch the water which they use for curative purposes. It cures ailments such as headache, stomach-ache and skin diseases e.t.c.
Olumirin waterfall has a breathtaking seven-level waterfall whose charm and tourism potential is underestimated. The thundering 7-level waterfall comes over the escarpment and tumbles in succeeding levels of waterfall. It also has seven layers of rocks; the wall of its massive rock cleft is rugged in verdant colours; a verdant brushes of verdure.

It got seven levels to ascend, with each level revealing difference natural architectural magnum-opus and a great gift of nature from God. Each fall distinctly marks the mystical propensity of the fountain; broken pieces of rocks serves as stepping stones through which people climbs to each fall. Olumirin waterfall is indeed a craft of supreme architecture.
The view at all the levels is wonderful and the freshness of the water is energizing. Its falls are surrounded by towering mountains that gives one the sense of wildlife mixed with serenity. Its streams flows majestically amid the rocks and splashes down with great force on the vegetation around; it falls with thundering rush and loud thuds.

The breeze at the waterfall is cool and refreshing. Its springs never run dry in rainy and dry seasons. There are natural landscaping trees and sloppy areas. The whole scenery is fascinating and idyllic. Apart from the beautiful site present at the Olumirin waterfall are also fresh water prawns which belongs to the “Infraorder Caridea family, Atyidae and Genus Caridina” (Biological terms). Olumirin waterfall is a perfection of God’s handwork, I must confess!

The first fall plummets through a narrow opening in a cluster of luxuriant tree trunks blanketed in dark green leafage, down a steeply folded rock face of about 10 meters in height. Like a rain of a million limpid pins, the showers descend and inundates huge boulder reposed at its plunge pool below.

Fallen logs of wood laid dank in the pool and out-flowing stream channel. The air hung muggy with a heavy smoke of splashed water droplets. The sight sparks the first fire of excitement that pervades the veins of any visitor at the falls. The refreshing ambience is further thickened when one ascends the steep rocks to explore the other stages of the waterfalls.

The ascent to the second fall begins at this spring. It is tougher than the first but approaching it, one begins to see anew the overwhelming beauty of the perfection of God’s handwork. The second fall is the most gigantic of all, with the waters diving down a 40m-high cliff. The copious plunge is most spectacular in the rainy season when the stream channel is at its flooding levels. Its plunge pool forms a shallow improvised swimming pool for tourists at the site who are lucky and brave enough to get to the second fall. An adorable rainbow bedecks its floor.

Climbing to other falls is arduous and torturous, as there are no steps constructed or clear paths made up the ridge slopes, except depressions and projections on the surface, as well as roots and branches of huge trees, forest climbers and shrubs along the paths, which serves as hand and foot hands for the adventurous tourists. Nevertheless, the ascent of the enormous ridge is most rewarding, as one is treated to dazzling and panoramic vistas of the surrounding landscape, depicting the true natural beauty of the Nigerian landmass.

The third level is simply spectacular and each increase means a corresponding rise in grandeur. For most tourists and fun seekers, climbing up to the third level can best be equated to traipsing the snowy steeply Mount Everest. The whole place is cool, calm and refreshing due to the permeation of the coolness of the streams. The fourth level beckons next and having come this far up, there is no way to go but higher still, taking the next torturous and joyful stride.

The most intriguing level is the seventh level, which is the peak of the falls. So enthralling, it takes determination, bravery and skills to get there; it is not a walk in the park at all. The environment is cool and reserving; it’s a flattish area covered in trees. There are all kinds of fruits like pineapple, oranges, among other; the view is captivating. At this level, one sees the source of the waterfalls. The source of the spring is a rock-like shape of a pot from which the water gushes like a pump; the waterfalls exude from a big rock-like pot.

The seventh level hosts a settlement which is another great attraction at the waterfalls. The rural commune is called “Abake village”. The name “Abake” is a Yoruba word which is a combination of two Yoruba words: “Aba” “Oke”, meaning “the village on the top”, suggesting the location of the small village. Its inhabitants have been living there for hundreds of years. The village is said to be in Efon Alaaye Local Government, hence the villagers refer to their settlement as Efon Alaaye (Ekiti State).

The village basically consists of mud houses and the people there are predominantly farmers who specialized in growing food crops and cash crops. There women engages in Gari processing- using local method and trading. The commune suffers from inaccessibility to good roads, lack of electricity, hospitals, clinics or health centres, e.t.c; despite this deprivation, they are ever hospitable and delighted to see people climb the mammoth crest in order to visit their remote enclave. They host the tourists with fruits- oranges, pineapple, banana, and the likes.

Olumirin waterfall is a must-visit for Nigerians, Africans and all lovers of nature in the world. I cannot but place Olumirin waterfall on the dais of one of the choicest tourist centres in Africa. Olumirin waterfall can be used for world class mountaineering, swimming, base jumping, bird and game watching competitions.

Olumirin waterfall is indeed a great gift to Osun State, but with what I saw, I cannot but conclude that the successive government in Osun State has not been up to their responsibilities. Just wondering how they could possibly be sitting on such a goldmine without making efforts to explore and dip up the gold. It is time the state government takes special interest in making it a site a money-spinner. This is another means to generate more revenue for Osun State.

I want to urge Osun State government to make Olumirin waterfall more befitting so that it can attract more tourists all over the world. All efforts should be made in ensuring Olumirin waterfall listed among international tourist sites by UNESCO. They should allocate more money for the development of the site.

To mention a few, the government should provide a good road network to Erin Ijesa Community and Olumirin waterfall. They should also provide Escalators- steps up the waterfalls, Electricity, Tourist Chalets, Motor Park, Recreational Facilities, and Relaxation Huts for tourists to rest their nerves after returning from the top of the mountain.

To climax it all, Osun State Government should tighten the security there, especially during the festive periods when so many people gather to frolic and enjoy themselves to the fullest. This is more important because gangsters, assailants do infiltrate the place during festive periods; Christmas and New Year to be specific. A case like that happened on January 1 this year; it was like “Olumirin yaabo” when everybody began to run helter-skelter.

Am also using this medium to call on the well-to-do people in Ijesa land to come and invest in Olumirin waterfall and make it a world class tourist centre. They could help in building Guest Houses and Hotels (in Erin Ijesa Community) for faraway tourists to lodge into, since the nearest Guest Houses and Hotels to the waterfall are miles away in Ilesa, Ada and Osogbo.

Finally, Erin Ijesa people should try to create a Mini-Supermarket at the waterfall, so that it will also boost the economy of the Community.

Yours’ Truly,
Oluwatomilola K. Boyinde,
Ijesaland Renaissance Initiative.