Do Spirits Really Exist in Water?

Do Spirits Really exist in water?

Written by Magna Adeniji Esther Temiloluwa 

You might be wondering if Spirits do really exist in water?

Let's go on a journey to an ancestral water fall in Niger State.

    Deep in the heart of Niger State, North Central Nigeria, lies a majestic natural wonder with a story that precedes colonial maps, the Gurara Waterfall. Towering at approximately 30 meters (about the height of a 10-storey building), this thundering waterfall crashes into the Gurara River along the Suleja-Minna Road. But Gurara isn’t just a beautiful sight, it’s a place wrapped in mystery, ancient beliefs, and stories of spirits that is still said to echo in the spray of its waters.

   This ancestral waterfall was said to have been discovered by Buba, a Gwari hunter in 1745. Later in the 20th century some Europeans discovered it as a recreation center. But before this discovery, this waterfall had been worshipped by people living in the communities around it. It’s said that this waterfall has two deities in it. One is male and the other is female, they are called “Gura”and “Rara”respectively. That solves the problem of the origin of the name “Gurara Waterfall “. The male deity is inside the waterfall while the female deity is across the male deity.

The hunter, Buba who discovered this waterfall used it for sacrificial purposes. This sacrifice took place annually and it’s a human sacrifice, in fact male children! The people around the community who worshipped the water spirit were mandated to sacrifice their male children and this goes around in turn. Definitely it was going to reach you! If at all you refuse to submit your son for this sacrifice, you must go in place. These two shrines exist up until this day and it’s said that whenever they appear, they appear in the form of a rainbow.

 Places like this definitely have their do’s and don’ts… In previous time, it was a taboo to visit this waterfall in outfits coloured white or red . The reason being that this is the outfit used for sacrifice. “Nothing is more dangerous in the world than sincere ignorance…” people who had visited this waterfall ignorant of the rules that guide this waterfall met their doom. It is believed that “ people who die by the water must be buried close to the water.” In this light , there is a grave yard close to the waterfall . If the families and loved ones of these corpses insist on taking the body away, there are certain procedures to go through, if not it is said that these families will never be at peace. 

To visit a place like this, there are specific times of the year you can go. In the month of July , August thereabout people are not allowed to visit there. If all at you go during this time, you would only watch from a safe distance. An interesting fact is that this waterfall houses 48( forty-eight ) species of fish. The water fall spans about 300 meters across and 50 meters below. It’s safest to swim during the dry season, then the water is clean and calm. 

Gurara waterfall is one of Nigeria’s most famous tourist attractions and one of the many natural habitats the nation is blessed with. The waterfall serves as a destination for fun lovers and travelers. The Gurara river is a tributary for the famous River Niger. This waterfall is most impressive after the raining season when the water becomes a raging torrent. Beautiful works of nature like this helps us to appreciate the creativity of God all the more .The river and the falls are great spots for fishing and wildlife viewing. Under the sun, the water has an admirable shine that is as beautiful as fireworks. 

There are plans to develop this site into international standards. An indigenous private developer has shown signs of interest in partnering with the Niger state government to bring this to actualization. The state government has developed the road to the waterfall, the private developer plans to establish a park, conference center, hostel and restaurant around the falls. This waterfall is a sight to behold.

Thanks for reading.