Shockwaves are reverberating across Yorùbáland and the global Yorùbá diaspora following the sudden death of the Baba Ọba (King’s Father) of the famed Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. The late Baba Ọba, Lukman Arohunfale, a revered socialite and traditionalist, passed away under circumstances already sparking fierce controversy. His death comes just days after he publicly accused the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty Oba Akeem Adéyẹmọ Owoade, of allegedly ordering his courtiers to beat him mercilessly during a recent courtesy visit to the Oyo palace in Nigeria. In a widely circulated voice recording, the deceased recounted how what was meant to be a simple homage turned violent. Although the Baba Ọba had reportedly battled ill health in the past year, growing insinuations suggest that the alleged physical assault may have aggravated his condition, ultimately leading to his untimely death. The palace in Oyo recently denied that s...
Many Nigerians reacted to the video, calling out the Oba for being "rude" to the Ooni who is believed to be the most superior monarch in Yoruba land.
Speaking through one of his white cap chiefs, Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, the Lagos Monarch said he did not ignore the Ooni of Ife at the public function as being interpreted by many Nigerians. Lateef who spoke to newsmen at the palace of the Oba in Lagos, said the manner in which the Oba greeted the Ooni is the culturally acclaimed way of greeting by a monarch in Lagos and that the Oba of Lagos was only trying to revive that culture which according to him is going extinct.
“The sign by Oba Akiolu signifies, ‘inu mi, inu e’, the culture of greeting in Lagos. If Oba Akiolu wanted to ignore, he would have turned his face away from Ooni. There is no misunderstanding between both highly revered Monarchs in Yoruba Land. Oba Akiolu was well represented at the coronation of Ooni of Ife, which attested to the fact that he does not disregard the office of Ooni Adeyeye. There is no sentiment in the culture of Lagos. As we met it that is the way we are doing it. Kabiesi Oba Akiolu is trying to bring back the old pattern, the old culture we have left behind. What happened that day was wrongly speculated by the social media to disrupt peace and order and misinterpret Oba Akiolu’s action. We just want to appeal to the social media to stop spreading wrong information. They should try and understand the reason behind every action carried out most especially by traditional rulers. Yoruba has a very rich culture. There is no quarrel between the Oba of Lagos and Ooni of Ife” he said.
Another lies adding salt to the injury what a Lagos greeting culture Lagos that we are in or the one we are burn into several years back, is he the first Oba of Lagos
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