Yemoji, A Mystery River In Ijebu Ode Where Ancient Snake Bites People When Provoked

A River In Ijebu Where Snake Bites Taboo
Breakers Who Eat Yellow Yam, Esuru
Yemoji River is a popular tourist attraction in Ijebu-
Ode Local Government Area of Ogun, Southwest
Nigeria. The river traverses a distance of three and a
half kilometres from its source to Imagbon Village.
History has it that the river used to serve as a
waterway for the evacuation of farm produce from
Ijebu land to Ejirin, a distance of about 18 kilometres.
Besides its historical background which pre-dates
1925, a group of European merchants of an unnamed
commercial firm was linked with the formation of a
club known as Ijebu Ode Club used it as a swimming
pool.
Its pleasurable delight makes the river a sight to
behold. But this appears to be where the attraction of
Yemoji River stops. The river is said to prohibit the
eating of Esuru, a local yellowish tuber, around it. As
strong as Yemoji River's aversion for Esuru is, a
person who eats the yam is prohibited from coming
near or swimming in it for a considerable length of
time after the consumption of the tuber.
A defiant eater is said to be at the risk of being bitten
by a mythical snake which dwells in the river but
never comes out unless the river is defiled and
provoked by an Esuru eater.
Although, there is no instruction cautioning a visitor
to the place about the taboo, the Baale of Magbon
community where the river is situated, Chief
Adesanya Taiwo said, "Those who violated the taboo
in the past later lived to regret their action."
Sunday Sun asked when exactly is forbidden for one
to eat the yellowish tuber before coming around or
swimming in the river.
Taiwo said: "it is advisable that you do not eat
"Esuru" on the morning of the day you intend to visit
here or swim in the river or else you stand the risk of
incurring the wrath of the ancient snake that dwells
in the river but which never comes out unless it is
provoked.
"It is no joke, those who dared it in the past later
lived to regret their action even though the snake will
not bite the defiant its appearance alone is a bad
omen for the village because that shows that the
reptile is annoyed and offended.
"So, we usually warn people who intend to visit here
to avoid the eating of Esuru for at least eight hours
before coming around the river." You may have eaten
it the day before you visit the river but it is usually
advisable that you do not eat it on the day you intend
to visit or come around it".
Responding to a question on what would happen to
someone who violates the taboo unwittingly
His response was swift: "It has never happened and
it will never happen. But I don't know why it has not
happened". According to him, in the past, when the
snake came out, the community usually appeased
the reptile after which it would return to its abode
which nobody knows.
Asked whether there had been any untold incident as
a result of the violation of the age-long taboo,
another native of the town, Taiwo Adigboluja, who is
in charge of the river, narrated his experience. His
words: "not in recent times, but I remember very well
that when we were young, the snake had emerged
several times as a result of people who had eaten the
forbidden yam coming near it.
He added: "that was then, but in recent times we
have not had any of such terrible experience. It is our
belief in this area that the snake will emerge from
the river once someone who eats the forbidden yam
swims or comes around the river.
"The snake will automatically emerge from the river,
so it is advisable that someone who intends to visit
here does not eat Esuru shortly before he or she
visits here. In fact, we advise that the forbidden yam
is not eaten in the morning that someone intends to
visit the river."
[Sunday Sun]

Posted By David Aniemeka