The History of Old Oyo Empire (Oyo Ile) and Past Alaafin

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Introduction

The Oyo Alaafin is an integral portion of the Yoruba nation that descended from the historical figure, Oduduwa or Olofin. According to historians, the Yorubas arrived in their present homes in waves from the ancient Meroe of the East of Sudan.

• Olowu
• Alaketu
• Oba of Benin
• Orangun of Ila
• Onisabe of Sabe
• Onipopo of Popo
• Oranmiyan (Alaafin)

The History of Old Oyo Empire (Oyo Ile) – The Period Before 1500A.D

Oranmiyan

Ajaka Ekun

Ajaka was a calm and gentle king. Unlike his father, he was of a peaceful disposition, loved animal husbandry and encouraged it. Being too mild to be warlike, and with the provincial kings encroaching on Oyo, he was deposed and replaced by fearless and violent, Sango.

The Oyo Empire was besieged by war from Owu. The Olowu who was the cousin of Alaafin Ajuan (Ajaka Ekun) in his bid to conquer and claim Oyo sent warriors to capture Alaafin Ajuan.

He went to Igboho where he remained in retirement for seven years. After the death of Sango, he returned to the throne.

Ajaka enjoyed two terms on the throne before and after Aláàfin Sango.

Alaafin Sango

Sango was a famed and powerful warlord. The Oyomesi sent for Sango to rescue Alaafin Ajuan (Ajaka Ekun). Sango rescued Alaafin Ajuan and won the heart of everyone as a powerful and strong man.

With this admiration and respect of the masses, Sango has crowned the third Alaafin of Oyo while the rescued Alaafin Ajuan (Ajaka Ekun) was exiled.

1. He shifted the capital from Oko in the vicinity of Ogbomoso to old Oyo on the famous tributary of the Niger River, called River Moshe.
2. He established the hegemony of the Alaafin of oyo over the Owu near Ogbooro and in conflict. They later fled to Iwu Ogbere an area between Ife and Ijebu.
3. Sango was the product of an intertribal marriage between a Nupe lady and the Alaafin of oyo.
4. He extended the area of the Oyo Empire and so was able to exercise power over stretches of rivers Niger and Ogun.
5. Particularly, Osun and Oba’s waterways were named after his “said” deified wives. They represent viable religious and duties over a wide range of Yorubaland.

Alaafin Aganju

Aganju was noted for erecting one hundred and twenty high rise gables and installing bronze and brass pillars as a way of enhancing the beauty of Oyo-Ile Palace. He liked aesthetics and he greatly beautified the palace.

Alaafin Aganju Sola was posthumously deified.

Read More About Alaafin Aganju Sola

Alaafin Oluaso

Alaafin Oluaso ascended the throne. Oluaso, Alaafin Kori’s son was a handsome prince. His reign was long and peaceful. He was wise and had many wives and children. He was said to have had up to 1, 460 children. He also built 54 palaces for the most influential princes.

Allowing for historical telescoping of areas of events forgotten or badly remembered, bards could trim the issues to ensure intelligent presentation. But the areas of Oyo Ile (Old Oyo Empire) thus covered could nearly approximate about 1000A.D to 1500A.D.

The Imperial Period of Old Oyo Empire (Oyo Ile) – 1600A.D to 1800

Alaafin Orompotoniyun Ajiun

Orompotoniyun, the only female Aláàfin of Oyo in history’s reign was remarkable for her investment in military resources to cope with the imperial aspirations of the next century. The employment of organized horsemen and footmen in military formation which she copied from the kingdom’s northern neighbours.

Ruling from the town his predecessor and brother, Alaafin Egungun Oju founded (near Igboho). Her valour and leadership laid the foundation for the then-powerful “old Oyo Empire”. An empire that united the whole Oduduwa race as a Yoruba Nation and even subjugated various towns up to Togo and Dahomey (now the Benin Republic) with the Alaafin as the Emperor.

Just like the famed warrior queen from northern Nigeria; Queen Amina of Zaria, Alaafin Orompotoniyun Ajiun led men to war. She fought and conquered all battles waged against Oyo or by Oyo. In 1555 (a year after she became Alaafin of Oyo), she totally vanquished the Nupe warriors that had terrorized Oyo-Ile for long.

Alaafin Orompotoniyun Ajiun’s grave

Alaafin Orompotoniyun was reportedly masterfully skilled on horseback and created a specialized order of cavalry officers within her army that was known as the Eso Ikoyi. She used horses extensively in military battles, it’s why “BBC Yoruba” describes her as a valiant warrior that vanquished her enemies on horseback.

