Adigun Olowe Yoruba – The Youngest Traditional Title Holder in The World

Chief Adebayo Olamilekan Israel Popularly known as Adigun Olowe Yorùbá is a 6 years old genius that has been representing the entire Yoruba land with his God’s giving endowment for his passion and preservations of Yorùbá culture.

Introduction

The proud son of Fiditi in Afijio Local Government of Oyo state was born on the 11th of January 2016 to Mr. Adebayo Oladimeji and Mrs. Adebayo Olateju in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.

Oloye Adigun Olowe Yoruba uploaded his first Yorùbá proverb video on all his media handles on the 4th of May 2020 when he was still struggling to understand and pronounce words at the age of 4 years.

Before the age of 5 years, he has gotten the ability to recite over 200 inspiring Yorùbá proverbs and also translate each of the proverbs to English. By the end of 2021, he went ahead to have interview sessions with over 35 notable TV and radio stations across the country.

With the support and close monitoring of his father, Mr. Adebayo Oladimeji, in 2021 at the age of 5, Oloye Adigun Olowe Yoruba started handling the microphone and speaking confidently in front of thousands of people without a single panic.

His performance at the “End SARS” protest in front of thousands of people at the age of 4 years remains evergreen and will never be forgotten in history.

Chief Adebayo Olamilekan Israel Popularly known as Adigun Olowe Yorùbá is currently a nursery two pupil of Tabitha Nursery and Primary school, Felele Ibadan.

Installation as The Odo Agbe-Asaga of Isolu Alade Kingdom, Ibeju Leki Lagos

On Saturday 14th August 2021 Lagos state was agog and History was made at the palace of Oba Babatunde Ishola Balogun, the Onisolu of Isolu kingdom, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos when the traditional ruler conferred a chieftaincy title of Agbe-Asaga of Isolu Alade on a five-year-old Adebayo Olamilekan, also known as Adigun Olowe Yoruba.

In a well-deserved ceremony, for consistently promoting the Yoruba culture, the famous Adigun Olowe Yoruba (an encyclopaedia of Yoruba proverbs), was installed as Ọdọ Agbé Àsà Gá Of Sọ́lú Aládé Kingdom, Ibeju-Lekki Lagos State.

During the installation, Onisolu, said he honoured Adigun Olowe with the chieftaincy title in recognition of his contributions to the promotion of Yoruba cultural heritage.

In response, Adigun thanked the monarch and other traditional rulers present as well as the Isolu Alade chiefs for giving him the chieftaincy title.

Adigun, a five-year-old boy from Fiditi, Oyo State is a nursery two pupil of Tabitha Nursery and Primary school, Felele Ibadan.

Youngest Traditional Title Holder In The World

In World History, it is common to have kings even before the age of 5, King Shah Shapur II of Persia was king even before birth, Alfonso XIII of Spain became a king when he was just a day old, Ivan VI of Russia became king two months old after he was born, and Henry VI of Great Britain was just nine months old when he became king.

King Rukirabasaija Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV of Tooro Kingdom in Uganda also held the spot of the Guinness Book of Records’ world youngest reigning monarch. He became king in 1995 at the age of 3 after the passing of his father King Kaboyo, King Rukirabasaija being the sole heir to the throne automatically became the king of Tooro Kingdom, Uganda.

In Nigeria, we have Dein Keagborekuzi I who became a king in 1979 at the age of 2 after the death of his father, He was named the world’s youngest crowned monarch in the 1980 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records and was the Chancellor of the University of Ilorin between 2006 and 2015.

We also have Oba Adeyeoba Oloyede Adekoya, Akinghare II, the Ojima Arujale of Okeluse in Ose Local government area of Ondo state who became king at the age of 15 after the death of his father.

Traditional Title can also be inherited but it is often earned than inherited, unlike kingship. You must have done something noticeable in a community or amongst an ethnic group before you can be conferred with a traditional title.

Adigun Olowe is a special child, in an interview with Punch in 2021 he said: “I’m 5 years old but I’m not a kid”.

Around him hangs an aura far beyond his age, he may be 5 years in age but he is Baba with his knowledge of Yoruba Tongue, Proverbs, Panegyrics, Folklore, and culture. The chieftaincy title is well deserved.

Always referred to with the appellation of: “The Youngest Chief in Africa”, Chief Adebayo Olamilekan Israel Popularly known as Adigun Olowe Yorùbá argueably remains the Youngest Traditional Title Holder in The World.

Awards, Features Etc.

He has featured on over 35 notable radio and television including:

1. BBC NEWS YORUBA
2. TVC NEWS TV
3. FRESH FM
4. SPLASH FM
5. LAGELU FM
6. AIT TELEVISION
7. SPACE FM
8. JAMZ FM
9. KINGS FM
10. INSPIRATION FM
11. STAR FM
12. SALT RADIO
13. PEP RADIO
14. IMMACULATE RADIO
15. KAFTAN TV
16. BCOS TELEVISION
17. 32 FM
18. VANGUARD NEWS.
19. AMUTAJERO FM
20. AGIDIGBO RADIO
21. NIJAFM
22. NTA
23. STRIDE RADIO

Listed below are also few noticeable events he has performed:

• • He performed at the popular Olojo festival hosted by his Imperial Majesty Ooni of Ife, ọba Adéyẹye Ogunwusi Babatunde.
• • He performed at oke Ibadan festival.
• • Culturalty 15th edition. LAGOS.

