Yoruba royals split over burial traditions

•Kings should not beryllium butchered similar animals aft decease —-Oluwo of Iwoland
•It’s unacceptable to abandon contented for overseas religion— Deji of Akureland
•Step speech if you won’t signifier our tradition— Olowo of Owo tells monarchs
•We’re acceptable to combat to defend the psyche of our practice — Traditionalists

By Dayo Johnson, Shina Abubakar &James Ogunnaike

The burial of the precocious Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode
Adetona, according to Islamic rites, has divided Yoruba royalty, pitted contented against religion and reignited a fierce statement implicit whether kings should uphold centuries-old traditions oregon travel idiosyncratic faith. From palace elders to authorities officials, from Ifa priests to first-class monarchs, the conflict implicit however a king should beryllium laid to remainder has go a trial of the precise psyche of Yoruba heritage. Traditionalists, connected their part, warned that ineffable rites are being trampled nether the boots of overseas faiths and they are acceptable to fight, adjacent successful cour,t to support their tradition.

It volition beryllium recalled that the precocious Oba Adetona, who reigned for 65 years, joined his ancestors connected Sunday, July 13, 2025, and was buried according to Islamic rites connected July 14, 2025, astatine his Ogbagba backstage residence successful Ijebu-Ode, amidst choky security, aft the supplication led by the Chief Imam of Ijebuland, Shaykh Miftaudeen Ayanbadejo. The traditionalists who came successful their numbers to the burial venue were, however, prevented from having thing to bash with the burial by information operatives from the Nigerian Army, Police, NSCDC and the DSS, who marched them retired of the premises.

According to the Olowa Iberu and ChiefPriest of Ijebuland, Chief Rasaki Osimodi, “the traditionalists who went to the burial venue were members of the Osugbo cult who had been instructed beforehand by the Lisa, who is traditionally 2nd successful bid to the Awujale, not to combat if they were turned distant from the Awujale’s location and permission peacefully oregon enactment if they were welcomed and they followed his instructions precisely.

“In fact, galore much traditionalists wanted to travel to Oba Adetona’s backstage residencewhere helium was buried that day, but the Lisa prevailed upon them not to, citing a circumstantial acquisition fixed by the Awujale himself earlier his death. Lisa said that Oba Adetona had directed that Muslims indispensable hide him and, additionally, soldiers had been stationed astir the town. So, what could anyone do?

“It was the authorities that signed an statement with Baba Awujale stating that helium indispensable beryllium buried according to Islamic rites. If not for the government’s backing, the Osugbo nine would person taken possession of the assemblage because, traditionally, it belongs to them. The precocious king’s children assertion helium did not subordinate with us, the traditionalists. But we cognize that Kabiyesi did partake successful our rites — and helium near obligations unpaid”.

The precocious monarch had antecedently fought for a instrumentality to empower a royal begetter successful Ogun authorities to take however to beryllium buried aft his death. The Bill, known arsenic the Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State 2021 was yet passed into instrumentality by the Ogun State House of Assembly. Section 55 of the instrumentality grants accepted rulers the unequivocal close to beryllium buried according to their idiosyncratic spiritual beliefs, alongside accepted rites. Section 56 of the instrumentality explicitly prohibits harmful practices specified arsenic mutilation, cannibalism, and quality rituals, and criminalises the sidesplitting of persons oregon usage of quality parts during burial rites oregon the installation of a monarch successful the state. The precocious Awujale’s privation not to person hisbody subjected to accepted practices aft decease was afloat respected astatine his burial.

My radical are present escaped from the bondage of accepted cultism —Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi
In his reaction, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Osun State, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, said that the burial of the precocious Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, has ushered successful a caller epoch wherever the bodies of precocious kings volition nary longer be...