Ooni of Ife: A Traditional Technocrat and His Many Wives
Talk of one traditional ruler with a unique mien; then you are talking of the Oonirisa of the cradle of Yorubaland. How do we mean?
The age long tradition of African monarchs, nay Nigerian, is one that really intrigues and fascinates many, especially how those royal fathers, of yore, built and manage harems in their palaces. But it appears this tradition of marrying more than one or two wives is gradually being eroded by most contemporary Yoruba Obas. Today, it appears a far cry from what their forefathers and ancestors practiced with much candour, affinity, relish and fondness back in the good old days.
The current case of the present Ooni of Ife, HIM, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, is however rekindling this nearly abandoned age old tradition of Yoruba Obas, especially in the area of following the culture of amassing wives as Oloris which serves as a reflection of the numerous variables to show that the representatives of God on earth are always given the power of God on earth, as it is that Eledumare, empowers them to make decisions and to succeed on earth, provided they are in tune with Him.
The youthful king is only proving to many of the pundits, tradition can never be reversed; it can only be momentarily halted or trampled upon. Since he mounted the throne of his forefathers about eight years ago, HIM Ogunwusi has been quietly, swiftly, steadily and stealthily building a harem for royalty in Ile Ife, where he holds sway as the Ooni Adimula, the Supreme representative of God on the throne of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yorubas on earth.
At the last count, the amiable and irresistibly handsome and charming Alaiyeluwa has taken as many as six wives as his Oloris in a time not too long from another, and he may had more all things being equal.
Interestingly or quite uncharacteristic, safe for the last demised Alafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, who can equally boast of a large number of women as his Oloris, hardly can one point at any of their contemporary Obas in Yoruba with such a large barn of Oloris, and this is not an aberration to these Obas, since the idea is a matter of choice; but truth be told, this tradition is gradually being wished away directly or indirectly, whether we like it or not. And this is where the affable and ultra-traditional Oba Ogunwusi is shining like a million stars to situate tradition in its right and proper place as a King who must be cynosure of many as his wives at any given time.
Another sharp departure between Ooni’s increasing wives and other kings with many wives is the quality and intellectual capacity of his carefully-selected Oloris, of all the women he has courted as his potential Olori and all his current substantive Oloris, they are all morally sound, intellectually gifted, academically endowed and quite averse to the glitz and glamour of the palace, facing their respective businesses and callings with verve outside the precincts of their queenly status, and are only readily available when their husband, the Kabiyesi needs them as tradition demands.
HIM Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II is indeed a study in excellence when it comes to upholding tradition with a firm grip, and he is really living up to the billing. Call him a traditional technocrat and you will just be stating the obvious, leaving a tell tale for other younger Obas to follow, not as a polygamist in this sense but as a sucker for tradition in all its ramifications.
In fact, when he freshly mounted the throne years back, many were skeptical about his tendency to uphold the demand of culture that open him to marrying more than one wife, but here we are, as he has proven more than what many can ever discern as he may just add another Olori to his group of beautiful, intelligent and resourceful wives before one blinks an eye. That is the hallmark of a King who knows the power and cultural intrinsic and extrinsic values of the throne he occupies as a Royal Father with his people at heart, without fear or favour to gender and above all tradition.
The Kabiyesi, Oba Adeyeye’s wives embody high caliber, substance, and societal influence – remarkable women who are both industrious and academically gifted likewise they can actually stands shoulder to shoulder to compete with anyone nay private-corporate or public function. These beautiful and queenly Oloris; PRINCESS RONKE ADEMILUYI, OLORI MARIAM ANAKO, OLORI OPEOLUWA AKINMUDA, OLORI TOBILOBA PHILLIPS, PRINCESS ASHLEY AFOLASHADE ADEGOKE, OLORI TEMITOPE ADESEGUN.
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
