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...
The Ogun state police command has arrested a masquerade otherwise known as Egungun in Yoruba parlance, for defying the government’s order banning all public gatherings in the state as part of measures to curb Coronavirus spread. A statement released by the state police command spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, says the masquerade was apprehended along Ijeja area in Abeokuta the state capital after it confronted the policemen and threatened to deal with them if they dispersed his followers. “Upon the report, policemen from Ibara Division moved to the area and warned the people to disperse but the masquerade confronted the policemen and threatened to deal with them if they insist on dispersing his followers.“The masquerade was subsequently arrested and taken to the station where he was warned to be law-abiding before he was released to a reliable surety”, the statement read
Meanwhile, Governor Dapo Abiodun has announced that the lockdown in Ogun will commence on Friday, April 3rd