Her reign was peaceful and tranquil.

Alaafin Abiipa Obamoro (The Ghost Catcher)

The design of removing the seat of Government to Oyo by Aláàfin Abiipa was now successfully carried out and Oyo from that time was known as “Oyo Oro” meaning Oyo of the Ghosts.

Click to read: Read More About Aláàfin Abiipa, how he got his nickname “Oba-Moro” and successfully return the people to Oyo-Ile

1. The arrival of the first white man
2. The sending of envoys to Portugal of France
3. The introduction of common salt

Alaafin Ajagbo

Alaafin Ajagbo the next Oba succeeded his father Obalokun. He was war-like and launched several military expeditions.  His reign was very long, up to 140 years. He had a friend at Iwoye called Kokoro-igangan,

Alaafin Ajagbo expanded the empire to cover Weme in Popo country, Ile Olopa, Onko and Ikereku, his maternal town. Under him, the first Aare Ona Kakanfo, Kokoro Gangan of Iwoye was appointed. He led the Eso and everybody in war.

Alaafin Karan

Alaafin Karan was a tyrant. He was cruel and harsh. He tortured and killed many of his subjects for slight offenses. He was so wicked that the proverb ‘as cruel as Kanran’ is being used by the Yoruba to describe anyone perceived as extreme cruelty. The people eventually rebelled against him. He was killed in a coup by the army, backed by the noblemen. He fought fearlessly and perished in the inferno that engulfed the palace.

Alaafin Jayin

Alaafin Jayin was Kanran’s son and was made king after his father’s horrible death. He was of a gentler disposition than his father but he was effeminate and his son fell in love with one of his wives. In a rage, he killed the boy. He was eventually deposed and tragically committed suicide. The Awujale of ijebus was crowned during his reign.

Alaafin Ayibi

Alaafin Ayibi was the late king’s grandson and the son of the beloved prince whom the king killed. Unfortunately, he proved unworthy of the honour and respect did to him; he greatly disappointed the hopes of the nation. He was a tyrant and took pleasure in shedding blood. Like his grandfather, he was deposed and he eventually committed suicide.

Alaafin Osiyago

Like his immediate predecessor, Alaafin Osiyago was equally strong-willed. He was excessive in his actions, amassing wealth that he did not live to enjoy. His children fought each other and his foster son, whom he had adopted as the Aremo(heir) was killed by his daughter.

The king was eventually poisoned. For a long time after Osinyago, the throne was vacant and the country was ruled by the Basoruns (Prime ministers)

Alaafin Ojigi

Alaafin Onisile

Under Alaafin Onisile, great cultural advances were made. Beads were used on “Shekere” instead of cowries. He was a great warrior and the Calvary grew under him.

He was a great warrior and of great courage. He was brave and warlike, and he was also very artistic.

Basorun Gaa With Alaafin Labisi, Alaafin Awonbioju, Alaafin Agboluaje and Alaafin Majeogbe

Alaafin Agboluaje‎ was a very handsome prince installed by Gaa. His reign was peaceful and long. His kingdom was big and prosperous. Basorun gaa made him fight the king of Popo who was his friend and destroy his kingdom. In frustration, the king committed suicide before the expedition arrived.

Alaafin Majeogbe‎ the king after Alaafin Agboluaje‎ tried to defend himself against Gaa and his sons who were now too powerful. They collected all the tributes and were cruel. The king eventually died, but not before he caused Gaa to be paralyzed by poison.

Alaafin Abiodun

Alaafin Abiodun had a long and peaceful reign. He was handsome, wise, and dignified. His reign was so significant that it has since passed into proverbs. The Yoruba believed that Oyo Empire actually started declining after his death. He defeated Basorun Gaa and his children. Gaa eventually died. Abiodun fathered over 660 children. One of his sons killed him with poison.

Commerce and Agriculture bloomed under Abiodun and the nation assumed its greatness. He kept a zoo of wild lions and elephants

Alaafin Aole

Alaafin Awole Arogangan was Abiodun’s cousin. Under him, the kingdom disintegrated as the provinces became tired of Oyo’s tyranny and slavery was rife. He was probably too mild and weak and had an enemy in Afonja, the Kakanfo who was very powerful.

Afonja was stationed at Ilorin with the major part of Oyo’s cavalry. Afonja, the Basorun, and the Onikoyi eventually led a rebellion against him. As their forces surrounded the city, Aole committed suicide, after cursing Afonja and his co-conspirators. The Oyo Empire, and indeed the Yoruba nation, never recovered from this tragedy.

