The rock stands tall and seems to gaze at the plains of the Southern Zone of Plateau State. The magnificent sight the rock commands can be seen and felt clearly from a distance of three to four kilometres from its actual location. It is this ability to hold any visitor spellbound, that makes this massive monument a spectacular inselberg.
An inselberg, a German word which means ‘Island Mountain’, is defined as an isolated rock-hill that rises abruptly from a gently sloping or virtually level surrounding plain. A close encounter with the dome shaped Wase rock reveals its stunning appearance, as well as its naked isolation; with no tourists, the white pelicans, or even the black monkeys or baboons that once prowled the area.
According to Wikipedia, Wase rock achieves an incredible height of about 350 metres (1,150 ft) above the surface of neighbouring surroundings, and is one of the only five breeding places for the white pelicans in Africa. It also states that about 1.30 kilometres of land around the rock ,is protected as a bird sanctuary, and that it is visible for a radius of 40 kilometres due to its height.
Tracing the history of Wase town and its connection to the rock, Malam Hassan Ahmadu, a 74-year old indigene of the community, recalled tales of how his grandfather, who was once regarded as a historian, told him that Madaki Hassan (the man who built Wase town) had combed the area in search of a place to settle. On sighting the huge rock, he knew he had found a suitable place to call home. Since then, the rock’s gigantic presence has attracted the attention of many, including the colonialists who trooped one after the other to uncover its secrets.
Ahmadu said the white men were so obsessed with the rock, that they just could not stay away until they conquered it. He recalled “They kept on coming almost yearly to go round it and take pictures. But it was many, many years later that a group of three white men came and said they were going to climb the rock. My grandfather used to laugh at their attempt. After going round and taking measurements for several days they couldn’t climb the rock, so they left. A few years after that encounter, while I was an adult, another white man came with his group, and they succeeded in reaching the rock’s peak. They even spent about two to three days on the rock, before they came down. Since then, I can’t remember anyone that has climbed that rock again. People usually come to look at it, but no one has succeeded in reaching the rock’s peak.”
The General Manager, Plateau State Tourism Corporation, Mr. John Doy, equally said the rock had once served as an annual spot for mountain climbers. He told Daily Trust “There is a white man who conquered the rock by getting to the top, but he ended up being stung by bees. He is late now, but he was accompanied by the principal of a secondary school in Wase, late Mr. Langkuk and our staff, Mrs Salome Paul, also participated in that exercise. There used to be routes to the top, together with ropes that will guide you to the top.”
Doy said the mountain climbing which used to attract tourists to the place has been suspended due to the ethno-religious crises that has engulfed the state ,which led to the cutting down of trees by the mini game reserve, and the sharing of lands around the area by the inhabitants as farm lands.
No doubt, a rock of this magnitude must have its share of mysteries.The rush to claim portions of the surrounding lands by farmers, is probably due to what Ahmadu described as the fertility of soil around the rock, which usually makes for bountiful harvests. He was quick to explain: “It has always been like that from the beginning. My grandfather used to tell me that even the grass they used as thatch must always come from around the rock, because anything around the rock brings luck.”
Possibly, the most notable among the said powers of the rock, is that it provides a kind of protective shield for Wase community. This, perhaps, explains why no invader has successfully penetrated its walls, despite various attempts during crisis situations.
Despite the rock’s intimidating presence and the aura of power in which it is dressed, it now looks withered, and this is perhaps why some claim that the famous Wase rock is dying. Those who make this claim base their argument on an apparent wearing off of a side of the rock, and attribute this to the many rituals that have taken place around the rock. They claim the surroundings of the rock has for many years been used as a shrine by traditionalists who also claim the rock possesses powers. “Ritualists used to pick the tiny stones around the rock for various purposes,” Ahmadu said.
Doy gave an explanation as to the deteriorating appearance of the rock. Tying his explanation to climatic variables, Doy said, “The rock seems to wither because it receives heat which assists in the breakage. The rains and chemical withering come in too. So you see, the rock is gradually reducing. They say there is a gorge on top where water settles after the rain. From the side of the rock you will see areas where the water percolates down. These could be the reason for why Wase rock looks the way it is.”
Among the spectacles that have made Wase Rock a sight to behold, is the appearance of white pelicans in the skies around the rock. Those who visited the rock in the 60’s 70’s and 80’s will tell a story of the white pelicans referred to as Kwasa-kwasa, hovering in the skies above the rock. The indigenes claim the white pelicans used to migrate in their hundreds to settle on the rock, where they are known to breed.
With a note of nostalgia, Ahmadu said it had however been almost 20 years since Kwasa-kwasa visited. He explained, “I would love to see Kwasa-kwasa again, but they no longer come here. I think those birds have not been seen for the past 20 years.”
Doy explained that the disappearance of the white pelicans may be connected to their being disturbed by the baboons. According to him, “the pelicans used to come seasonally, and those who climbed the rock said they used to see remnants of fish, because the pelicans would move to River Benue, then come to the top of the rock to lay their eggs. The Baboons may have contributed to their movement, because if birds have a nest ,and they feel there is an intruder who probably destroys their eggs, they may now leave to find another location. The baboons used to inhabit the area in the past, you will hear them crying, and they moved in colonies. They used to come, and if you served pepper soup and you were not careful, they would take it away.”
The tourism board boss says plans are in the pipeline to ensure that the rock regains its lost glory as a tourist destination; but one thing has continued to disturb. There is an enduring story of cracks that seem to have become usual within any structure built a few meters from the rock.
According to Doy, “it seems any structure built some meters away from the rock will develop a crack. Since they say the earth revolves, sometimes we wonder if the rock itself revolves. I mean does it move? But another option could be that the crack is caused by the soil texture around the area.”
Nevertheless, there is hope for mountain climbers who still wish to conquer Wase Rock, in order to revive the annual event of mountain climbing, or rock climbing. Doy has also suggested a well furnished hotel to be constructed close to the rock. He said, “There have been conflicting ideas as to how to tackle the issue of the crack. You know, once there is a crack, the longevity of the building is affected. But I have suggested a well furnished hotel to avoid the incident, so as to preserve the naturally-occurring edifice.”
