In Ayetoro, twins were not only children; they were blessings. To see a mother carrying twins on her back was to witness joy multiplied, a sign of abundance and divine favour. In the 1950s and 1960s, such moments were often marked by song, as neighbours gathered to celebrate, their voices rising in unison around the mother and her children. These gatherings reflected both cultural tradition and the communal spirit of the Happy City.
The Ilaje and Yoruba people have long held twins in special regard, seeing them as carriers of fortune, symbols of prosperity, and messengers of hope. In Ayetoro, this reverence found expression in everyday life. When twins were born, the news spread quickly through the settlement. Women gathered to support the mother, preparing food, singing hymns, and offering prayers. Men joined in with words of blessing, and children danced nearby. The celebration affirmed the community’s shared belief that every child belonged not just to a family but to Aiyetoro itself.
Archival photographs capture mothers, strong and graceful, carrying one twin on the back and holding another in the arms, while neighbours stood around in joyful song. Oral testimonies recall how the gatherings would often take place in open courtyards or along the sandy paths between houses. Songs blended traditional rhythms with hymns from the Holy Apostles’ Church, creating an atmosphere that was both spiritual and festive.
For the mothers, carrying twins was both a challenge and a joy. The physical weight was heavy, yet the emotional weight was lightened by the knowledge that they were not alone. Neighbours sang to strengthen them, to remind them that the town shared their labour and their blessing. Some songs praised the mother’s strength, others celebrated the children as “double joy.” The sound of voices, handclaps, and drums turned the moment into a ritual of belonging.
The Apostles themselves gave theological depth to these traditions. They taught that twins were a sign of God’s generosity, a reminder that abundance could spring from faithfulness. In church services, prayers were offered for the health of twins and their mothers, reinforcing the sense that their lives carried communal significance.
These celebrations also provided lessons for children watching. Boys and girls saw firsthand the way community gathered around a mother, how women supported one another, and how music and faith could transform everyday life into ceremony. Such experiences shaped their understanding of responsibility, compassion, and joy.
Visitors who witnessed these moments often wrote about the harmony they observed. To outsiders, the sight of a mother carrying twins while surrounded by singing neghbours seemed extraordinary. To Ayetoro, it was simply the natural rhythm of life: faith expressed in music, community expressed in care, and children embraced as collective treasure..
Though the shoreline has changed and many traditions face the pressures of time, the memory of mothers carrying twins remains vivid. It tells of a community where joy was doubled, burdens were shared, and songs turned ordinary days into sacred celebrations.
As one elder reflected: “When twins were born, it was never just the family that rejoiced. It was Ayetoro that rejoiced.”