Alaafin Adebo

Alaafin Adebo, the next king after Aole ruled for only a year, between 1796 and 1797. He became king nominally, but never really had powers. The whole land rebelled during his reign and the chiefs clamoured for territories.

Afonja declared independence first, and many provinces followed. Afonja won a great victory against the Oyo armies with the help of Alimi, a Fulani and Solagberu, a Yoruba Muslim. He fought several battles in which he subjugated and destroyed many Yoruba cities. Ilorin later became part of the Sokoto Caliphate when the Fulani took over.

Alaafin Maku

Alaafin Maku’s reign was short and tragic. He reigned for only 2 months in 1797. He led an expedition against Iworo and was defeated. He committed suicide in Oyo. The period that followed was the Yoruba civil wars of the 19th century.

Between 1800 and 1897, the Yoruba fought a series of wars that decimated huge portions of the country and caused a considerable amount of internal migration. Many large cities were destroyed completely, never to be rebuilt. New cities sprang up, from refugee camps or military bases.

Alaafin Majeotun

After a period when the throne was vacant, Alaafin Majeotu was elected to the throne. He reigned from 1802 to 1830. His reign was full of wars and rebellions. In 1823, Dahomey rebelled, defeated the Oyo army, and gained complete independence.

Ilorin became a formidable force and started a conquest of Yorubaland, destroying and looting cities in its campaign. The Owu war(1821-1826) also occurred in which the town of Owu was completely destroyed. The Owu is settled in Abeokuta

Alaafin Amodo

1830-1833 Alaafin Amodo. His reign lasted for three years. He was initially weak but later proved himself to be a wise and decisive king. He came to the throne at a time when the kingdom was distracted by anarchy and confusion. The Fulanis were having an eye on the capital of Yoruba land. None of the provincial kings now paid tribute to Oyo or acknowledged the authority of the King. He was virtually King of the capital only.

The Ilorin army plundered Oyo for the first time in his reign but did not destroy the city. Amodo later united some of the Yoruba chiefs who had turned their backs on the empire. They raised an army and besieged Ilorin but they were betrayed by the Edun of Gbogun, who was the Kakanfo and the army dispersed.

Gbongan was later besieged by Ilorin and the Edun was defeated. After defeating both the Kankafo and the Onikoyi, and rendering the Alaafin of Oyo powerless, the Ilorin cavalry easily captured most of the northern Yoruba towns. After that, they turned their conquest southwards, towards the Ijesha tribes, where they faced stiff resistance. At this time, the remnant of the Oyo and Egba armies began to attack the Ijebus, because of their participation in the Owu war. The whole of Yorubaland again became embroiled in a civil war.

Alaafin Oluewu

Alaafin Oluewu lasted for 2 years, between 1833 and 1835. During his reign, the Fulani empire had already captured Ilorin after an internal coup and transformed it into a Fulani emirate. Oluewu was then bound to Shita, the Emir of Ilorin.

However, he refused to embrace the Islamic religion and sought help from Borgu to defeat the Fulanis. Initially, he recorded some success in battle, but a final putsch to recover the northern part of Yorubaland from the Fulanis led to his death and that of many of Oyo’s leading nobles. Ilorin (under the Fulani) eventually destroyed Oyo-Ile (Old Oyo Empire).

In 1835 Old Oyo Empire collapse (Oyo-Ile), razed by the Fulani Jihadist. Are-Ona Kakanfo Afonja, the Yoruba Generalissimo and the head of Ilorin, invited a Fulani scholar of Islam called Alim al Salih into his ranks. He hoped to secure the support of Yoruba Muslims and volunteers from the Hausa-Fulani north in keeping Ilorin independent, but with no success, the Oyo Empire collapsed.

Allowing for historical telescoping of areas of events forgotten or badly remembered, bards could trim the issues to ensure intelligent presentation. But the areas thus covered could nearly approximate about 1600 to 1800

The Rise Of New Oyo – 1835 Till Date

Under Alaafin Aole, the empire suffered some strain. The Egbas broke free from the Old Oyo empire (Oyo-Ile) and got their independence in 1796.

