• A reckless statement from the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrusheed Akanbi, to Awujale’s burial.

It is sad that any Oba in Yoruba land could open his mouth and tell the world that Yoruba Obas that died were having their bodies butchered like animals.

This write -up is a rejoinder to a reckless statement from the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrusheed Akanbi, that, ” Dead Kings should not be butchered like animals”.

Oluwo made this statement as if the Yoruba, in her traditions, used to butcher the dead kings. He made this sad and rotten statement to tarnish the image of the Yoruba.

In fact, Yoruba, in their tradition, pay much respect to their Obas, either living or non living.
The Yoruba of good origin would never refer to their Obas ( Kings) as dead. Instead of saying that the Oba has died, they would say Kabiyesi has slept. Is it someone that you say that is sleeping that you will bring Cutlass to butcher like animals. All these Londoner or Canadian made Obas know nothing about the Yoruba culture and heritage. Very unfortunate.

That Late Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebu land, who became the Oba in 1960 at the age of 26 and died in 2025 at the age of 91, gave his words that he should be buried in Islamic rites does not make Yoruba tradition or any African Traditions evil. An Oba that ascended the throne, performing traditional rites and later cross carpet to other religion, like a typical Nigerian Politician, and he said he should be buried in Islamic rites should not lead to the condemnation of other traditions or religions, most especially the one that brought him or her to the throne.

It might interest my readers that I am a Christian, but not a one way traffic Christian like some Christians or Muslims. I admire the way Muslims conduct the interment of their dead ones. It is very simple, not expensive and not stressful. If I had my way, I might ask my children to bury my corpse in Islamic rites.

Late Gani Fawehinmi SAN, the human rights lawyer in his lifetime, was a Muslim but not a one way traffic Muslim. He didn’t want to be buried unannounced or without a befitting burial rites. He designed his own burial rites and instructed his children and family members to keep to them. And for good five ( 5 ) days his corpse, in tinted coffin, was moving from one place to the other in Lagos State before it was finally moved to Ondo State for the final burial. That was his own design and it didn’t make Islamic religion a devil.

We have said this several times, if you know that you’re not going to comply with the traditional rules don’t go for traditional positions. You’re the one causing trouble in our society. As Yoruba of good origin would say, ” eyin ni eniyan l’osan, eleye l’oru.’

I am a Prince, my father ( His Royal Majesty late Oba Akinola Adefolalu) grandfather ( His Royal Majesty late Oba Ademileka Afunbiokin) and my uncle ( His Royal Majesty Oba Joseph Adeyemi Ademileka II) reigned as Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti during their lifetimes. They all slept, buried and their bodies were not butchered like animals.

Yoruba cultural heritages are holy and decent, ” Omo Kaaro ha j’ire bi?, let’s stop destroying our cultural heritages.

Long live the Yoruba!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

signed.
Noble Prince Oriwaye J Adefolalu, mpa,mnim.
University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
‪+2348035061143‬.