Death Of 344 Year Old Soun Of Ogbomos’s Tortoise – Facts You May Not Know

They saying that some animals are more equal than others is eminently true in the case of Alagba, the 344 year old tortoise that had sojourned in the palace of the Soun of Ogbomosho.

Aside enjoying royal privileges while alive, its death has equally caught media and other attention.

The scared tortoise was reputed as the oldest in Africa, reports Tribune online and was sick for a few days before her demise on Thursday.

The  tortoise became a popular breed upon ascension of the throne of the current Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Oladunni Oyewumi with the monarch providing good shelter and health support for the tortoise during its sojourn on earth.

Confirming the incident to the Nigerian Tribune, the Private Secretary to Oba Oyewumi, Toyin Ajamu, stressed that the tortoise, which attracted people from all walks of life from Nigeria and abroad, will be greatly missed not only by the palace household but everyone who came in contact with Alagba during her lifetime.

According to Ajamu: “Alagba had lived in the palace for centuries. The tortoise played host to many monarchs in Ogbomoso in the past. Alagba became popular because Oba Oladunni Oyewumi, Soun of ogbomosoland, used his personal resources to cater for her well being.

“The tortoise had two staff members of the palace, dedicated to her. They provide food, health support and other logistics, so as to make sure she gets the best treatment. Often times, Kabiyesi shared great moments with Alagba. On a daily basis, Alagba, had tourists visiting her from different part of the world. The palace household, Ogbomoso community and stakeholders in the tourism sector are mourning Alagba’s passing. “

The palace secretary explained that plans were underway to preserve Alagba’s body for historical records.

SOME THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT ALAGBA

• Its present age was arrived at by calculations done from the period the Soun who brought it to the palace reigned, and it is almost a sacrilege to refer to it as an ordinary tortoise.

• Believed to be older than everyone in Ogbomoso, Alagba, was brought to the palace by His Royal Highness, Oba Ikumoyede Ajao, the third Soun to the founder of Ogbomoso, who is believed to have reigned between 1770 to 1791

• Alagba’s age is arrived at relying heavily on oral history.

• Oba Ikumoyede,  was a hunter who got the tortoise and brought it to the palace before he later became the ruler of the town
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• Alagba is said to be guarded by, first, the Soun of Ogbomoso himself,  and three other able men,  which before now include Mr Adeniyi Alagbe, Mr Abdulahi Bello and Baba Iyabo.

• Due to the respect that the tortoise enjoyed, it used to three square meals like any humans, foods which were prepared together with those of humans in the palace.

• Alagba was the only being that the king‘s wives usually run to for refuge any time the  king’s anger kindled against them.
• The king usually paid  him  a visit  whenever he is coming back from an outing or strolling around the palace.

• Alagba has been the source of human traffic trooping to the palace with some of them proposing to take the tortoise away.

-With additional information from Daily Trust