1. A good constitution, buoyed by the Alaafin oyo, Oyo Mesi, the Aare Ona Kakanfo, and provincial kings.
2. Control of Calvary, trade routes, and successful Agriculture.
3. Contacts with the Northern neighbours and the ports on the south.
4. There was peace and good government, Islam has crept into the country from the time of Oyo Igboho and in Oyo-Ile, the trend has escalated with the Afonja’s intransigence and Ilorin’s invitation to Sheik Al. Salih. Oyo sit too was basically converted to Islam.

The fall of the empire in the first half of the nineteenth century was as a result of the interplay of social forces that zeroed in on it. The wars were Pamo, Mugba, Kania, Abodo and Elewure. The best men from Saki, Ede, Ogbomoso, Ibadan and Ikoyi were involved in the great exploits.

The Egbas moved from Ibadan area to Abeokuta. Epo Region of Akeetan, Iseke, Apaara, Aguo, Idode, Ojongbodu were bursting at the seams from the population from the north and were eventually transferred by Atiba to populate Ago-d-Oyo.

Afonja of Ilorin, the 6th Aare Ona Kakanfo (Yoruba Generallisimo) allowed the foothold of the Jihadist and made the sacking of Oyo-Ile irreversible, but he lost his hegemony to the Fulani of Ilorin and even till date.

The British explorers visited Oyo-Ile in 1821 and Oluewu fell in Eleduwe war in 1837. Oyo city thereby dissolved and re-arranged in the South near Ibadan and Ijaye in 1839.

Alaafin Atiba Atobatele

Oba Atiba, the son of Abiodun was the greatest human and political factor in the period of the new Oyo. His son, Adelu, and Adeyemi reigned after him.

Alaafin Adelu Agunloye

Alaafin Adelu Agunloye was Atiba’s son. He became king in 1859. The Ijaye war was fought during his period. Kurunmi, the Aare Ona Kankafo, who was the ruler of Ijaiye refused to recognize Adelu as the Alaafin of Oyo. The war started with Ijaiye declaring war on Oyo in 1860.

The Ibadan war machine under Ogunmọla came in support of Ọyọ, routed Kurunmi-Ijaiye/Egba alliance, and killed all his sons. Kurunmi committed suicide and Ijaiye was destroyed. The Ijaiye war was one of the several wars Ibadan engaged in to assert supremacy in Yorubaland.

In 1857, Britain abolish slavery. In the year 1864, Alaafin Adelu Agunloye stopped Batedo War in the name of Sango between Ijebu and the Egbas.

Alaafin Alowolodu Adeyemi I

Alaafin Adeyemi I ruled from 1876 to 1905. After the emergence of Ibadan, the Fulani ceased to be a threat to Yoruba but bitter civil war among the tribes made peace impossible. Between 1860 and 1885 Ibadan engaged in five different wars simultaneously.

In 1877, Ibadan went to war against Ẹgba/Ijẹbu for attacking Ibadan traders, when coming from Port-Novo. The Ijẹṣa/Ekiti seized the moment, in 1878, attacked despotic Ibadan Ajẹlẹs (viceroys) in their territories; Ibadan declared war on Ijẹṣa and Ekiti. The conflict between Ibadan/Ijẹṣa & Ekiti went on for sixteen years, the worst war in Yorubaland. Ogedengbe-the Seriki of Ijẹṣa army, Fabunmi of Oke-Imesi, and Aduloju of Ado-Ekiti held Ibadan down as Ibadan engaged in other wars with the Ẹgba, Ijẹbu, Ilọrin and the Ifẹ.

The Ibadan/Ijesa & Ekiti parapọ war got to its peak at Kiriji, near Ikirun. The Egba were also being attacked by Dahomey. The Alaafin was helpless as his people decimated themselves. He, therefore, invited the British colonial Governor of Lagos to help settle the dispute. Through negotiations undertaken by the Church, which was spearheaded by Samuel Johnson, Charles Phillips, and Lagos Governor Maloney in 1886, peace gradually returned to Yorubaland as the warring groups sheathed their swords.

The entire Yorubaland later came under the dominion of the British and the Alaafin of Oyo became a Vassal of the colonial government. In 1888, Oyo became a protectorate of Great Britain.

Alaafin Agogo Ija Amubieya Lawani

Alaafin Agogo Ija Amubieya Lawani became Alaafin after Alaafin Adeyemi I. He was a vassal of the British empire. He reigned from 1905 to 1911.

Alaafin Ladigbolu I

Alaafin Ladigbolu I became king after Lawani. He ruled from 1911 to 1944. He was also a vassal king. The amalgamation of Nigeria happened during his time. Frederick Lugard united north and south as a single colony called the Protectorate of Nigeria.

