Akeem Owoade, 49, will be officially crowned the 46th Alaafin of Oyo on Saturday. Several controversies trailed Owoade’s emergence with Governor Seyi Makinde, the Oyo Mesi (kingmakers) and Prof Wande Abimbola, as key players. Regardless of the twists and turns leading to his coronation April 5, the expectations of Oyo indigenes of their new king are high, writes WALE AKINSELURE
KA-BI-YE-SI! KA-BI-YE-SI! KA-BI-YE-SI! KAABIYESI IKU BABA YEYE shall ring loudest from the precincts of the historic Oyo town to the ends of the entire Yoruba race as Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, is officially crowned as His Imperial Majesty, the 46th Alaafin of Oyo on Saturday. The sounds of Ka-bi-ye-si shall be immersed in electrifying beats from gangan, bata, gbedu, Sakara drummers and rhythms from the dundun-sekere ensemble, with the typical cowries and shells attached to the sekere of the Alaafin of Oyo giving its traditional feel. The bellowing of Ka-bi-ye-si would also be enmeshed in chants from traditional religious worshippers praising their Orisas, and incantations from Sango worshippers, and devotees. The rasping sounds of Ka-bi-ye-si will also be drenched in akuyungba, apinti, igba-titi, bata, and sekere with dundun-sekere which is the favourite music of the Alaafin of Oyo.
Alongside Ayan drummers and dance performances would be vocal Rara renditions and chants praising the Alaafin in acapella. Iron clappers, dundun drummers, sekere groups, and lead vocalists will showcase the Yoruba culture and tradition to all who storm Oyo for the coronation. With a supple wrist, the drummers of the Alaafin shall produce the right kinds of tones and dynamics on their drums, while the master drummer beats the drum to praise the Alaafin as he approaches Olivet Baptist Heights, Oyo for his official coronation. The master drummer’s beats are laden with messages, and proverbs while the bells around the drumhead jingle add colour to the music while the onomatopoeic sekere adds rhythmic colour to the music, stimulating the dancers. The dundun-sekere musicians in the Alaafin of Oyo palace will run dynamic rhythms from slow and sensuous to fast and percolating, using short, repetitive call and response patterns. Through beats and vocal performances, there will be renditions of “Kile n f’Oba pe…; Owoade o ju won lo…; To to, Oba to to…; Toba Lase… Owoade j’Oba…; Eni sun m’Oba….
Interestingly, Owoade showed snippets of what is to unfold on Saturday after his traditional coronation at the Sango Koso shrine where he received the Sango crown. Like an apprentice who just gained freedom after 21-day in-house training, Owoade, adorning traditional ofi and beads, and holding irukere and opa, treated gangan drummers to a royal dance. Gently moving rhythmically to the drumming, as if still honing his dance skills, Owoade enthralled the watchers of his left and right, back and front, up and down body movements who continuously chanted, “Akin Oosa, E se Ka-bi-ye-si fun Alaafin Iku baba yeye, Omo Iku, Omo Arun… Kabiyesi o.” His visit to the Sango shrine at Koso, where he received the Sango crown, was the last lap of his traditional rites (Oro Ipebi) as Alaafin-elect. Among the rites were the mandatory ancestral rituals, the offer of sacrifices, and the making of appeasements at various houses in Oyo town, including Baba Iyaji residence, Ona Isokun, Ilemole and Bara.
Ahead of Saturday’s official coronation, various pre-coronation events have begun since 31st March, including a cultural carnival parade, historic tree planting, exhibition, public lecture/colloquium, quiz competition, projects inauguration, football competition, cultural heritage, and stage play.
