Category: Culture and Tourism

How to memorialize the Alaafin By Festus Adedayo

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Gradually, the curtains are being drawn on the era of the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Alaafin of Oyo who left us in a thunderbolt manner. The eighth day inter-religious prayers were held yesterday. The next questions that will be asked from today are, how do we make this king live forever in our hearts and who is the next Alaafin? Since over a week of his departure, the world has witnessed a rainbow of reactions to his ascension to the hereafter. While his iconic cultural representation has been lauded…

Obituary:Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III: The Renowned Boxer who Became Longest-serving Alaafin By Kabir Akintayo

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After a brief illness at the ripe age of 83, and as the longest-serving Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, has finally joined his ancestors   The Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, was where Oba Adeyemi III, unarguably the most powerful monarch in Yoruba Land, breathed his last, late Friday, April 22, 2022.   Popularly known as ‘IKU BABA YEYE’ meaning ‘The One Who Can Command Death’, the departed Alaafin who reigned for 52 years, was born on October 15, 1938 into the…

Requiem for Aláàfin Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi By Lasisi Olagunju

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Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi spent his last three months winding down in a spectacular way. He made some moves and held some meetings which, in retrospect, showed that there was some urgency in his strides. On February 8, 2022, he was at the University of Ibadan as chairman of my book launch. His speech at that event was short and straight: Federalism for Nigeria or we forget it. He got back to the palace in Oyo that evening and started working on a document that expanded those views he espoused…

Alaafin: I’ve prepared my burial By Festus Adedayo

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  How was I to know that that meeting I had with the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on March 2, 2022, was the last between a father and his son? In the last couple of hours of hearing of his passing, I have scrutinized, without success, memories of anything unusual in the sky on that day that probably spoke of the looming calamity that would befall the Oyo palace. The sky was the usual grey, without a foreboding countenance; the palace courtiers were the usual ensemble, spraying entrants…

CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE ALAAFIN OF THE OYO EMPIRE (c.1210 to date) by Ayomide Akinbode and Ayo Ojeniyi

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The Alaafin was an absolute king; his word was law. He had the power of life and death. He’s iku baba yeye, alase ekeji orisa (the almighty, the ruler and companion of the gods). In the actual working of the government, however, the Alaafin was an absolute monarch. He governed in conjunction with a council of state known as Oyo Mesi . Below are the kings who had ruled one of the greatest empires in history. c.1210– ORANYAN (Oranmiyan) Oyo-Ile was founded. Oranmiyan was the first king and the founder…

BREAKING: Alaafin Oyo,Oba Lamidi Adeyemi dies @83

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Alaafin of Oyo,Oba Lamidi Adeyemi is dead. Alaafin Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi died in the late hours of Friday at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti.   Alaafin of Oyo is the third from the Alowolodu Ruling House.   The remains of the top Yoruba traditional ruler was brought to Oyo in the early hours of Saturday and traditional rites began.   He was 83 years old and the longest reigning Alaafin ever, having ruled for 52 years

5G ‘ll revolutionise Nigeria’s Creative Industry – Danbatta … as NCC receives Best Agency Award for development

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The current efforts of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to facilitate deployment of the Fifth Generation (5G) technology will further catalyse the innovativeness and creativity of the entertainment industry in Nigeria and raise its productivity and contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) to new levels. The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, has said.   Danbatta, stated this in a keynote address delivered at the Nollywood Economic Outlook (NEO 2022) organised in Lagos recently, and well-attended by Nollywood personalities and other critical stakeholders…

ATTAH IGALA’S CORONATION AND THE ILLUMINATION OF HISTORY AND ANCIENT TRADITION By Armstrong Idachaba

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Between the November 9th to November 18th 2021 the world witnessed the announcement and ascension rites of Attah Igala Mathew Opaluwa to the ancient paramount throne of the Igala Kingdom. Boasting of a tradition that has lasted about four centuries the Igala Kingdom undoubtedly remains in the annals of history as one of the greatest royal civilizations in Africa. According to the late Guru of Igala culture and tradition, Dr Tom Miachi(2012) in his book,The Incarnate Being Phenomenon in African Culture, the Igala people occupy the area of land to…

13th Coronation : Emir Sulu-Gambari greets Shehu of Borno

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The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Mai-Martaba Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, has felicitated with the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Al-Amin Elkanemi, on his 13years coronation anniversary on the throne. Alhaji Sulu-Gambari who lauded the numerous achievements recorded by the Borno Emirate Council since the ascension of Shehu Ibn Umar Garbai to the throne, prayed Almighty Allah to continue to strengthen the frontline monarch for the good of his subjects and humanity in general. This is contained in a goodwill message issued…

Tradition ‘ll Be Followed in Naming Next Olubadan- Olubadan-in-Council

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The Olubadan-in-Council has declared that tradition would be followed in naming the next Olubadan of Ibadan, regardless of their elevation to Obas.   A statement released at the end of a two-hour closed-door meeting held at the residence of Otun Olubadan, High Chief Lekan Balogun, on Monday, said members of the council would meet and announce the next Olubadan of Ibadan in line with tradition after the mourning of Oba Saliu Adetunji is over.   However, the Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja and two other members of the council…