The name Nigeria was taken from the Niger River. Given by Flora Shaw who later married Lugard.

Alaafin Adeniran Adeyemi II

Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II, was Alaafin of Oyo, between 1945 and 1954, until he was forced into exile by the Action Group-led government of the Western region, as a result of the death of the Deputy leader of the Action Group, Chief Bode Thomas, and also for having sympathy, for the rival NCNC of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Chief Bode Thomas (1918-1953) became the deputy leader of the Action Group, he later formed Nigeria’s first indigenous law firm called- Thomas, Willams, Kayode, and co. i.e. the trio of Bode Thomas, Chief Rotimi Williams and Chief Remilekun Fani Kayode.

Bode was a brilliant lawyer, but also very haughty and arrogant. He was made the Divisional Council Chairman in 1953, while the Alaafin of Oyo was a mere member.

On his first appearance in the council, after being appointed chairman, all the council members stood up for him in deference, to welcome him except Oba Adeyemi II, who for cultural reasons, could not show deference to anyone in public. Bode Thomas rudely shouted at the king, for having the temerity and audacity to disrespect him.

“Why are you sitting when I walked in, you don’t know how to show respect?” At that time, Bode Thomas was 35 years old and Oba Adeniran was in his 60s.

The Alaafin felt very insulted and nonplussed; he said “se emi lon gbomo baun?” (Is it me you are barking at like that?). Oba Adeniran just told him “Ma gbo lo baun” (continue barking). Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II was the father of the late Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III.

The confrontation happened on November 22nd, 1953. Bode Thomas got home and started barking! He barked and barked like a dog all night until he died in the early morning of November 23rd, 1953. He cut short his promising career.

Chief Bode Thomas, Obafemi Awolowo and Samuel Ladoke Akintola (SLA)

Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II was thereafter deposed and sent into exile in 1954 for sympathizing with the opposition NCNC, because he had come into conflict with Bode Thomas who was Deputy Leader of the Action Group, before his untimely death. In fact, at a session in the parliament, Sardauna Ahmadu Bello had described Thomas as “Arrogant and ungracious”.

Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II was sent into exile to Ilesha and later relocated to Egerton Street on Lagos Island where he lived and died in 1960. His death truncated the ambition of Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, to proceed to the United Kingdom to study law. He later became an Insurance Executive with the Royal Exchange Assurance, where he worked until he ascended the throne of his forefathers, as the Alaafin of Oyo in 1971.

Alaafin Ladigbolu II

 Alaafin Ladigbolu II (1956-1968) was the Alaafin when Nigeria gained independence. Alaafin Ladigbolu II succeeded Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II who was exiled. He died in 1968 and was succeeded by Alaafin Adeyemi III.

In years 1900s, the modern government has taken root, Captain Ross nurtured its growth.

Alaafin Adeyemi III

In 1971 Alaafin Adeyemi III became king. He succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II during the governorship of Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, after the end of the Nigerian Civil War. In 1975, the Head-of-State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed included Oba Adeyemi in his entourage for the hajj. He was chancellor of Uthman dan Fodiyo University in Sokoto from 1980 to 1992. In 1990 President Ibrahim Babangida appointed him Amir-ul-Hajj in recognition of his commitment to the consolidation of Islam in Nigeria.

Alaafin Adeyemi III was a lover of boxing, as he was a boxer before becoming Alaafin. He remains the first educated Alaafin of Oyo.

Oyo city today is the centre of a flourishing civilization from its inception under the children of Atiba, Adelu, Adeyemi I, Agogo Ija, Ladigbolu I, Adeyemi II, Ladigbolu II, and Adeyemi III.

Great economic strides, two universities, several tertiary institutions, and health, and industrial facilities adorn the town in its march to a greater height.

The new express road is a marvel, and late Oba Adeyemi III, C.F.R., J.P, LL.D, S.A.P), has assumed the legend of his ancestors with a perfect grasp of the perplexed maze of political, monarchical, and economic vicissitudes of the age; an enigma and incarnation of the wholesome attitude of Oluaso.

Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III the immediate past Alaafin of Oyo was born on the 15th of October 1938, to Raji Adeniran Adeyemi the former Alaafin of Oyo who was deposed and exiled in 1954 for sympathizing with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC).

Education

Lamidi Adeyemi III began his education at a Quranic School in Iseyin, a city not too far from Oyo town. He then went back to Oyo Town where he stayed with the headmaster, of St. Andrews Primary School proceeding thereafter to live with the Alake of Egba, Oba Oladepo Ademola, in his palace.

