Standing at 42ft in the ancient town of Ile Ife ( Southwestern part of Nigeria ) is the tallest statue in my country, Nigeria and 4th tallest statue in Africa. A replica of the Statue of Liberty, New York, USA. The Queen Moremi Statue is more than just a work of art; it stands as a testament to the bravery and heroism of Queen Moremi.
Queen Moremi Ajasoro was a powerful woman when she was alive. She was the wife of Oranmiyan, the heir to the King of Ile Ife, founding father of the yoruba tribe, Oduduwa. There was a time when the people of Ile Ife were enslaved and also at war with the Ugbo people. These Ugbo people were very powerful and often appeared as masquerade completely covered in raffia leaves. These made the people of Ile Ife believed they were spirits.
These Ugbo people did a lot of harm to the people of Ile Ife on several occasions. In an attempt to stop and be free from war, Queen Moremi reached out to the spirit of the Esimirin River asking for help to know and learn of the power of these Ugbo people in return for a sacrifice she will make. She deliberately went to the front line of the war to get captured.
After she was captured, she used her talent and beauty to attract the King of the Ugbo people and she was made a queen. Queen Moremi earned the trust of the King and his people. She discovered their war tactics and escaped back to Ile Ife. She revealed the secret to the yoruba army the intelligence she collected.
With that information, the yoruba army was able to defeat the Ugbo people. Fulfilling her promise, she returned to the Esimirin River where the spirit demanded her to sacrifice her only son, Olurogbo. She did as promised. She gave up her only son to the Esimirin deity in order to fulfil her end of the bargain, to defeat the Ugbo people in battle.
To this day, the yoruba people mourn with her and hold her in the highest esteem of any woman in the kingdom. She was immortalised in several ways with books and movies about her. Also, places were named after her. The statue was made of bronze which portrays a graceful and dignified pose of Queen Moremi with her head held high and her arms outstretched. She’s adorned with traditional yoruba clothing & jewelry and her face bears a serene expression that belies her inner strength and determination.
The Queen Moremi Statue is a representation of the yoruba culture and heritage. It serves as a reminder to the younger generation of the importance of preserving and celebrating their traditions and values. The Queen Moremi Statue of Liberty has become a major tourist destination, drawing visitors from all over the world. It has also become a source of pride for the people of Ile Ife and Nigeria as a whole.
The Queen Moremi Statue has been recognized by various organizations and has won several awards including the Most Innovative Artwork Award at the African Diaspora World Tourism in 2018. Annually, the people of Ile Ife come together to celebrate the Moremi festival in honour of the sacrificial life of Queen Moremi Ajasoro.
Come to Ile Ife and see what the Queen Moremi Statue looks like. Thanks for your time.
Name – Olaniyan Samuel
Email – olaniyantravels001@gmail.com
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