9 Traditions Of O.A.U That Can Never Be Practised In Any Other University

In the content of this article, I will be sharing some traditions that happen in Obafemi Awolowo University because only its students could make them happen.

A lot of things happen in various universities in Nigeria but there are some spectacular things that O.A.U students do.

ONLY O.A.U STUDENTS CAN MANDATE AN ARTISTE TO PROSTRATE FOR THEM BEFORE PERFORMING

This may sound strange and surprising to you but it does happen in O.A.U, It is a culture that O.A.U Students have been practising years back. It is called “IDOBALE”. What is Idobale? You see, Idobale is a tradition where O.A.U Students order a performing Artiste to Prostrates flat before performing or the podium. If it is a lady, she kneels. No matter what the status of this Artist may be. You will be surprised that Even Wizkid must lay flat for O.A.U students before he starts performing. Name the Artiste, they can’t bypass it, be it international Artiste like Drake, Eminem, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, et al believe me this is a fact none of them can perform in O.A.U without prostrating for O.A.U Students first.

This is not a fantasy, verify from any O.A.U Student you know. It has been happening over years. Many big artists even Actors have been mandated to prostrate and kneel before performance which usually takes place either in Oduduwa Hall or Amphi Theatre. Mercy Aigbe has once been asked to kneel down before stepping on the podium. Kenny Blaq prostrated before he started his O.A.U Tour.

This tradition is believed by O.A.U Students to be an act of respect for them. They believe they are different from other institutions in Nigeria and they must be shown due respect.
Here is another thing that only O.A.U Students do better than other Universities’ Students.

ONLY O.A.U STUDENTS CAN PRACTICE MAXIMUM SHISHI and MINIMUM SHISHI

You are probably wondering what this means right? Okay, MAXIMUM SHISHI and MINIMUM SHISHI as they are called are only practised by O.A.U Students in Nigeria; I am sure of that. So, what is Maximum Shishi? Okay, let’s say Maximum Shishi is a form of punishment given to anyone caught stealing in the Hostel or Academics. This type of SHISHI is in stages, the first stage is 1.striping the thief of his cloth remaining only undies. 2. Parading of the thief round all the 9 hostels in the Halls premises; Female hostel inclusive. Stage3. The beating of the thief probably till blood comes. The last stage is withdrawing the thief to the School Authority for legal measures. That is that about the Maximum Shishi.

Okay, what about the Minimum Shishi? The Minimum shishi is meant for petty thieves; probably someone who steals small amount of money within the range of #5 to #500, any price out of this will be Maximum Shishi. So the punishment for Minimum Shishi as its name implies is minimal compared to Maximum Shishi. Thus, in Minimum Shishi all these sentences are reduced like for the first stage: 1. the cloth won’t be striped but may be torn. 2. The parade will be within the hostel and not to all hostels in the School 3. The beating will also be minimal. i.e. it is not compulsory blood comes out and the final stage is also optional.

Now, tell is there any other University Students who dare try all these? I guess your answer is NO!

ONLY O.A.U STUDENTS CAN DO ARO

ARO started in O.A.U and it is obviously practised only in O.A.U. This Aro means the act of frustrating someone with the use of humorous jests. This Aro could be so extreme that if an elderly figure comes in the males’ Hall of Residence, preferably Obafemi Awolowo Hall of Residence, Awo Hall as it is called, the elder will certainly make jest of. Like you will hear all sort of things like “Mummy, shey e fi wa se Post-Jamb ni (Mummy, are you here to write Post-UTME)” “Mummy are you looking for a boyfriend in our hostel” all these and many more. The subject of an Aro is always furious but there is nothing he can do no matter how angered he could be. This is because Aro is a normal thing on O.A.U Campus.

This Aro, is professionally practised by a group of boys known as the “AWO BOYS”. These guys are the epitome of Aro. It is like that is what they do for survival. They move from hostel to hostel doing Aro for Occupants to make them laugh and sometimes cry too. Many Comedians Celebrities that finished from O.A.U started their comedy by doing this ARO on campus before they modify. Celeb like Baba Adan, Woli Arole, Yemi Elesho, among others.

When you come to O.A.U be prepared for anything as this ARO comes in diverse ways that you may not see coming at all.

ONLY OAU STUDENTS CAN WALK IN THE CAMPUS AREA AT MIDNIGHT (2AM) AS IF IT IS DAYLIGHT

In other Campus areas, it is quite difficult to see Students walking around as early as 2 am in morning. This is not because other Students from other institutions can’t do this but most universities in Nigeria do not allow their students to wander around late in the Night. You will see O.A.U Students walking up and down in the night as if they are on night duties.

ONLY O.A.U STUDENTS REJOICE FOR HAVING A “D” OR “E” GRADE

In other universities, students get sad for having a “D” or “E” in their core courses but this is a little unconventional among the O.A.U Students’ Community. O.A.U Students are sometimes happy for having these grades in some courses. They dance and even celebrate this kind of grade. When O.A.U Students have this “D” in courses like CHM101, PHL101, LIT101, MTH101 et al, you will see them dancing for not carrying the course. This is quite bizarre because a normal Student is expected to be sad for not having a distinction in a course but O.A.U Students do not see this as a bad thing at all.

ONLY O.A.U BOYS CAN BUY SUYA FOR THEIR GIRLFRIENDS BUT ONLY EAT THE ONION.

This may sound stupid but it is becoming a kind of tradition among O.A.U boys. You will see these guys at Suya stands, mouth dried and their babes are just eating Suya. At the end of the day, you will hear the lady say “I don’t like eating Onions, do you mind joining me?”. The guys’ haven been famished will joyfully accept the onion and start rushing it into his mouths. This happens almost every night. Just go to Suya Stands and will be shocked with this act.

ONLY O.A.U STUDENTS CAN MAKE THE WHOLE STATE SHUTDOWN VIA ALUTAISM

The type of Aluta practised by students is utterly different from the ones practised by U.I Students or any other University Students. I guess that is why O.A.U is like a mentor to other institutions when it comes to Strike. When Aluta goes to the extreme in O.A.U, it can affect the whole state. The spirit of Alutaism in O.A.U students is virtually unparallel. They once attempted to take the life of their then Vice Chancellor’s life – Omole – they chased him to his apartment in VC’S lodge and luckily for him, they did not meet him there. O.A.U Students had once fought against soldiers when they were locked outside the School’s Main gate and denied access to their campus. They did a lot then as they fed themselves there for a long period of time and when the soldiers threatened them with tear gas, they used a bucket and threw it back to them. They are outrageous. Run whenever you see that O.A.U Students are starting Aluta.

ONLY O.A.U STUDENTS CAN DECLARE STUDENTS’ STRIKE

In other Universities, it is bodied like the ASUU, NASU OR the SSANU that usually declare strike, but O.A.U Students are so funny that they just decide among themselves that they are going to strike. This usually happens probably when the Management fails to approve what they want. They had once observed a 6-Month Students’ Strike before. Funny, isn’t it? These Students believe so much in themselves.

ONLY O.A.U STUDENTS CAN SCABBASH FOR MORE THAN 12HOURS (OVERNIGHT)

Scabbash according to O.A.U Students simply means speaking in tongue. Yes! O.A.U Students speak in tongue for hours Non-Stop. This happens every night at Whitewall, you can come to verify this yourself. O.A.U Students do this because of their religious status; they are too devoted.