May 25, 2025, 1:15 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Igbo-Ora in southwestern Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, calls itself the “Twin Capital of the World.” Indeed, the birth rate of twins here is significantly higher than anywhere else on the planet. The scientific reasons for this are still unknown, but the town is already dreaming of capitalizing on its unique status.
Anyone walking through the Nigerian city of Igbo-Ora on a typical day might think they’re seeing double. Literally, because everywhere you turn, you’ll encounter pairs of people who look strikingly similar and wear the same clothes. This is because they are often twins, and Igbo-Ora has more twins than anywhere else on the planet. In fact, the birth rate of twins is so high that Igbo-Ora proudly calls itself the “Twin Capital of the World.” While scientists are still searching for an explanation for this phenomenon, Igbo-Ora is already capitalizing on it.
Although Christianity and Islam are widespread in Nigeria, according to the BBC, a majority of Igbo-Ora’s residents still adhere to the pagan Yoruba culture. In this culture, twins are considered a blessing from the gods. Those who have such children are richly gifted by friends and neighbors. A twin finds it easier to find a partner later in life. In fact, many women are quite disappointed if they don’t give birth to twins. To make things even more interesting, all these pairs of children share the same, god-predestined name.
Diet or Genetic Factor?
Regardless of gender, the firstborn child in Igbo-Ora is always named Taiwo, which means “The one who challenges the world.” The second child settles for a less spectacular name and is called Kehinde, which translates to “The one who came after.” While the global average rate for twin births is about 12 per 1,000, in Igbo-Ora, it is significantly higher—around 45 per 1,000. The locals have an intriguing explanation for this blessing. They believe the abundance of twins is rooted in their diet.
Especially a dish called “Ilasa,” made from okra leaves, is considered a special twin booster. Another reason, according to them, lies in the beliefs of the Yoruba followers. A prince founded the city in the 14th century and received a special message from the gods. If people offered their sacrifices in pairs, the gods would bless the place with twin births. Scientists have long been studying the phenomenon in Igbo-Ora but have yet to find a definitive explanation.
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They believe it could be due to genetic factors but are also investigating the possible influence of the Yoruba diet. Most twins in Igbo-Ora are fraternal, while identical pairs are rarer. While researchers continue to search for explanations, locals are already considering how to capitalize on the unusual concentration of twins. Indeed, twins can be found in almost every household in the city, and some are already dreaming of official recognition by the Guinness Book of World Records as the “Twin Capital of the World.”
There is already hope that the twin factor could bring international tourism to the city in the future. To celebrate their uniqueness, an annual twins festival is held here. Thousands of people, each pair in identical clothing, gather for a large, colorful celebration, as reported by Al-Jazeera. The parade is already eyeing the Guinness record for the world’s largest official twins gathering. And, of course, the organizers of the festivities are also twins.