When Haruna Ruled Ibadan: A Zoo, a Gorilla, and the Day Faith Met the Lions 🦍🦁
For those who grew up in Ibadan, the memories of the University of Ibadan Zoo are etched in our hearts. It wasn’t just a place; it was an experience that lived rent-free in the imagination of an entire generation. If you were a child in the 1970s, your calendar likely revolved around it—Sundays, school holidays, festive breaks. The zoo wasn’t merely an attraction; it was the event of the season.
At the center of it all stood a legend: Haruna the Gorilla.
Haruna: The Celebrity Gorilla of Ibadan 🌟
Haruna was no ordinary animal behind glass. He was a star. Children pressed their faces against the bars, while adults whispered stories of his grandeur. Visitors traveled from all corners of the city just to see him sit, stare, and silently dominate the space.
In a child’s mind? That zoo was the best zoo in the world—no contest.
Among the zoo's notable residents were also the lions—a male lion and a lioness—whose names may have faded into obscurity, but their presence remains unforgettable.
The Sunday Spectacle: When the Lions Were Fed 🍖
Every Ibadan kid knew it well: it was feeding day.
A goat—or two—would be released into the lions’ heavily fenced arena. What followed was raw, primal, terrifying, and magnetic. Families watched in awe. Children screamed in excitement. Adults pretended not to look but never blinked.
Looking back now, it sounds wild. But back then, it was normal, a reminder that nature does not negotiate.
And then… something happened that turned folklore into legend 🔥
The Man Who Thought He Was Daniel
One day—whether Sunday or not, the lines of memory blur—a man climbed the fence. He was a religious pastor, a man of faith, utterly convinced that he was Daniel in the lions’ den.
He scaled the tall barriers, ignored the warnings, and jumped into the lions’ arena. There was no miracle that day. No divine pause. No testimony afterward.
He did not live to tell his story.
The Question That Never Left Us 🤔
Years later, one question still lingers in the mind of every child who heard the story:
What if he had survived?
Think about it.
If he had walked out untouched—scratches healed, clothes torn, but alive—Nigeria would never be the same. He wouldn’t have been just a pastor; he would have become a movement.
- Crowds would have followed.
- Churches would have overflowed.
- History books would have been rewritten.
Some would have called it faith. Others, madness. Many would have sworn they witnessed divinity. But reality chose a different ending.
A Better Ending — The One Time Gives Us ✨
Perhaps the true miracle wasn’t survival. Perhaps it was the lesson.
It taught us that:
- Faith without wisdom is dangerous.
- Belief does not suspend biology.
- Lions, no matter how symbolic, are still lions.
And maybe that’s why the story endured—not as proof of divinity, but as a reminder of humility.
Why This Story Still Matters 💭
The UI Zoo of the 1970s wasn’t just about animals. It was about community, childhood wonder, and the thin line between belief and reality.
Haruna is gone. The lions are memories. But the stories? They live on.
And if you grew up in Ibadan, you know this truth:
Some places don’t just exist in history—they live forever in the mind’s eye.
Let’s keep the spirit of those moments alive. Share your memories and celebrate the legacy of the UI Zoo!