His education met a temporal end after Oba Ademola was forced to abdicate his throne to live in exile at Osogbo due to the 1947-48 demonstration of Egba women against “Tax without representation” led by Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti.

His father sent for him in 1948 and later sent him to live with Sir Kofoworola Adebayo Abayomi in Keffi, Ikoyi, Lagos. While in Keffi, he attended Obalende Modern School, He later attended Tinubu Methodist School.

After his primary education, He was offered admission into Igbobi College and St. Gregory’s College, Obalende. He chose to attend St. Gregory’s College Obalende.

He left St. Gregory’s College with very good grades and had chosen to study Law, however, his quest for Law was halted as his father was deposed as the Alaafin on the 14th of February 1946.

Lamidi was then offered a job at the Royal Exchange Assurance in Lagos, while working at the Royal Exchange He wrote articles under pen names in newspapers, writing about himself and his experience.

One of his numerous articles was entitled” I SHALL BE GREAT” in 1968 and a year later, he wrote yet another one: “I shall be the next Alaafin”. He wrote critiques of how the Nigerian teachers were treated, having been inspired by the state in which he saw one of his old teachers in a tattered shirt and tie. He wrote yet another entitled. “Women Liberation: A misnomer in Yoruba land”.

Shortly after his stay at the Royal Exchange Assurance, he was promoted to the 14 Floor into the specialist area of obligatory Facultative Insurance and Internal memo drafting.

He began to earn lots of money but his father gave strict instructions that he must invest every penny that came his way, therefore, venturing into business buying wrecked cars to repair and resell.

The Alaafin’s Ascension to the Throne

The Alaafin, Lamidi Adeyemi III was coronated as the traditional ruler of Oyo in 1970 succeeding Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II during the governorship of Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, after the end of the Nigerian Civil War.

As the usual practice in the selection of the new Alaafin, after the death of Alaafin Gbadegesin, the Oyomesi contacted Oranlola (Baba Iwo) of Alowolodu to become the Alaafin.

He then called for a meeting within the royal family. He informed them of his meeting with Oyomesi and that he suggested his son, Sanda ‘Ladepo.

All the members of the family agreed to this except Baba Salami Dudu. Baba Salami Dudu suggested Prince Lamidi Adeyemi a son to Alaafin Adeyemi Adeniran ll.

The contention for the throne of the Alaafin became more intense to the extent that some of the princes from the larger royal families in Oyo became contenders. Among these were Aremo Sanni Gbadegesin, Prince Olanite Ajagba, Prince Afonja Ilaka, and Prince Sanda ‘Ladepo Oranlola.

Lamidi Adeyemi was chosen by the kingmakers on November 18, 1970, and then moved into the palace after completing the necessary rites under the tutelage of the Oyomesi.

In the process, he was inducted into the mysteries of various gods like the Ifa mysteries, and the Sango mysteries. He was also made to undergo these inductions in order to be the direct representative of these deities on earth.

An impressive ceremony was held at the Durbar Stadium, Oyo town, to coronate Lamidi Adeyemi III as the Alaafin of Oyo. He was presented with the staff of office as the Alaafin of Oyo by the then military Governor of the Western State, Colonel (now retired General)Adeyinka Adebayo.

Personal Life

The Alaafin is married to 13 wives which include Ayaba Abibat Adeyemi, his senior wife, who he used to attend most events with her or with one of the twelve junior wives that he was also married to.

His other wives are Ayaba Rahmat Adedayo Adeyemi, Ayaba Mujidat Adeyemi, Ayaba Rukayat Adeyemi, Ayaba Folashade Adeyemi, Ayaba Badirat Ajoke Adeyemi, Ayaba Memunat Omowunmi Adeyemi, Ayaba Omobolanle Adeyemi, Ayaba Moji Adeyemi, Ayaba Anuoluwapo Adeyemi, and Ayaba Damilola Adeyemi.

As one of the paramount foremost traditional rulers in Yoruba land, The Alaafin of oyo used his position to better the lots of many Obas, lifting many non-crown wearing Obas to the status of beaded crown wearers and consistently fighting for the improvement of their (the Obas’) welfare at all times.

Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi joined his ancestors in the late hours of Friday, 22nd of April, 2022 at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti at the age of 83

The remains of the top Yoruba traditional ruler were brought to Oyo in the early hours of Saturday 23rd of April, 2022 and traditional rites began.

He was 83 years old and the longest-reigning Alaafin ever, having ruled for 52 years.

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