By Damilola Adeyera
The composer of this orchestra is nature. Nature, through its wisdom, harnesses the power of the dry and rainy seasons to direct the orchestra on what symphony to play. It is with these two distinctive Nigerian weather seasons that the movement of this orchestra is determined.
At La Campagne Tropicana Beach & Forest Resort, the pattern of this orchestra is a traditional four-movement symphony. There are days when the movement is fast. On some days, it’s dependent on mood. Yet, one is guaranteed that nature has designed this orchestra to take you through a full range of human emotions.
Upon your arrival at La Campagne Tropicana, you’re welcomed by nature with the second movement, not the first. This slow and expressive piece is performed by the growing trees on the right-hand side of the main entrance.
The growing trees are described as such because they’re young and still developing. Hence, the sounds and lyrics to your ears are slow and expressively welcome you to the resort.
The growing trees are the growing evidence of the impact of the Ipada Initiative. A brainchild of Otunba Olawanle Akinboboye, Ipada initiative was created to inspire the African diaspora to return to the continent.
It was curated with the mission to create a motherland entertainment experience for the African diaspora. As part of its lineup of events, interested attendees of the Ipada Initiative are encouraged to plant trees at the resort. The composition of these growing trees forms the second movement of this orchestra.
As you leave Ekaabo, where you are officially welcomed and checked into the resort, the third movement begins. The lively dance of the monkeys in the trees at the resort takes charge of this musical composition.
The chatters, squeaks, deep hoots, and howls of the monkeys fill you with wonderful delight. Like Haydn and Mozart, the minuets and scherzos of these monkeys differ in their speed, attitude, and classification.
This third movement helps usher you into your chalet. There are different types of chalets at La Campagne Tropicana & Beach Resort. They are: Ile Rigi, Kodi, Obieze, Laba, Oso, Eti Oso, Anago, Amosan, and Ilerimi.
Each of these chalets is numbered. For example, there are Ile rigi 1 to 9, Kodi 1 to 5, Obieze 1 to 4, Laba 1 to 5, Oso 1 to 6, Eti Oso 1 to 5, Anago 1 to 7, Amosan 1 to 7, and finally one palatial Ilerimi.
In your chalets, the rattle, lower gunk notes, and repeated “caw” of the crows prompt you to claim the chalets as your new territory. The crows’ vocalizations awaken your consciousness to nature’s orchestra.
The whistles and complex melodies of the various species of singing birds at the resorts ignite your curiosity about the wonder of this unfolding orchestra by nature.
While settling into your new territory, the grumbling bleat and the flapping tongues of the male goats attempting to woo a female bring back memories of a time you spent in a rural area.
As you recollect these memories, nature directs the orchestra into an ascension. This ascension is the first movement of this musical composition called The Symphony Orchestra of La Campagne Tropical. Remember, nature is both the conductor and composer of this orchestra.
At this point, you decide to step outside to immerse yourself fully in the musical genius of nature. The loud and high-pitched vocalization of the horses officially welcomes you to the first movement of nature’s orchestra. From their stable, the horses’ neigh greets you. The camel’s quiet stare makes you crave more of nature’s beauty. Then the drama.
The free-roaming donkeys of La Campagne Tropicana give you a first taste of drama. Their whuffling bray sound of “hee-haw” either makes you excited for more of nature’s orchestra or contented with the experience thus far. If you’re inclined to want more, the acoustic vibration of the wind moving through your ears takes you closer to the beachfront.
To fully enjoy this crescendo, you’re advised to take a seat on the seats anchored between the coconut trees. This is the fourth and final movement of nature’s musical composition at La Campagne Tropicana.
The fast, energetic, and splashing sounds of the crashing waves make you question who is really behind the creation of the universe. As you ponder and allow your thoughts to wander, a powerful boom from the impact of crashing waves as it pulls back into the ocean creates a sweet turbulence in your heart. You decide to retreat to your chalet.
Your decision, however, doesn’t stop nature from continuing in the creation of its musical composition. It is for this reason you concluded in your heart to keep coming back to The Symphony Orchestra of La Campagne Tropicana as directed, composed, and conducted by nature in tandem with Otunba Olawanle Akinoboboye’s foresight for African tourism.
