Twin births, four times more frequent than the global average, but the reasons are still unknown…

In Igbo-Ora, a town of about 200,000 inhabitants in southwestern Nigeria, far more twins are born than the global average. Since the 1970s, the city has attracted world attention for its extraordinary rate of twins: nearly four times higher than the world average.

While worldwide about 12 dizygotic (non-identical) twins are born per thousand births, in Igbo-Ora estimates show about 45 per thousand. Scientifically, there is still no definitive explanation.

Studies have shown that genetic factors may play a role within the Yoruba and, to a lesser extent, Hausa ethnolinguistic groups. The concentration of marriages within the community may have favored the inheritance of these traits over time.

Dizygotic twins are the ones that mainly contribute to the Igbo-Ora phenomenon, while monozygotic twins – those born from a single egg – follow the global average.

Environmental factors and diet have also been the object of study. Traditional foods such as cassava amámala, okra leaf soup and white sweet potato may have an epigenetic impact, modifying gene expression.

But there is no clear evidence that these are the direct cause of so many twins being born. However, many residents associate the phenomenon with eating habits and the micronutrients present in local foods, seeing them as part of tradition.

Yoruba culture sees twins as a divine blessing and auspicious sign, bringing protection and development. In Igbo-Ora, marrying into a family that has twins is considered lucky.

Twins are also represented in the visual arts, with wooden statues called ìbejì, created to preserve the spirit of deceased twins and protect the family.

The tradition of ìbejì continues today, although less widespread than it once was, and has been exhibited in international museums. The city honors this unique phenomenon every year with a festival, where twins from all over the world participate.

A central statue of a mother holding twins commemorates this cultural and biological uniqueness of the Igbo-Ora. Although science does not have a definitive answer, Igbo-Ora has become a global symbol of the mystery and wonder of twin births. /tesheshi

We use cookies to improve the experience and to display ads (Google AdSense).
By clicking “Accept”, you agree to the use of cookies according to
Privacy Policy
and
Cookies Policy.
You can reject non-necessary cookies by clicking “Reject”.

Source: prizrenpost