Post by Her Highness on Jan 18, 2016 7:30:23 GMT
The legend of Sungbo, who is believed to be the Queen of Sheba, straddles Christianity, Islam and the Coptic Orthodox Christianity traditions of Ethiopia. But her grave is left untended and untapped.
Buried and forgotten in Oke Eri village, a half hour drive from Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, is the tomb of Bilkis Sungbo. Overwhelming archeological evidence points to this site as the final resting place of the famous Queen of Sheba who enjoys prominent mention in both the Bible and the Quran, in detailed accounts of her relationship with King Solomon. In the Old Testament, she is described as having sent a caravan of gold, ivory and other goods from her kingdom to King Solomon.
In the Koran she is an Ethiopian sun worshiper named Bilqis (Balkis) involved in the incense trade who converts to Islam. The imperial family of Ethiopia claims its origin directly from the offspring of the Queen of Sheba by King Solomon. Local legends in Ijebu area of Ogun State link a monument known as Sungbo Eredo to a wealthy childless widow named Bilikisu Sungbo. Sungbo Eredo is a rampart or system of walls and ditches that surrounds Ijebu-Ode. It is reputed to be the largest single pre-colonial monument in Africa.
As a construction project, it required more earth to be moved than the Great Pyramid of Giza. More than 100 miles (160 kilometers) in circumference with some sections having walls which reach 70 feet (20 meters) in height, it encloses an area 25 miles (40 km) north to south and 22 miles (35 km) east to west. Even if Bilkis Sungbo is not the Queen of Sheba, surely, the complexity of this monument marks it out as a great heritage which has the potential to be a tourism revenue earner for Ogun State and indeed Nigeria.
The impressive size and complex construction of Sungbo Eredo drew worldwide media attention in September of 1999 when Professor Patrick Darling, an archaeologist then with the University of Bournemouth, surveyed the site and began publicising his bid to preserve the Eredo and bring the site some prominence. Professor Darling’s efforts have apparently not been enough to give the Eredo the prominence he imagined. But what has the government of Nigeria, or of Ogun State, where the site is located, done to attract prominence to it. The Sungbo Eredo monument is said to have been built by this mysterious wealthy widow as her personal memorial.
Her actual grave is located in Oke Eri Village in Ijebu area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Abandoned and almost overgrown with weeds it remains a tourists’ site whose potentials are yet to be explored. Pilgrims of Christian, Muslim and traditional African religions annually trek to the holy site in tribute to her. Some go there to offer prayers for personal issues. A guard at the site insisted that “Whatever is asked for at her grave side is accepted.” Among the throng of pilgrims are those going back there to thank the mysterious woman for answered prayers. But so far, not much is known about Bilkis Sungbo’s grave outside this local area.
There are more than enough reasons to be skeptical about the claim that Bilkis Sungbo was actually the Queen of Sheba. For instance, it is rather unbelievable that the final resting place of the legendary queen could be in a place far away from where the stories of the Bible or the Quran were written. Many cannot just understand the connection between the rustic Oke Eri Village and the woman of great virtue whose story is recorded in the Holy Books. However, despite the disbelief in some quarters, there is, perhaps, today, no solid story or evidence to contradict the conclusion that the grave which is tagged ‘Her Royal Majesty Queen Sheba Pure Holy and Caring’ is that of the queen, whom some believe was one of the numerous wives of King Solomon in the Bible.
At least, no other site has been authenticated as her final resting place. That is not to say the controversy is not on. In fact, for a long time it will continue to be in the public domain for debate as many are still bound to ask again and again if Bilkisu Sungbo is indeed the Queen of Sheba. To a British archaeologist, Dr. Patrick Darling of Bournemouth University, there is almost no doubt that the Bilikisu Sungbo Grave in Oke Eri, is the burial site of the Queen of Sheba. To him, some of the signs on ground when he visited it in 1994, were not far away from what is expected. And he has ticked it as the most likely site, in the absence of another to contradict it.
“We have living proof that it was a powerful kingdom, and there are many links that have similarities to the Queen of Sheba legend,” he was quoted as saying. Some of the features, he cited as examples, included the mud wall stretching over some 100 miles. According to him, “The earthwork, which is larger than the pyramids in Egypt, was built in remembrance of some great figure. Stories talk of a powerful goddess or giantess.” An expert in classical studies, one Andrew Wilson, agrees with Darling to a reasonable extent. “There is always some element of truth to beliefs passed down through generations. I would not disregard the notion that she lived in West Africa.” While the claim by scholars to Queen of Sheba as being a black and wealthy woman, was also a sort of evidence, Darling pointed out that the belief in the local area that Bilikisu Sungbo is indeed the Queen of Sheba, is also another evidence.