Like Adeyemi, like Owoade
But like his predecessor, the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Owoade’s emergence as Alaafin came amid its controversies, politics with the government and the Oyomesi (kingmakers) as key players. The Alaafin is a supreme king in Yoruba land, who rules according to the advice of the council of chiefs called the Oyomesi. The late Adeyemi of the Adeyemi Alowolodu ruling house succeeded Oba Bello Gbadegesin of the Agunloye ruling house who died in 1968. At that time, ten people applied for the vacant stool. The Baba Iyaji then submitted only the name of Lamidi Adeyemi. An uproar ensued leading to the cancellation of that selection process. The second time, Lamidi Adeyemi’s name was among the names of candidates submitted to the Oyomesi out of which he was picked as the Alaafin-elect. The government, at that time, refused to give consent claiming they suspected foul play, so the Oyomesi was asked to meet the second time. When the Oyomesi met again, five of the kingmakers voted in support of Oba Adeyemi, one voted for another candidate while the other kingmaker abstained. The selection process which started in 1968 did not end until 1970 after the government rejected the ruling of the Oyomesi on the emergence of Adeyemi on three occasions. After a series of politicking, Prince Lamidi Adeyemi was proclaimed Alaafin-elect by the Bashorun on November 18, 1970, and the government’s approval of his selection as new Alaafin was gazetted on December 5, 1970. The appointment of Adeyemi as Alaafin of Oyo was approved by the Western State Executive Council following a five-hour meeting presided over by the then-military governor of the state, Brigadier Adeyinka Adebayo. On January 14, 1971, Brigadier Adebayo presented Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, an insurance clerk and boxer, with the staff of office at an elaborate and grand ceremony held at the Durbar Stadium, Oyo. The ceremony was attended by people from people from all walks of life, both within and outside Nigeria.
Like Adeyemi, his predecessor, Owoade also had a tortuous journey to the throne. Similarly, it has also taken about three years to produce another Alaafin amid controversies, litigations, twists and turns. After the demise of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi on April 22, 2022, at the age of 83, after ruling for 52 years, it was clear that the task of choosing his successor would be onerous and dramatic. But, the fact that it was the turn of the Agunloye ruling house to produce the next Alaafin was not in doubt.
As expected, the Oyomesi called for applications to fill the vacant stool. There were a total of 198 applicants out of which were shortlisted and interviewed. The Oyomesi embarked on the screening exercise as empowered by the 1961 Alaafin chieftaincy declaration. However, the process was stalled for months after the state government, which is the approving authority, disproved Oyomesi’s choice of one of the candidates, Lukman Gbadegesin, as the next Alaafin.
Governor Seyi Makinde had directed a fresh selection process but five of the kingmakers rejected the move, asserting that Prince Lukman Gbadegesin is already the Alaafin-elect. Those opposed to the governor’s fresh screening mandate were the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Akinade; the Lagunna of Oyo, High Chief Wakeel Akindele; the Akinniku of Oyo, High Chief Hamzat Yusuf; a warrant chief standing in for the Asipa of Oyo, Chief Wahab Oyetunji; and a warrant chief standing in for the Alapinni of Oyo, Chief Gbadebo Mufutau. The governor had raised allegations of the kingmakers receiving bribes to arrive at Gbadegesin as the Alaafin-elect, a position which the kingmakers strongly opposed. They remain firm in their position that Gbadegesin had been chosen as Alaafin-elect.
The Ifa, Makinde intervention
The imbroglio lasted for months until January 10, 2025, when the Oyo State Commissioner of Information and Civic Orientation, Mr Dotun Oyelade, released a statement conveying Governor Seyi Makinde’s approval of the appointment of one of the contestants, Prince Akeem Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo. Owoade was said to have been chosen after extensive consultations and traditional divinations conducted by the Oyo kingmakers, the Oyomesi. Wande Abimbola, a professor of Yoruba language and literature and former Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, took centre stage in the choice of Owoade as state government disclosed he was the diviner asked to consult the Ifa Oracle on the next Alaafin. The governor had hinged this move on the allegation that the kingmakers had been compromised and divided having received hefty money from one of the 83 contestants for the throne, thereby influencing their decision. Not minding the opposition, Governor Makinde, on January 13, at the Executive Council Chambers of the Oyo Governor’s office, State Secretariat, Ibadan, presented a certificate and staff of the office of Abimbola Akeem Owoade, announcing that the coronation is to happen in four weeks. The governor’s action was greeted with litigations instituted by the contending kingmakers; Prince Lukman Gbadegesin; and Prince Ismail Owoade challenging the process to produce Akeem Owoade as Alaafin of Oyo. Notwithstanding the ongoing litigations, the central planning committee headed by the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Demola Ojo, announced April 5 as the date for the official coronation of the new Alaafin. Both the state’s planning committee and the Local Organisation Committee headed by Dr Kunle Ogunmola have continued preparations with all set for Saturday’s coronation.
The huge expectations of Oyo indigenes
Speaking on the controversy that trailed Owoade’s emergence, chairman of the Oyo Metropolitan Development Association, Archbishop Emeritus Ayo Ladigbolu expressed the belief that, “Time will heal the pains of dissenting voices.” Ladigbolu declared, “The majority of Oyo people are pleased to have a king. Oyo needs leadership, peace, progress and prosperity. All hands are on deck in support of a very successful coronation ceremony.”
