It’s a curious, but little-known fact that the rate of twin births in West Africa is about four times higher than in the rest of the world. The centre of this twin zone is Igbo-Ora, a sleepy southwest town in Nigeria.
More twins are born here than anywhere else on earth, but nobody is quite sure why this town should be more twin prone than any other.
‘Being a father of twins is a joy. It is a sort of honour, because you know they are a special breed from God.’
On the road going into the town of Igbo-Ora, there’s a large stone plinth, which proudly welcomes visitors to ‘the land of twins’. Here there are few households who do not have at least one set of twins.
Nigeria is the most highly populated nation in the world with an estimated 170 million people and population experts say that the country, particularly the southwest, has the world’s highest twinning rate.
Whilst recent accurate figures do not exist, a study conducted by a British gynaecologist, Patrick Nylander, between 1972 and 1982 recorded an average of 45 to 50 sets of twins per 1000 live births in the southwest.
In the predominantly rural community of Igbo-Ora, multiple births are celebrated and have, over the generations, been regarded as special gifts from God. Twins are a blessing, with many pregnant women wishing for multiple births.
Igbo-Ora is not a wealthy town, many families rely on farming for their income and resources are scarce.
Bringing up large numbers of children can be a struggle, but in many families the arrival of twins continues to be warmly welcomed as one townsman explains:
‘Being a father of twins is a joy. It is a sort of honour, because you know they are a special breed from God.’
BBC
POSITIVE NIGERIA 