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| Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ojaja 11 |
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By Toye Faleye
They say he holds tradition in high esteem right from
when he had yet to accede the throne. And even beyond then, he is profoundly
committed, holding tenaciously to preserving and expanding the Yoruba tradition
beyond the shores of the race. He is the Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba
Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ojaja 11, the preserver and custodian of all the Yoruba
deities.
Laying credence to his unwavering commitment towards
expanding the Yoruba culture, the Oonirisa, as he is fondly called, once pointed
out to other monarchs at an event thus: “As traditional leaders we are the
custodians of culture and tradition, that’s why I have taken it upon myself to
preach this gospel of peace and unity.”
This was when he embarked upon a four-day official
visit to former Ghanaian President, John Mahama, at the Flagstaff House Office
in Accra. He added during that visit… “There’s strength in unity, and it’s time
for Africa to go beyond lip service and unite. Africa must unite for prosperity
as his mission is to promote peace, unity and progress of the black race. It is
my mission as Ooni to promote unity and peace among Africa countries.”
Building and consolidating on the unalloyed resolve to
promoting the Yoruba culture by the late Ooni of Ife, Okunade Sijuade, Ooni
Ogunwusi, upon his accession to the throne of his fore-fathers, has been
advocating culture expansion and the Yoruba unity. This is why both he (Ooni)
and the Federal University of Oye Ekiti entered into a collaboration sometimes
ago, when the latter’s Theatre Art Department staged a dance drama in Ooni’s
palace.
The high premium he places on tradition reflects
anytime he is decked out in his full regalia, giving a total representation of the
traditional Yoruba king from head to toe anytime sighted. Just after his installation,
he celebrated two principal traditional festivals, among which were, Olojo and
Aje festivals.
The Olojo festival commemorates the descent of
Oduduwa, the progenitor of Yoruba to Ile-Ife. The festival is historically tied
to Ogun, the quintessential deity of iron and truth and the father of modern
science, who charted the way to earth for Oduduwa and other spiritual deities.
It was during this festival that Ooni Ogunwusi is
given the privilege to wear the Aare Crown, which is not worn on any other day.
The Olojo festival is one festival that brings all sons and daughters of
Ile-Ife together for a week-long activity to celebrate the gods and cleanse the
land from all the perceived evils.
Besides the Olojo, the Ooni has had to celebrate the Aje Festival (Festival
of Wealth), where he disclosed to the people that the ancient city of Ile-Ife
has devised cultural tourism revolution as a veritable tool in battling
recession which gripped the nation in 2016, reducing its effects to a minimal
level for his people and Nigerians.
He said Aje is something that everybody craves for, adding: “If we do what
we are supposed to be doing, we will be a leading country in the world as it
used to be at some points and things will turn around.”
According to Ooni, Aje (deity of wealth) is a mother and goddess created at
the dawn of time sent to the earth alongside Olokun (goddess of the oceans)
just like God sent the duo of Obatala as Olofin
Owuro kutukutu and Oranfe Onile ina.
While Aje and Olokun served and have since become the
supernatural benefactors of earthly wealth for mankind, Obatala Olofin owuro kutukutu and Oranfe (Sango),
and Osangangan were and still remain the custodians
of morning and afternoon respectively who combined efforts to build Ejigbomekun
market (EJI in Yoruba means two)
with courses used as means of exchange after trade by barter.
In his efforts to unify the Yoruba nation, the highly
revered monarch, just after his coronation, embarked upon an unprecedented
visitation to principal Yoruba traditional rulers across major Yoruba towns and
communities.
The visit took him on a three-week tour of the United
States of America, accompanied by other traditional rulers and chiefs of Ife
Kingdom, where he was honoured by the New Jersey Congress and Mayor Ras J.
Baraka, and given the key to the City of Newark. Aside this tour, Ooni paid a
visit to Badagry, where he called on The Akran of Badagry,
Oba Aholu Menu-Toyi 1, emphasising the need for the unity of the Yoruba race.
Ooni also visited Ghana, where he was treated to a
warm reception by John Mahama and his government. The goal of the visit was
to prioritise the unity of Africans by relaxing policies that encourage
the physical and mental boundary set between African countries by the colonial
masters.
In a bid to showcase and promote African culture to parts of Europe, the Ooni
also embarked on a tour of Germany, Netherlands, Austria and Hungary sometimes
early in his accession to the throne. The tour was arranged by Africulra
Awards, in conjunction with 127 Yoruba associations in Europe. It had the
diplomatic support of Nigeria’s Consulate offices in Germany, Netherlands,
Austria, Hungary and other diplomatic missions in Europe, which also played host
to the Ooni during the period.
The Ooni of Ife visited the paramount ruler of
Ijebuland, Sikiru Adetona, at Ijebu-Ode, ending 75 years of rivalry between the
two monarchs. The last time Ooni visited an Awujale was in 1941, when the late
Ooni Adesoji Aderemi was on the throne. Ooni Ogunwusi also visited the Alaafin
of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi, to end a 79-year-old supremacy battle between the two
thrones. Likewise he visited the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, and
the Osile of Oke-Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso.
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