His words: “I don’t want to overplay the Sheba theory, but it cannot be discounted… The local people believe it and that’s what is important.” To those who may not know, the story of Queen of Sheba is told in both the Bible and the Quran. Identified as Queen of Sheba in the Bible, and Bilqis in the Quran, her story in relationship with the one acclaimed to be with an unparalleled level of wisdom, King Solomon, is prominent, even though with different versions. Reference is made of her in the Hebrew Bible, First Kings 10:1-13 (largely copied in 2 Chronicles 9:1–12). And in the Quran, reference is made of her in the 34th Chapter.
While one account said she set out on a journey to King Solomon, having been awed by his renowned level of wisdom, another said King Solomon invited her, having heard about the amount of power she wielded and the fact that she and her people worshipped Sun. Solomon was said to have also shown appreciation, giving out gifts and everything that she desired. But while the account of the Bible says after the visit, she went back to her country, another account holds that a love relationship soon sparked off, which led her to bearing some children for King Solomon. Now where was her country? To start with, Biblical accounts point to the fact that the Queen of Sheba was a black woman.
In the Song of Solomon, Queen Sheba describes thus: “I am black but comely ... look not upon me because of my blackness”. A historical account on famous women says the Queen of Sheba had a grand palace on ‘a very large island’ called Meroe, located someplace near the Nile river, ‘practically on the other side of the world.’ It was from there that she crossed the deserts of Arabia, through Ethiopia and Egypt, and up the coast of the Red Sea, to come to Jerusalem to see the great King Solomon.”
The questions that surround the claim that Bilkis Sungbo was the queen of Sheba are best left to historians and archeologists to answer. But even if Bilkis Sungbo was not the Queen of Sheba, a site of such significance as her grave and the monument which was built to her have tourism potential. Indeed, the archeologist, Dr. Patrick Darling, had said in 1999 when he was trying to draw the attention of the world to this site that, “What is exciting about this for me is that we are beginning to bring out the tremendous political and cultural achievements of black Africa.” If a British archeologist could say this about Sungbo’s shrine and her Eredo, why have we not seen it this way.
Since Darling’s efforts of 1999 failed to yield the desired fruit, the world has turned its gaze elsewhere and the Eredo has sunk back into the forest, almost as forgotten as it was for 1,000 years. No one knows that such a thing exists in Nigeria. Apart from the present neglect, another danger looms. Dr Darling believed that the Eredo, threatened by forest clearance and encroaching farmers, needs all the publicity it can get. He was concerned that in most places, the side-walls of the trench are giving in and the bottom is eroded because of trees being cut down to create farm land. “I am worried about it because unless it is properly protected it won’t last more than another couple of decades,” he had said way back in 1999.
So what have we done since 1999 to ensure the survival of this heritage? What are the relevant government agencies doing to ensure that we do not lose this heritage? A very senior official of the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC), who spoke to Saturday Mirror on condition of anonymity, confirmed the existence of the site and says it’s a potential tourism revenue earner. He, however, said that the tourism marketing agency has not made any contribution so far to the Bilikisu Sungbo site.
He laid the blame at the doorstep of the host state government, Ogun, which should have initiated the move in the first instance. “I am aware of the existence of the site, but I can tell you that the NTDC has not been brought into the picture either to take it over or market it. State governments all have tourism boards and it behoves on the Tourism Board of the host state to set the ball rolling by initiating the move. It is after they have done that that the NTDC would do something,” the NDTC source said, assuring Saturday Mirror that the agency would come to the assistance of the host state when the agency is brought into the picture.
According to Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Yusuf Olaniyonu, the government, being a new one, would want to ascertain the state of the Bilikisu Sungbo shrine before the new administration takes any step. “The government is still new and needs to study things before knowing what steps to take,” he said. Efforts to get the Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Olu Odeyemi, to clarify the status of the monument proved abortive. His aides claimed that he was already attending to a letter that has a direct impact on the authenticity of the subject matter of the shrine. The Ogun State Director of Tourism, Mrs. Peters, would not comment on the matter and even threatened to sue National Mirror should the paper publish anything uncomplimentary about the government of Ogun State as regards Bilkis Sungbo’s shrine.
