The late Ooni Of Ife – His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, was buried yesterday (August 14, 2015) in Ile Ife, the ancestral home of the Yorubas. An interdominational (Christian/Muslim/Traditional) service was held for the Ooni which was attended by Vice President, Yemi Osinabajo, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Babajide Omoworare; former Ambassador to Switzerland, Ambassador Olusegun Bamigbetan; Deputy Speaker of Osun State, Hon. Adegboye Akintunde; legislators; monarchs, his wives, children & many others.

Following the less than 3 hour service the burial of the late king commenced. But unlike the burial of a civilian, the late Oba’s was very different.

Here are 6 interesting facts about the Late Ooni of Ife’s Burial




1. The Late Ooni’s remains were not present at interdominational service

The body of the late Ooni did not lie in state and his casket was not displayed during the interdominational service which took place at Afewonro Parks, Enuwa, Ile Ife, Osun state. This left many who wanted to pay their last respects to the much loved monarch disappointed.



2. The Family of the late Ooni Were Not Allowed To See His remains since it came back from England.

An anonymous source at the palace told Punch correspondent,

As we are holding this interdenominational service here, those concerned are performing their own rites inside the palace where the body is kept. You can see that the gates of the palace are locked and nobody is allowed to go inside. Nobody can see him again except those who will bury him. The wives and children were not even supposed to see his corpse at all but tradition was broken this time around because he (Sijuwade) died in London. But no family member can see him again. Those performing the rites are there now and they will complete it today (Friday). He will be buried in the middle of the night, but nobody will be there apart from those who will lower him into the grave.

The source added that, those who saw the bodies of the previous Oonis were attacked by smallpox and did not survive the ailment.

However because he passed away in London his three wives (Morisola – 1st wife, Ladun – 2nd wife and Odunola – youngest and some of his children were able to pay their last respect to the departed monarch.



3. Palace Gates Locked

During the interdominational service the remains of the late Ooni was kept inside the palace, the gates were locked and no one was allowed inside.



4. The Ooni of Ife’s Corpse Belongs To Ife Not His Family. Nothing Must Stop The Traditional Burial Rites

Punch also reports that some members of the Oro cult stormed the venue of the interdominational service in an attempt to stop the service, saying it was sacrilege to hold an interdenominational service for the departed king. As the service went on outside the palace, the traditional worshippers sang and danced inside the palace.

The Araba of Osogbo land, Chief Yemi Elebuibon spoke to Punch and disclosed that traditional burial rites of the kings of Ile-Ife and Oyo are strictly complied with and are comprehensive.

He said,

When the Ooni dies, the body becomes that of the town. The ‘Isoro’ cult group will take over. The ‘Isoro’ initiates are the ones who worship the ‘Oro’ deity. It is the ‘Isoro’ people that would inform the various deities, who were worshipped and appeased when the Ooni was crowned, that he (the monarch) is no more. It’s a rite. Nothing must stop it.



5. No Human Sacrifice

Before the advent of Christianity & Islam in Yoruba land human sacrifice was usually involved in the burial of a king. Also an incoming king would eat the heart of the departed king. However this practise doesn’t take place anymore. The Araba dispelled this belief saying

The eating of the heart of a departed King by an incoming one belonged to the past. It no longer exists. People still make this insinuation because many are barred from witnessing the burial of a king. What the incoming king will eat is the heart of an animal and not that of a human. Nobody would be buried with the Ooni. Nobody would be killed for any form of sacrifice.



6. Curfew in Ile Ife For Seven Days

According to Punch, a curfew, which started yesterday Friday the 14th August, was put in place for a week. The curfew starts at 4pm.

7. His final resting place

It is being reported that the late king would be buried in a mausoleum at the rear of the palace beside the immediate past Ooni, Oba Adesoji Aderemi.

The reason for this is because the cemetery inside the palace, where previous Oonis were buried is now full.

The Late Ooni Was A Born Again Christian

Oba Sijuwade died as a born-again Christian. Evangelist Toluwase Akeredolu revealed he had ministered to the monarch few weeks before his death. Akeredolu said




Oba Sijuwade told the congregation at the last crusade we organised in Ile-Ife that he had forsaken sins and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and personal saviour. He confessed publicly that he would live the rest of his life to serve the Almighty God.

During the revival, Oba Sijuwade said he had committed the rest of his lifetime to Christ, the saviour of all and had sung the popular song ‘All to Jesus, I surrender.’”

In 2010 Oba Sijuwade dropped the title of ‘Oluaye’ (owner of the universe) in deference to the Almighty God.”

Wow…Yoruba tradition & culture is very intriguing.


SOURCE: http://www.that1960chick.com/2015/08/15/seven-interesting-facts-you-should-know-about-the-burial-of-the-ooni-of-ife

okay

Ok !







Cc.ayandare02

Sound Very interesting

Less Concerned about all this .... Where is Abobaku ?

Lies plenty for there. New ooni will deff eat the heart of the d3ad one. He prolly was burried with escorts

Just to correct something OP,the Ooni and his predecessors,were not and never were Imperial anything.Only two yoruba states built empires and are entitled to use that address,Oyo and Ibadan.Ibadan don't and has never used it,I wonder why you would now ascribe that to a mere priest.