Yoruba tradition takes centre stage as Alaafin of Oyo hosts traditional ruler from Benin Republic

The palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi  Adeyemi, was the meeting point last Saturday when he received a Yoruba traditional ruler from Benin Republic. TUNDE BUSARI, who was among the gathering, reports the varied emotions that greeted the reception.

With short notice, the expansive frontage of the Alaafin’s palace was besieged by a sizeable crowd of Oyo indigenes, including princes and princess. They had all gathered to welcome the Onisolo of Pobe, Benin Republic, Oba Elechi Adegbola Camile to the ancient town.

Even when it was not clear that Oba Camile would arrive the venue soon, the people, among of whom were traditional chiefs and baales, were not in a haste to leave their seats because, according to them, the Alaafin, Oba Olayiwola Adeyemi, deserves their presence as hosts of shis guest.

The significance of the well-organized reception derived from the revelation that Oba Camile was touching the land of Oyo for the first time after he had ascended to the throne of his forefathers. And when he finally arrived the palace at about 2 pm in company of his traditional and honourary chieftaincy title holders, it was home coming as he was ushered into the hall by the palace drummers and chanter, all of whom demonstrated to him that the palace of Oyo is the heart of Yoruba culture and tradition.

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Though the youthful Onisolo did not respond to the heavy percussion as Oba Adeyemi would with his mastery of right dance steps, his soft smile at the aged drummers was indicative of his joy to have returned to his root and reunited with his kith and kins in Nigeria.

Just before Oba Camile was led into the hall, the Alaafin-In-Council (The Oyomesi) were introduced to the visiting king one after the other in a very relaxed ambience, bringing out the rich Yoruba cultural value.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the legendary Alaafin Oranmiyan, who ruled Oyo with landmark accomplishments and expanded its territory to Kumasi in present day Ghana, had his tomb in Pobe.

A researcher, who had investigated the connection between Pobe and Oyo, Ambassador Kolawole Aderoju pointed out that his visit to Pobe was an eye opener that further expanded his understanding of the strength of Yoruba culture. He confirmed his findings and acknowledged the superior influence of the Alaafin in Yoruba cultural inheritance.

“You have to go to Pobe and see how great Yoruba is. The site where Alaafin Oranyan slept is there, and I was surprised even as a researcher. The people are 100 per cent Yoruba in words and deeds. They are accommodating. You can see that they are all happy being here. Yoruba is a big nation and our culture is second to no other, if we can get our act together as being promoted by baba Alaafin,” he noted.

Oba Adeyemi took his time to put things in order in his private office before he emerged andformally welcomed Oba Camile to his domain. And when Oba Adeyemi  appeared in gold coloured voile lace matched with his traditional simple abetiaja cap, the chorus of K-a-b-i-y-s-i  ooo rented the whole space amidst drumming and chanting of his panegyrics. His trumpeter was not left behind blowing intermittently to spice up the mood.

Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, who recently celebrated his 80th birthday and drew crème-de-la-crème of the society to Oyo, flagged off the proceedings as the compere of the reception.

 In his characteristic disposition at public event, the retired clericeffectively blended his deep Yoruba Language with English to make a total communication to the large audience from different backgrounds.

Spotting brown flowing agbada guinea brocade, Ladigbolu practically electrified the place with his educative commentaries that earned him applause and also delighted the Alaafin, the Onisolo and his entourage.

The Octogenarian recalled with precision how Oba Adeyemi had sent a delegate, led by her daughter, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Arewa House of Culture, FolasadeAdeyemi,to Pobe as a mark of identifying with them as true blood of Oyo.

“The delegates returned home with good reports on how well they were also received and how revered they held the Alaafin as their father. And since then, there is no Oranyan Festival we host here which they would not attend. So, the Onisolo’s coming to see his father today is a normal visit by son to his father. After this public show, they are going to have father-and-son discussion behind the curtain before the Onisolo returned to his domain in Benin Republic,” he disclosed.

The guests were treated to variety of cultural performances by three groups, which held the audience spell bound with their singing, chanting and dances. The OnaMogba group, which specialized in magical exhibition, pulled some stunts that earned his wild ovation. He effortlessly conjured some objects in a manner that left people stupefied, and called for more as the compere notified him to round off his acts.

When Ladigbolu invited the impressive Oba Camile to deliver his speech, silence pervaded the stage The monarch responded to the call, rising from his seat and walking to the front of the Alaafin. He first paid obeisance which a son is required to pay his father. Though tradition forbids him to prostrate, he put no one in doubt that he was standing before his father.

“I cannot even say much here because father and son discussion is beyond the public glare. But you can all see that I am happy being here and standing before my father. Coming to Oyo here is historic and normal. I thank the Alaafin for this show of love to his son in the diaspora,” he stated.

In his remark to his guest’s brief extemporaneous speech, Oba Adeyemi went down memory lane, regrettably recollecting how the European powers shared African continent among themselves at the Berlin Conference in 1885, the development, he revealed, that separated the Yorubas in Benin Republic from their brothers and sisters in Nigeria.

However, the Alaafin argued that despite the assimilation policy which the France Government adopted to suppress African culture, little did it achieve in making French in African. “You still speak your language, wear your Yoruba dresses,do your traditional festivals and other things as Yoruba people. This is enough to tell them that you cannot totally subjugate people’s culture,” he said.

Beside, Oba Adeyemi reminisced 1989 when the former President of Benin Republic, Matthew Kerekou hosted him with presidential treatment and thereafter assigned him to do a comprehensive report on how to preserve Yoruba culture among the Yoruba-speaking citizens of his country.

The Alaafin noted that the glamour that characterized the visit, which, according to him, had about 30 traditional rulers and drummers in his entourage, is still fresh in his memory till date.

“We were lodged in the best hotel in the country. We had a memorable experience on that trip. Unfortunately, I could not submit the report which President Kerekou asked me to write because his government was ousted. I am doing all my best possible to build strong ties with our people outside Nigeria because we are from one blood and the geographical separation is artificial because it has not really separated us, in terms of our history and culture.

“After the event here, we shall move inside for our private discussion. I will talk to the Onisolo and advise him on how to perform his duties as the royal father to all his subjects. The throne is sensitive and only those with divine support perform the functions successfully. His coming is a welcome development, and we are going to do things together in protecting Yoruba culture and tradition,” he assured.