___________________________________
Source
Buried and forgotten in Oke Eri village, a half hour drive from Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, is the tomb of Bilkis Sungbo. Overwhelming archeological evidence points to this site as the final resting place of the famous Queen of Sheba who enjoys prominent mention in both the Bible and the Quran, in detailed accounts of her relationship with King Solomon. In the Old Testament, she is described as having sent a caravan of gold, ivory and other goods from her kingdom to King Solomon.
In the Koran she is an Ethiopian sun worshiper named Bilqis (Balkis) involved in the incense trade who converts to Islam. The imperial family of Ethiopia claims its origin directly from the offspring of the Queen of Sheba by King Solomon. Local legends in Ijebu area of Ogun State link a monument known as Sungbo Eredo to a wealthy childless widow named Bilikisu Sungbo. Sungbo Eredo is a rampart or system of walls and ditches that surrounds Ijebu-Ode. It is reputed to be the largest single pre-colonial monument in Africa.
As a construction project, it required more earth to be moved than the Great Pyramid of Giza. More than 100 miles (160 kilometers) in circumference with some sections having walls which reach 70 feet (20 meters) in height, it encloses an area 25 miles (40 km) north to south and 22 miles (35 km) east to west. Even if Bilkis Sungbo is not the Queen of Sheba, surely, the complexity of this monument marks it out as a great heritage which has the potential to be a tourism revenue earner for Ogun State and indeed Nigeria.
The impressive size and complex construction of Sungbo Eredo drew worldwide media attention in September of 1999 when Professor Patrick Darling, an archaeologist then with the University of Bournemouth, surveyed the site and began publicising his bid to preserve the Eredo and bring the site some prominence. Professor Darling’s efforts have apparently not been enough to give the Eredo the prominence he imagined. But what has the government of Nigeria, or of Ogun State, where the site is located, done to attract prominence to it. The Sungbo Eredo monument is said to have been built by this mysterious wealthy widow as her personal memorial.
Her actual grave is located in Oke Eri Village in Ijebu area of Ogun State, Nigeria. Abandoned and almost overgrown with weeds it remains a tourists’ site whose potentials are yet to be explored. Pilgrims of Christian, Muslim and traditional African religions annually trek to the holy site in tribute to her. Some go there to offer prayers for personal issues. A guard at the site insisted that “Whatever is asked for at her grave side is accepted.” Among the throng of pilgrims are those going back there to thank the mysterious woman for answered prayers. But so far, not much is known about Bilkis Sungbo’s grave outside this local area.
There are more than enough reasons to be skeptical about the claim that Bilkis Sungbo was actually the Queen of Sheba. For instance, it is rather unbelievable that the final resting place of the legendary queen could be in a place far away from where the stories of the Bible or the Quran were written. Many cannot just understand the connection between the rustic Oke Eri Village and the woman of great virtue whose story is recorded in the Holy Books. However, despite the disbelief in some quarters, there is, perhaps, today, no solid story or evidence to contradict the conclusion that the grave which is tagged ‘Her Royal Majesty Queen Sheba Pure Holy and Caring’ is that of the queen, whom some believe was one of the numerous wives of King Solomon in the Bible.
At least, no other site has been authenticated as her final resting place. That is not to say the controversy is not on. In fact, for a long time it will continue to be in the public domain for debate as many are still bound to ask again and again if Bilkisu Sungbo is indeed the Queen of Sheba. To a British archaeologist, Dr. Patrick Darling of Bournemouth University, there is almost no doubt that the Bilikisu Sungbo Grave in Oke Eri, is the burial site of the Queen of Sheba. To him, some of the signs on ground when he visited it in 1994, were not far away from what is expected. And he has ticked it as the most likely site, in the absence of another to contradict it.
“We have living proof that it was a powerful kingdom, and there are many links that have similarities to the Queen of Sheba legend,” he was quoted as saying. Some of the features, he cited as examples, included the mud wall stretching over some 100 miles. According to him, “The earthwork, which is larger than the pyramids in Egypt, was built in remembrance of some great figure. Stories talk of a powerful goddess or giantess.” An expert in classical studies, one Andrew Wilson, agrees with Darling to a reasonable extent. “There is always some element of truth to beliefs passed down through generations. I would not disregard the notion that she lived in West Africa.” While the claim by scholars to Queen of Sheba as being a black and wealthy woman, was also a sort of evidence, Darling pointed out that the belief in the local area that Bilikisu Sungbo is indeed the Queen of Sheba, is also another evidence.
