Elder Olukanni and Elder Krupp in the residence cave portion of Olumo Rock. Between 1830-1833 there was a tribal war in the area now known as Abeokuta (under the rock). One tribe established refuge high above the valley in, under and around this huge rock. From the rock, they could spot raiding parties from other tribes and, silently, go down and set ambushes. They would destroy the invaders and retreat back up the rock. A remnant of the victorious tribe maintains residence on the rock today. There were 5 "family rooms" in this over-hang area during the war. The divots in the rock floor were created as they ground their food over the years of the war. The entire living area was rock.
There are some rustic, primitive dwellings on the second level of the rock today. I am standing with some of the tribal men who are preparing cooked goat meat from a sacrifice. There are some Priestesses on this level who pronounce blessings and cursings based on the requests and the payments of the visitors. The man with the yellow pajama bottom britches could cut the meat and flip pieces in the air, catch them and eat them faster than you could follow his movements. The goat meat is on the slab between his feet. The men wore more clothing than some of the Priestesses.
Elder Krupp, Sister Krupp & Elder Olukanni in the cave, pretending to pound food to prepare it. The divots in the cave floor are very apparent in front of us.
Cute goats were everywhere. The tribe raises them, eats them, and they also earn income selling them for sacrifices. They eat them after the sacrifices have earned them some spending cash.
this is a dog that was sacrificed and laid in this tree to "ripen". It had been sacrificed two days before our visit and was "ripening" just fine.......whewwww!
Left to right is the Branch President who guided us, Mike Judson, Linda, Kurt, Elder Olukanni and Elder Odume in front of a 600 year old Baobab tree on the first level of the rock. The bark on the tree is used for medicinal purposes, and you can see where the bark has been scraped off over the years.
Elder Odume going up the "crack in the rock". This is the hard way to the third level of the rock. Mike Judson, Kurt, Elder Odume and Elder Olukanni climbed the crack. Linda and the Branch President went up the civilized stairs.
Elder Odume is on top and Elde Olukanni is finishing his climb to the top of the rock. We could see the entire valley from the top of this formation. Spread out behind us is the typical rusty roof-tops of the homes in Abeokuta (Ah-bay-oh-koo-tah), the city under the rock.
This is Kurt (Elder Krupp) in front of the sleeping elephant rock. Once I stood there for a picture,
everybody wanted to stand there. It almost covered up the elephant. Left to right: Elder Odume, Elder Olukanni, Kurt (holding Linda's Africa purse, guide, Branch President, Mike Judson from LDS Public Affairs, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Elder Olukanni and Elder Krupp in the residence cave portion of Olumo Rock. Between 1830-1833 there was a tribal war in the area now known as Abeokuta (under the rock). One tribe established refuge high above the valley in, under and around this huge rock. From the rock, they could spot raiding parties from other tribes and, silently, go down and set ambushes. They would destroy the invaders and retreat back up the rock. A remnant of the victorious tribe maintains residence on the rock today. There were 5 "family rooms" in this over-hang area during the war. The divots in the rock floor were created as they ground their food over the years of the war. The entire living area was rock.
There are some rustic, primitive dwellings on the second level of the rock today. I am standing with some of the tribal men who are preparing cooked goat meat from a sacrifice. There are some Priestesses on this level who pronounce blessings and cursings based on the requests and the payments of the visitors. The man with the yellow pajama bottom britches could cut the meat and flip pieces in the air, catch them and eat them faster than you could follow his movements. The goat meat is on the slab between his feet. The men wore more clothing than some of the Priestesses.
Elder Krupp, Sister Krupp & Elder Olukanni in the cave, pretending to pound food to prepare it. The divots in the cave floor are very apparent in front of us.
Cute goats were everywhere. The tribe raises them, eats them, and they also earn income selling them for sacrifices. They eat them after the sacrifices have earned them some spending cash.
this is a dog that was sacrificed and laid in this tree to "ripen". It had been sacrificed two days before our visit and was "ripening" just fine.......whewwww!
Left to right is the Branch President who guided us, Mike Judson, Linda, Kurt, Elder Olukanni and Elder Odume in front of a 600 year old Baobab tree on the first level of the rock. The bark on the tree is used for medicinal purposes, and you can see where the bark has been scraped off over the years.
Elder Odume going up the "crack in the rock". This is the hard way to the third level of the rock. Mike Judson, Kurt, Elder Odume and Elder Olukanni climbed the crack. Linda and the Branch President went up the civilized stairs.
Elder Odume is on top and Elde Olukanni is finishing his climb to the top of the rock. We could see the entire valley from the top of this formation. Spread out behind us is the typical rusty roof-tops of the homes in Abeokuta (Ah-bay-oh-koo-tah), the city under the rock.
This is Kurt (Elder Krupp) in front of the sleeping elephant rock. Once I stood there for a picture,
everybody wanted to stand there. It almost covered up the elephant. Left to right: Elder Odume, Elder Olukanni, Kurt (holding Linda's Africa purse, guide, Branch President, Mike Judson from LDS Public Affairs, Salt Lake City, Utah.
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