Fresh details have emerged regarding a perceived strain in relations between the newly installed Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, following a viral clip from a public event that has stirred royal protocol debates.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The footage, captured during a ceremony hosted by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, on April 29 in Ibadan, showed the Ooni standing and exchanging pleasantries with other monarchs while the Alaafin remained seated. The scene prompted speculation about a brewing tension between two of Yorubaland’s most revered traditional rulers.

Investigations suggest the root of the tension may trace back to March 2025 during a traditional rite at Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, USA. Following the July 2024 murder of Oyotunji’s monarch, Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi, the Ooni had dispatched a delegation of royal emissaries and traditional priests to perform ancestral rites.

However, sources claim that Oba Owoade, who was still in seclusion ahead of his coronation, allegedly called one of the visiting monarchs and demanded they leave the village, asserting that Oyotunji was under Oyo’s domain and thus not subject to Ife’s spiritual oversight.

The conflict reportedly deepened when the Alaafin failed to acknowledge the Ooni’s attendance at his coronation, despite the latter’s presence with a large entourage from Osun State.

“This was their first encounter since the coronation, and the Alaafin’s body language was telling,” a royal insider disclosed. “The Ooni has no interest in rivalry—his position in the Yoruba hierarchy remains undisputed.”

Reacting to the claims, the Alaafin’s Personal Assistant, Kolade Oladele, dismissed the allegations as “baseless provocations.” He insisted that the Alaafin never interfered in the Oyotunji rites and was deeply engaged in pre-coronation seclusion.

Oladele also refuted suggestions of any snub at the coronation, stating that the Ooni was formally invited and respectfully honoured during the ceremony.

“People are deliberately stoking conflict where there is none,” Oladele said. “Kabiyesi holds all Yoruba kings in high regard and remains focused on unity and development across the Oyo Kingdom.”

Historical Context:
Oyotunji African Village, established in 1970 by Oba Efuntola Adefunmi I, serves as a cultural haven for African Americans reconnecting with their Yoruba roots. The late Adefunmi was installed by the Ooni of Ife, and his successors—including the slain Oba Adejuyigbe—maintained close spiritual ties to the Ife monarchy.

Following Adejuyigbe’s death, Yoruba royal houses have been actively involved in guiding the village through its traditional leadership transition. However, the ongoing claims and counterclaims between Oyo and Ife camps threaten to overshadow those efforts with regal discord.