African Royalties : Nigerian obas

November 14, 2019 No comments

November 11, 2019 No comments

October 20, 2019 No comments

October 17, 2019 No comments

A happy birthday to His Imperial Majesty Oba Dr. Lamidi Adeyemi III, Alaafin of Oyo Kingdom.

His Royal Majesty who is celebrating his 81st birthday on October 15th to HRM the late Oba Adeyemi II Adeniran and Olori Ibironke of Epo compound. At his birth, many saw him as a future monarch and taking over the throne due to the lacerations on his left breast and the spots on his legs, which were similar and on the same spots as that of Lamidi Olayiwola.

Prior to taking over the throne from HRM Oba Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II(who succeeded over the Alaafin's father who was deposed and exile), he began his training first was a multiple faith training in Quranic and Christian knowledge, then furthering his royal training at various monarchs' homes, he was to study law in the United Kingdom but a few hours prior to his departures, his father passed away. He then studied insurance and became an insurance executive in Lagos.

In 1968, he was amongst one of 10 princes of the Adeyemi Alowolodo Ruling house to produce the Alaafin following the death of Oba Bello Gbadegesin Ladigbolu after 12 years on the throne. The late Oba hailed from the Agunloye ruling house.

The keen competition did not end until November 18th, 1970, when he was officially pronounced the Alaafin of Oyo at the age of 32 years and was crowned on January 14th, 1971.

HIM with his wives

HIM with his younger wives

Before his ascension to the throne, he was married to two wives, Alhaja Olori Habibat Adeyemi (Iya Dodo) and Alhaja Olori Rahamat Adeyemi (Iya Ile Koto). Through his reign, he is now blessed with other wives, many children and grandchildren. Amongst his children are prominent:

HRH Prince Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi(Nigeria Federal House of Representative of Afijio, Oyo West, Oyo East, Atiba West federal constituency)

HRH Prince Babatunde Israel Adeyemi(lawyer and pastor also married to Oyo state Supreme court judge HRH Princess and Justice Omolara Adeyemi),

HRH Princess Folashade Adeyemi(CEO of Arewa House of Culture and leader of women in Oyo).

HRH Princess Taibat Adeyemi-Agaba: prominent business woman.

HRH Princess Adetutu Adeyemi-Aigbe: Forming Oyo State commissioner for culture.

HRH Prince Adetona Adeyemi: Also known as Tillaman, prominent musician.

HRH Prince Adebayo Adeyemi: Successful professional photographer in the United Kingdom also known as bambino. And many others

He is the longest serving Alaafin and one of the longest serving first class monarch of Nigeria. He is also on the forefront of peace and security initiatives both in Oyo state and around Nigeria. He supports various initiatives and is patron to others.

October 15, 2019 No comments

October 08, 2019 No comments

One of the greatest festival in Yoruba land and for which the Ife Kingdom and ancient town of Ile-Ife is known is the Olojo festival. It is the time to reflect on the people's socio-cultural lives of the kingdom and have also contributed immensely to the historic values of remembrance of “Ogun”, god of Iron, who is believed to be the first son of Oduduwa, progenitor of the Yoruba people.

Every year a whole month is devoted to it. Olojo began three weeks ago with His Imperial Majesty Alayeluwa Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife AROLE ODUDUWA goes into seclusion, denial communing with the ancestors and praying for his people. This is to make him pure and ensure the efficacy of his prayers. Before he emerges, his female relatives sweep the Palace and it surrounding, symbolically ridding it of evil.

On the eve of the main event, he emerges in public with the Arè(pronounce A-ray) crown (King’s Crown), which is believed to be the original crown used by Oduduwa to lead a procession of traditional Chiefs and Priests to perform at the Shrine of Ogun. The next stage of the ceremony is to lead the crowd to Okemogun’s shrine. Here he performs duties including the renewal of oath, divination for the Ooni at the foot of Oketage hill by Araba (Chief Priest), as well as visiting places of historical importance.

The Ooni with the Are

At the shrine, the Kingdom's traditional chiefs with the swords of office marked with chalk and cam wood, appear in ceremonial attire and dance to rhythms from a traditional drum, the Bembe which style of drum and singing is different from one chief to the other. Whilst the Ooni dances to the drum called Osirigi.

And the grand finale was celebrated on September 27th and 28th with the main events taken place at the Ife Palace. On these days the Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi accompanied by his wife Her Imperial Majesty Olori Silekunola Moronke Naomi Ogunwusi, YEYELUWA OF THE SOURCE, were receiving people and distinguish guests.

Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and his wife HIM Olori Silekunola Moronke Naomi Ogunwusi

This is also the time when The Ooni adorns his clothes like his ancestor Obalufon Ogbogbodirin, the 4th Ooni of Ife, who lived for over 500 years. After reigning for centuries, he was transformed into a deity.

Her Imperial Majesty looking majestic at the Olojo Festival

Photos Credits: HIM Ooni of Ife/Instagram/HIM Queen Silekunola/Instagram

September 30, 2019 No comments

September 24, 2019 No comments

August 27, 2019 No comments

The people of Owo Kingdom in Ondo state, invited guests and dignitaries, members of the state and federal government came together on Friday August 23rd, for the traditional and official installation of their Olowo.

The new Olowo of Owo, formely Prince Ajibade Gbadegesin Ogunoye was chosen as the 33rd paramount traditional ruler of the town.

