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...
Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi is in hospital after suffering a “severe health crisis”, officials say.
They gave no further details. Mr Essebsi – who at 92 is the world’s oldest sitting president – was also treated in hospital last week.
PM Youssef Chahed said Mr Essebsi was receiving all the attention he needed and people should stop spreading “fake news” about his condition.
There had been reports that the president had died.
Mr Chahed said in a Facebook post (in Arabic) that he had visited the president in hospital.
Mr Essebsi won Tunisia’s first free elections in 2014 following Arab uprisings across the region.
Earlier this year, he announced he would not stand in elections expected in November, saying someone younger should take charge.
Former Tunisian President Zine el-Abedine Ben Ali was ousted in 2011 after 23 years in office.
Since then, Tunisia has won praise as the only democracy to emerge from the revolutions of the so-called Arab spring.
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