His words: “I don’t want to overplay the Sheba theory, but it cannot be discounted… The local people believe it and that’s what is important.” To those who may not know, the story of Queen of Sheba is told in both the Bible and the Quran. Identified as Queen of Sheba in the Bible, and Bilqis in the Quran, her story in relationship with the one acclaimed to be with an unparalleled level of wisdom, King Solomon, is prominent, even though with different versions. Reference is made of her in the Hebrew Bible, First Kings 10:1-13 (largely copied in 2 Chronicles 9:1–12). And in the Quran, reference is made of her in the 34th Chapter.
While one account said she set out on a journey to King Solomon, having been awed by his renowned level of wisdom, another said King Solomon invited her, having heard about the amount of power she wielded and the fact that she and her people worshipped Sun. Solomon was said to have also shown appreciation, giving out gifts and everything that she desired. But while the account of the Bible says after the visit, she went back to her country, another account holds that a love relationship soon sparked off, which led her to bearing some children for King Solomon. Now where was her country? To start with, Biblical accounts point to the fact that the Queen of Sheba was a black woman.
In the Song of Solomon, Queen Sheba describes thus: “I am black but comely ... look not upon me because of my blackness”. A historical account on famous women says the Queen of Sheba had a grand palace on ‘a very large island’ called Meroe, located someplace near the Nile river, ‘practically on the other side of the world.’ It was from there that she crossed the deserts of Arabia, through Ethiopia and Egypt, and up the coast of the Red Sea, to come to Jerusalem to see the great King Solomon.”
The questions that surround the claim that Bilkis Sungbo was the queen of Sheba are best left to historians and archeologists to answer. But even if Bilkis Sungbo was not the Queen of Sheba, a site of such significance as her grave and the monument which was built to her have tourism potential. Indeed, the archeologist, Dr. Patrick Darling, had said in 1999 when he was trying to draw the attention of the world to this site that, “What is exciting about this for me is that we are beginning to bring out the tremendous political and cultural achievements of black Africa.” If a British archeologist could say this about Sungbo’s shrine and her Eredo, why have we not seen it this way.
Since Darling’s efforts of 1999 failed to yield the desired fruit, the world has turned its gaze elsewhere and the Eredo has sunk back into the forest, almost as forgotten as it was for 1,000 years. No one knows that such a thing exists in Nigeria. Apart from the present neglect, another danger looms. Dr Darling believed that the Eredo, threatened by forest clearance and encroaching farmers, needs all the publicity it can get. He was concerned that in most places, the side-walls of the trench are giving in and the bottom is eroded because of trees being cut down to create farm land. “I am worried about it because unless it is properly protected it won’t last more than another couple of decades,” he had said way back in 1999.
So what have we done since 1999 to ensure the survival of this heritage? What are the relevant government agencies doing to ensure that we do not lose this heritage? A very senior official of the Nigerian Tourism Development Commission (NTDC), who spoke to Saturday Mirror on condition of anonymity, confirmed the existence of the site and says it’s a potential tourism revenue earner. He, however, said that the tourism marketing agency has not made any contribution so far to the Bilikisu Sungbo site.
He laid the blame at the doorstep of the host state government, Ogun, which should have initiated the move in the first instance. “I am aware of the existence of the site, but I can tell you that the NTDC has not been brought into the picture either to take it over or market it. State governments all have tourism boards and it behoves on the Tourism Board of the host state to set the ball rolling by initiating the move. It is after they have done that that the NTDC would do something,” the NDTC source said, assuring Saturday Mirror that the agency would come to the assistance of the host state when the agency is brought into the picture.
According to Ogun State Commissioner for Information, Yusuf Olaniyonu, the government, being a new one, would want to ascertain the state of the Bilikisu Sungbo shrine before the new administration takes any step. “The government is still new and needs to study things before knowing what steps to take,” he said. Efforts to get the Ogun State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Olu Odeyemi, to clarify the status of the monument proved abortive. His aides claimed that he was already attending to a letter that has a direct impact on the authenticity of the subject matter of the shrine. The Ogun State Director of Tourism, Mrs. Peters, would not comment on the matter and even threatened to sue National Mirror should the paper publish anything uncomplimentary about the government of Ogun State as regards Bilkis Sungbo’s shrine.
___________________________________
Source
