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...
Brazil has become the second country in the world after the US to confirm more than one million cases of COVID-19. The health ministry on Friday night reported 54,771 new cases, the highest daily increase in any country since the pandemic began, taking the total to 1,032,913. The officials said about half of the increase was due to delayed reporting in three states, including São Paul. In addition, there were more than 1,200 deaths for the fourth consecutive day, taking the total to nearly 49,000. President Jair Bolsonaro has been heavily criticized for his response to the crisis. The far-right leader has repeatedly clashed with state governors and mayors over their strict restrictions to curb the spread of the virus. His approach has also led to the resignation of two health ministers. The United States has the highest cases and deaths in the World. More than 2.2 million cases and over 120,000 deaths have been confirmed in America.