City of twin faces… where ‘double happiness’ is visible in every street, know why this place is special

New Delhi. Just imagine, you reach a city where after every few steps while walking on the road, you start seeing people with the same shape. If you go to a shop, you will see two identical shopkeepers, two look-alike children outside the school and such young men playing in the park who look as if someone has made multiple copies of the same face. At first glance you may feel that perhaps it is an optical illusion or that you have entered a film world. But there actually exists a place in the world where this scene is common.

Igbo-Ora, a small town located in the south-western part of the African country Nigeria, is famous across the world as the “Twin Capital of the World”. In this area with a population of about two lakhs, twins are born in such large numbers that similar faces have become a part of everyday life.

Why is Igbo-Ora special?

The identity of Igbo-Ora is not limited only to the number of twins, but it also has special significance in the culture here. There is a monument built in the center of the city, in which a mother is seen holding twin children in her lap. It is considered a symbol of identity and social pride here.

The birth of twins is generally considered rare in the world. According to a global study, an average of 12 twins are born in every 1,000 deliveries. But in Igbo-Ora this figure is shocking. About 45 to 50 pairs of twins are born here for every 1,000 live births.

Why are so many twins born?

Scientists have been trying to understand this mystery for a long time. Some researchers believe that it may be related to the traditional food here. The Igbo-Ora people eat large quantities of yams, which contain a chemical called phytoestrogen.

It is believed that this element can stimulate the ovaries in women’s body, increasing the chances of releasing more than one egg at a time. In medical science it is called multiple ovulation, which can increase the chances of birth of twins.

However, experts also believe that food is not the only reason for this. Due to limited marriages taking place over generations, the gene pool here may have evolved to suit this situation.

Here twins are considered good luck

Among the Igbo-Ora, twins are considered not just a biological phenomenon but a blessing from God. In local tradition, twins are considered a symbol of prosperity and security.

When twins are born in a house, the family makes beans and distributes them throughout the neighborhood. This is considered a special tradition of sharing happiness. To spread this unique identity to the world, the World Twins Festival is also organized here every year on 11 October, in which twins from all over the world come to participate.

India also has ‘Twin Capital’

Not only in Nigeria, there is also a place in India where the number of twins surprises scientists. Kodinhi village in Malappuram district of Kerala is known as the “Twin Capital of India”.

More than 450 twin pairs live in this village of about 2,000 families. That means more than 900 people whose faces resemble each other. While the birth rate of twins is relatively low in India, Kodinhi’s figure is much higher than the global average.

Scientists have also conducted research in such places as Brazil and India, but an example of consistently high twin birth rates like Igbo-Ora is considered extremely rare in the world.

Igbo-Ora still remains a mystery to the people. Science is trying to find the reasons for this, but for the people here it is a blessing of nature – a place where life is truly born with double the happiness.