PRESS RELEASE
Office of the Chief of Staff to His Imperial Majesty, The Alaafin of Oyo
Oyo Royal Palace, Oyo, Oyo State
February 18, 2025
Alaafin’s Palace Debunks False Claims: Coronation Set to Proceed as Tradition
Demands
The attention of His Imperial Majesty’s office has been drawn to a recent article published
by The Nation Newspaper titled “Alaafin’s Coronation in Jeopardy Over Unknown
Whereabouts of Osun Monarch”. The claims made in this publication are not only
misleading but also demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the historically
documented coronation rites of the Alaafin of Oyo.
For the avoidance of doubt, the installation of the Alaafin follows a well-documented
tradition that has been upheld for centuries. Reverend Samuel Johnson, in his seminal
work The History of the Yorubas (1921), provides a comprehensive account of the
coronation process. Nowhere in this record is the Apetumodu of Ipetumodu mentioned as
a mandatory figure in the rites conferring legitimacy upon the Alaafin.
Historical Context and the Role of Ile-Ife
Reverend Johnson explicitly states that the most sacred element of the Alaafin’s
installation is the receipt of the Ida Oranyan (Sword of Oranyan), which is traditionally sent
from Ile-Ife. This sword is the singular most important symbol of the Alaafin’s divine
authority, as it represents the continuation of Oranmiyan’s legacy.
The documented coronation rites indicate that as part of the ipebi rites, the Ida Oranyan is
sent from Ile-Ife to Oyo for its own part in the rites, and after this, the sword is returned to
Ile-Ife. A replica is now sent back to the Alaafin to keep.
The Absence of the Apetumodu and its Non-Impact
While recent oral traditions may have introduced the Apetumodu into the coronation
narrative, historical records do not support the claim that his role is indispensable to the
process. The idea that his absence could “jeopardize” the coronation is therefore
unfounded.
It is imperative to clarify that the core aspects of the Alaafin’s installation remain intact,
and the coronation will proceed as scheduled on April 5, 2025. The Yoruba tradition is rich
and adaptive, but it does not deviate from its established and documented practices, as
recorded by notable historians such as Reverend Samuel Johnson, Asa ati Ise Yoruba by
C.L. Adeoye (Chapter 13 Eto Oye Ilu), Page 311 under Oro Oranmiyan section which has to
do with the Oranmiyan sword, and several other historians along with far and wide
consultation with elders who witnessed the ipebi rites of late Alaafin Oba Lamidi Adeyemi
III.
Clarification to the Public
The Royal Office wishes to assure the Yoruba people and the general public that there is no
obstacle to the coronation of Oba Engr. Akeem Abimbola Owoade I as the 46th Alaafin of
Oyo. The necessary rites are being conducted in strict accordance with the historical
traditions of the Oyo Empire, and any assertions to the contrary are misleading and should
be disregarded.
The media is advised to verify historical and cultural claims before publication to avoid
misinforming the public on sensitive traditional matters. We expect The Nation Newspaper
to take appropriate steps to correct this misleading report.
Signed,
Rotimi Osuntola, MBA
Chief of Staff to His Imperial Majesty, The Alaafin of Oyo