He has bagged 10 notable awards of recognition for his quintessential role to Yorùbá culture and 5 others to be received in the month of November.

Amongst the numbers of monarchs and celebrities, he has met are listed below.

• The Ooni of ife: Ọba Adéyẹye Babatunde Ogunwusi Ẹnitan.
• Ọba Muhideen Balogun Ishola bábatunde: The Onisolu of Solu Alade kingdom Ibeju Lekki Lagos. The king conferred him with a chieftaincy title.
• Aláké of Ẹ̀gbá land
• Timi of èdè kingdom
• Onileegbo of ilegbo kingdom.
• Ọba Olowu Kuta
• Emir of Kano
• Alara of Ìlara kingdom
• Atayerọ of aramọkọ
• Onisabe of isabe
• Ọlofin of isheri
• and many other dignitaries.

Controversy

Sometimes in June 2021, a post on LinkedIn by Nurudeen Adeyemi carrying the image of Adigun Olowe went viral. The LinkedIn post generated over 900 comments and over 15,000 reactions.

The LinkedIn post claimed that Adigun Olowe Yoruba is a groundnut seller and an orphan who was helped by the MD of FCMB bank, Ladi Balogun.

Different news platforms and blogs went on to carry the news and it went really viral. Some even claimed FCMB gave Adigun Olowe Yoruba scholarship, some claimed he was offered money which he refused.

Responding to the fake news, Adigun Olowe’s Father Mr. Adebayo Oladimeji debunked the news saying he is still much alive and his son is not hawking groundnut.

The counsel to Adigun Olowe Yoruba, Oladotun Hassan Esq said it’s a crime of identity theft he further asked FCMB to come out and address the scholarship claims in 7 days.

The MD of FCMB bank, Mr. Ladi Balogun however in a LinkedIn post distanced himself from the story and the blogger.

Conclusion

Chief Adigun Olowe Yoruba’s Father, Mr. Adebayo Oladimeji in an interview with Punch in October 2021 described his son Chief Adebayo Olamilekan Israel as an inquisitive individual, he stressed how he is always curious even at a tender age and would ask questions about anything he notices.

He went on to talk about how he has a sharp memory and when told a thing, he remembers effortlessly. This encouraged them to keep telling him different Yoruba Proverbs and in no time, he could conveniently recite 200 Yoruba Proverbs and still interpret them in English.

The father of Oloye Adigun Olowe, Mr. Adebayo Oladimeji further added that Adigun Olowe is not just about reciting Yoruba Proverbs and interpreting it but can also recite the anthems of different Yoruba states, and cities including that of Oyo state and Osun state.

Moreso, Adigun Olowe can recite Yoruba Poems as well as eulogize and recite different Yoruba Panegyrics such as Oriki Ibeji (Panegyric for Twins) and many more.

Also, in the same interview, the mother of Oloye Adigun Olowe, Mrs. Adebayo Olateju mentioned how joyous she was when Adigun Olowe was installed as the Odo Agbe-Asaga of Isolu Alade kingdom, Ibeju Leki Lagos because Chief Adebayo Olamilekan Israel is a miracle child.

She went on to talk about how she had stillborn children before the eventual birth of Oloye Adigun Olowe Yoruba. She appreciated Oba Babatunde Ishola Balogun, the Onisolu of Isolu kingdom, Ibeju Lekki, Lagos for deeming it fit to make Adigun Olowe a Yoruba Chief.

She concluded by emphasizing the fact that Oloye Adigun Olowe Yoruba loves the Yoruba language and culture so much and his father noticed that on time which made it convenient for them to help him on his journey to greatness as a great Public Yoruba Figure.

The father, Mr. Adebayo Oladimeji a lover of Yoruba culture himself said he’ll be happy if many more notable Yoruba figures can do all they can in helping Oloye Adigun Olowe Yoruba keep up with the pace in his chosen line.

He said it’ll be a thing of joy for him if Adigun Olowe Yoruba grows up to become a world-class noticeable enthusiast of Yoruba culture such as Professor Oluwole Soyinka or a reputable Yoruba Professor/Academician in a tertiary institution.

Oloye Adigun Olowe Yoruba can be invited to perform in cultural activities, weddings, burials, and different kinds of events.

Adigun Olowe is open for partnership, endorsements, modeling, ambassadorial deals, and all sorts of promotional featuring both in Nigeria and abroad.

He can be contacted on WhatsApp: +2348176441657
You can check out his YouTube Channel: Adigun Olowe Yoruba
You can visit his Facebook Page: Àdìgún Olówe Yorùbá
He is also on Instagram: @adigunoloweyoruba

Written By Johnson Okùnadé, Content Creator | Passionate ICT Expert | Astute Blogger | Enthusiast Of Yorùbá Indigenous Culture. You can WhatsApp him on +2347036065752

COPYRIGHT

Copyright © 2022 by My Woven Words: No part of this published blogpost and all of its contents may be reproduced, on another platform or webpage without a prior permission from My Woven Words except in the case of brief quotations cited to reference the source of the blogpost and all its content and certain other uses permitted by copyright law.

For permission requests, contact the admin on admin@johnsonokunade.com, or WhatsApp/Text him on +2347036065752