While revelling in having a new king after about three years of waiting, several indigenes and residents of Oyo, in conversations with The PUNCH, note that the task before and demands of the 49-year-old Alaafin Owoade are huge.
Cultural Ambassador to Alaafin Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Dr Paula Gomes said the new Alaafin is going to combine offering modern leadership with preserving historical and cultural heritage.
“I believe that the new Alaafin is going to define the future, continuing to preserve the historical and cultural heritage through preserving the legacy with a modern leadership, which will add development to the society in general,” Gomes said.
An elder of Oyo town, Adebayo Olawoyin urged the new king to create an environment where Islam, Christianity, and Traditional religion flourish at par, without preference for one over the other.
To guarantee security in the town, Olawoyin urged the Alaafin to create job opportunities that would keep the youths from engaging in thuggery and acts of criminality.
“He should sustain our traditions and cultures. He should ensure that adherents of Islam, Christianity and traditional religion continue their religious practice without one hindering the other. This will guarantee peace.
“Also, there is a need to create employment opportunities for youths to be engaged to shun acts of criminality. Furthermore, there is a need for security such that people can move freely no matter the time of the day. Finally, there are those of us who are Atiba sons but not included in the Alaafin chieftaincy declaration. We should be included,” Olawoyin said.
The head of princes in Oyo, also known as Baba Iyaji, Mukaila Afonja said the new Alaafin urgently has to address the fierce rivalry over boundaries involving Afijio and Oyo.
Afonja said the boundary dispute has assumed a violent dimension, threatening peace in Oyo town.
“Mainly, we want peace in Oyo town and environs. There are some places in Oyo and environs where people are having serious fights over land. The land dispute has recorded instances of people using weapons on each other.
“We believe the new king will invite the warring parties with a view to resolving the dispute. The boundary dispute concerns Afijio and Oyo and got fiercer after the demise of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi,” Afonja said.
The member representing the Oyo East/Oyo West state constituency, Olorunpoto Rahaman, said the new Alaafin must prioritise unity, development, and cultural preservation.
“The new Alaafin should focus on fostering unity and harmony among communities in Oyo and beyond. As the custodian of Yoruba tradition, he must ensure peaceful relationships with neighbouring towns and states to strengthen regional cooperation and development.
“Beyond governance and development, the throne must continue to be a symbol of our heritage. The Alaafin should champion cultural initiatives and ensure that our customs remain relevant in today’s society,” Olorunpoto said.
He also highlighted the need for collaboration with the government to facilitate the completion of abandoned projects in Oyo town.
“There are several infrastructural projects that have been left unfinished. The Alaafin can play a significant role in engaging the government and stakeholders to see to their completion for the benefit of our people.”
Furthermore, he underscored the importance of youth empowerment and economic growth.
“Empowering the younger generation through education, skill acquisition, and entrepreneurship will not only secure Oyo’s future but also uphold its historical significance as a centre of leadership and excellence,” Olorunpoto added.
For a former member representing the Oyo East/Oyo West state constituency, Isiaka Tunde, the new Alaafin must prioritise culture revitalization, community development and welfare, unity and peace, economic advancement, and advocacy for Yoruba interests.
Isiaka said, “The Alaafin of Oyo is more than just a traditional ruler; he is a custodian of Yoruba culture and heritage. We expect the new Alaafin to prioritize the revitalization of cultural practices and traditions that have been eroded over time. This includes promoting traditional festivals, art, and languages, which unite the people and foster a strong cultural identity.”
He also tasked Alaafin to collaborate with governmental and non-governmental organisations to implement community development initiatives in healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
“As a leader, the new Alaafin is expected to contribute actively to the economic development of the Oyo region. By advocating for investments and supporting local businesses, the new Alaafin can create job opportunities and boost the economy. Partnership with entrepreneurs to promote trade and commerce, as well as leveraging cultural tourism, can lead to sustainable economic growth. Programs that empower young people in entrepreneurship will also be crucial in addressing unemployment in the community,” Isiaka said.
He added that the Alaafin must serve as a mediator and unifier; particularly promote unity and peace among diverse ethnic groups within Oyo State and beyond.
“The new Alaafin is expected to be a fierce advocate for the interests of the Yoruba people, promoting their rights and addressing issues that impact their social, political, and economic well-being at various levels of government. Championing initiatives that enhance the political representation of the Yoruba nation in the broader Nigerian context will also be vital for ensuring that the community’s voice is heard in the national discourse,” Isiaka added. (Punch)