He is amongst one of the direct sons of the old Olowo, Oba Adekola Ogunoye II, who reigned between 1968 and 1993 and Yeyesa Adenike Ogunoye.

He was chosen following a process according to Owo tradition which started when 3 months after the late Oba Olagbade Olateru Olagbegi III joined his ancestors. The tradition stipulates that a new prince has to emerge as Olowo of Owo- elect. He was amongst 15 who vied for the throne from the Elewokun Ruling House, the only one ruling house in Owo Kingdom.

The house is made up of two subsets families which are the Atanneyes and the Ogunoyes. The Atanneyes comprise the Olagbegis and Ajikes.

Installation rites began very early at the Olugbule Palace(official residence of the Olowo) where the king was given two traditional titles of Alamuren and Anaun which was a prerequisite titles before he could be formally crowned an Olowo.

Firstly they were prayers that were also offered for the new king in a small house known as the Arigidi, after which rites were performed at the crossroad near the Olugbule palace as well as behind the town hall.

Then he had to picking his sword while being blindfolded. This will be added to that of past Olowos and is an integral part of the installation rites of a new Olowo to predict what becomes of his reign.

He picked the sword which signifies peace. According to reports, he chose the same sword which was picked by his father more than 30 years ago.

These are procedures that must be followed before a new king is installed after which he will enter the palace.

The rites would continue for the next 17 days until the coronation day.

He will take the title and name of His Royal Majesty Oba Ajibade Ogunoye III, Olowo of Owo

Prior to his installation, he was a senior state and federal civil servant, having joined the public servant since 2001. He officially retired to be servant and ruler of the Owo people.

August 27, 2019 No comments

On August 13th, the population, indigenes of Ijebuland, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State and their invited guest dressed in their colourful costumes and riding on horses, descended to the palace of the Awujale of Ijebuland to pay homage to him amidst prayers and take part in other fun-filled activities for the 2019 edition of the Ojude Oba cultural festival.

Ojude Oba means, “the king’s forecourt or frontage” in Ijebu dialect is one of the major festival in the Yoruba culture which started over a century ago and reunites all sons and daughters of Ijebuland in Nigeria and the diaspora for a carnival-like celebration of the traditional, cultural, spiritual accomplishments and other values of the Ijebu nation.

In his message to those who gather at the palace, the 81 year old monarch His Royal Majesty Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, The Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland who spoke in Yoruba, urged everyone to choose a responsible monarch and not a moneybag one following his demise and to reject any candidate for the position of the Awujale that could set Ijebuland backward.

The monarch is hailed from the Anikinaiya Ruling family and ascended the throne in 1960 at the age of 25 and is often referred to as Orisa Ijebu(God of Ijebu in Ijebu), urged his people to sustain the tempo by ensuring that the stool does not go to moneybags and advised that the process of selecting the next Awujale should not be politicised.

He stated that if the next ruling house does not present a viable candidate, the people should reject them and go for the next ruling house with capable candidate.

Over 25,000 participated in the carnival, Yoruba monarchs from around the country including His Royal Majesty Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi Alaafin of Oyo, and many others notable guests.

Oba Adetona said: “When I eventually go, please go for a capable successor. Reject any candidate that will put Ijebuland into retrogression.

“Do not politicise the process of selecting my successor. Do not go for people that will draw Ijebu backwards.

“If the next ruling house does not present a viable candidate, please reject them and go for the next ruling house with capable candidate.

“Do not go for moneybags that will destroy the achievements Ijebuland has recorded so far.

“My prayer is that Ijebuland will continue to grow from strength to strength.

“Call on God for direction when picking my successor. Ask God to guide you.”

August 20, 2019 No comments

August 03, 2019 No comments

The annual celebration of Ita-Osun Festival which took part in Ife-Ife Kingdom on Saturday July 27th brought together indigenes, yorubas from around the world and also in Nigeria, and thousands of Osun faithfuls to the Ife-Ife palace.

His Royal Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife welcomed and led all attendees who stormed Ile Oodua Palace for the 2019 edition Ita-Osun Festival.

The Arole Oodua & Ooni of Ife who is not only one of the important leader of the Yoruba nation but is the spiritual leader of the Yoruba nation worldwide during a procession from his palace to the ancient Osun temple located at Ita-Osun area of Ilode community in the town was cheered by all present and across the community.

During the festival The Arole Oodua offered supplications to the deity, Osun Sengese. While addressing the media present, he briefly explain the importance and historical facts of the festival and its deity by describing Sengese as the progenitor of all water deities across the world, adding that the festival was meant to acknowledge the deity which is known for fortunes.

“As you all known that water is indispensable to our survival as human, Osun Sengese is a major deity in Yoruba land known for the performance of wonders through the water.

“Water has numerous healing and prosperity potentials as brought to us by Sengese, the mother of all water deities across the world.

“I pray that we shall always be fortunate, may our glory never be buried under water and may we never encounter flooding. Happy celebration.”

The festival which was witnessed by traditional rulers, high chiefs, Yoruba descendants from Brazil, Ireland Cuba who joined the Osun worshipers who had come from all the states of the Yorubaland, provides another ample opportunity for the teeming worshippers of the Osun River goddess within and outside the shores of Nigeria to converge on the historical city, it also created another leeway for the Ooni of Ife to promote and export the rich and fascinating heritage of the Yoruba nation.

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