In Nigeria, the burial ground of the biblical and mythical Queen of Sheba, which the Yoruba call Bilikisu Sungbo, is now a place of worship and tourism. Every year, millions of people from all over the world come to the Oke-Eri, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria, grave-turned-shrine to unravel the mystery surrounding Bilikisu Sungbo. It was believed that the historical queen Bilikisu Sungbo traveled all the way down from Ethiopia to Ijebu-Ode, where she died and was buried. The locals of Ijebu-Tribute hold solid and famous cases about the personality of the dubious Bilikisu Sungbo. They asserted that she was the Queen of Sheba mentioned in the Bible as having paid Solomon a visit when he was at his most powerful. Additionally, they asserted that Bilikisu Sungbo was the Quranic Queen Baliqs of Ethopia, from whom the name Bilikisu derives, who paid king Sulaiman a visit. According to a different source, Bilikisu Sungbo was wealthy and the leader of a group of female potters who traveled to far-flung locations. Additionally, she was accepted to have otherworldly abilities with which she dug ditches around towns in Ijebu-Tribute.
Queen Bilikisu Sungbo Despite this, the Ijebu people’s custom forbids women and dogs from visiting Bilikisu Sungbo’s burial site. There is a small patch of uncultivated land at the shrine. The ancient queen is said to have been washed here before being buried. Because of her supernatural powers, no grass or plant can ever grow there.
The shrine of Bilikisu Sungbo was included in 1995 as a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site. The “grave-shrine” of Bilikisu Sungbo will always be a source of pride for the Ijebu-Ode people.
