Trip Itinerary
DAY ONE – Arrival in Lagos Nigeria bus to La Campagne Tropicana/Epe
The trip itself, along a country road with glimpses of the Lagos lagoon on the right, passing through several picturesque small towns, will be not only a pleasant introduction to Yorubaland, but also a beautiful visual experience to begin the tour. Once there those that are up to it can take a walk through the town, and get lost in their own adventure. The first night we bed down at La Campagne Tropicana, a beautiful resort on a beach with hut like rooms scattered about and good food served around a fire.
DAY TWO - Epe / Idanre / Efon Alaiye / Ilesha / Ile-Ife
In the morning early risers might spot a monkey or two before breakfast and a visit to the Oba of Epe who will welcome them to Nigeria and pray for them. If there is time we might visit a shrine and the colorful Epe market. By noon we should be heading to Idanre for a look at the stone mountains and a visit to the very significant Ogun shrine there. Still heading north, by three o’clock we should be in Efon Alaiye, the real home of Osun, for worship and also for a lesson in the real story of Osun. From there we head for Ife (Passing through Ilesha, the ancestral home of the Quinones family). In Ile-Ife we will bed down at one of the many hotels and probably attend some kind of cultural evening in this very important Yoruba town.
DAY THREE - Ile-Ife
The day begins with breakfast followed by a visit to Chief Obalale and a walk to the Obatala Shrine. There we learn about Obatala and his appearance in Ile-Ife and the entire story of the origin of man. There will be a ceremony and ebo and a reading, followed by a discussion about dillogun and the traditions of Ile-Ife. We will make a brief visit to Oke Tase to meet the Araba of Ile Ife before going to the Palace of the Ooni for a luncheon. The rest of the day will be free, however, we will have invited priests from several places for a hangout /seminar/ discussion that will trade concepts, songs, etc and will last into the night.
DAY FOUR, FIVE and SIX - Osun Osogbo Festival
Ife is close enough to Osogbo to go back and forth each day. Days four, five and six will be totally dedicated to the Osun Osogbo Festival.
DAY SEVEN
Following three days at the festival I would love for the group to visit Ejigbo, the home of Ajagunna and Orisa Ogiyon. It is a great spiritual trip for honoring the ancestors whose sons and daughters were taken to the west. Ejigbo is a place of reflection. We may mingle with priests whose sung oro is amazingly similar to ours, hear stories of Ajagunna’s struggle against slavery, and visit a boarding school in which children learn Odu as well as the three Rs.
DAY EIGHT and NINE
I am sure that by this time everyone will be ready for a five star hotel and even a T-bone steak by a poolside. My suggestion is that we get back to Lagos and check everyone onto the Eko Le Meridian Hotel for a night or two in a five star hotel, a good steak dinner, a hot bath, a swim in a pool and a good time in a night club with a rockin band. While in Lagos they can visit The Jazz Hole to get African Music, The Lekki Market for artifacts to take home and for ready made clothes or a tailor or seamstress to get clothes made and maybe even go to the movies.
DAY TEN – Free time
Days Ten Eleven and Twelve will present options that will be discussed at the beginning of the trip. Some might want to go to Oyo to visit the palace of the Alaafin and Koso. Others to Ibadan or Abeokuta for hang outs with priests, ceremonies, etc. Others will visit Ibadan to see a Sango Shrine, a Yemonja Shrine and Ose Meji shrine and perhaps, the Olubadan. Some will want to stay behind and receive visitors that they have met along the way. Others might just want to see what Lagos has to offer, shop, make business connections and generally prepare themselves for their return to the “real world.”
DAY ELEVEN - Free
DAY TWELVE - Free
DAY THIRTEEN - A final night at the Eko le Meridien or the Sheraton or La Campagne Tropicana. Probably a party
DAY FOURTEEN – Departure.
Journey to the Land of the Orisa, trip to Yoruba land, Nigeria
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