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...
A group of people has gathered in the Idumota area of Lagos Island on Wednesday, August 26, after a man was pictured dozing near the base of the pedestrian bridge. According to reports, witnesses claim the man, who donned a white shirt and a pair of trousers with a bag hung around his neck, was seen seated and dozing off, thereby blocking some traders from displaying their wares. At first, they thought he was ill and tried to help him only to discover he was drunk. Seeing that he wasn’t ill, one of the traders angrily tried to pull him out of the space where they were meant to showcase their goods but the man, who was still deeply asleep, lay lightly on the floor and continued dozing.