A Yoruba historian, Rufus Adebowale, has disagreed with feuding Yoruba monarchs, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Sikiru Adetona, and the Alake of Egbaland, Adedotun Gbadebo, on their perspectives on the hierarchy of Yoruba traditional stools.
He said both the Awujale and the Alake were inaccurate in their analyses of the history of the Yoruba race.
Mr. Adebowale, a prince from the Okukenu ruling house of Egbaland, however backed Oba Gbadebo in some of his claims and attacked Oba Adetona for being critical of the Egba monarch.
The historian spoke to journalists in Abeokuta on Friday while reacting to the widely publicized contentions between the traditional rulers on the seniority of their stools.
According to him, Awujale is a foreigner in Yoruba land, as the Ijebus originated from Wadai in Sudan.
Mr. Adebowale said as a foreigner in Yorubaland, the Awujale and his Ijebu people lacked the authority to speak on the history of the Yoruba race.
The 72-year old historian also declared that the Alake distorted history by claiming that Alaafin was next to the Ooni of Ife.
He said the statement credited to the Awujale that the Alake was a junior traditional ruler was very insulting and a distortion of history.
Mr. Adebowale said, “I read about the tongue-lashing of Awujale on my royal father, he said Alake is a junior Oba in Yorubaland, this is a great distortion of history.
“My royal father is extraordinarily humble, he manages peace and unity and not crises and that is why he is ignoring all those things from the Awujale,” he said.
“In the first instance, Awujale shouldn’t have dabbled into the issue of Obas in Yorubaland because he is not of Oduduwa origin, the Ijebus came from Wadai and my contemporary authority is Pa Olusegun Obasanjo because he had put it to Awujale himself that they are not Oduduwa descendants.
“What Awujale said was very insulting and a great distortion of history. Our progenitor father is Oduduwa who came from Saudi Arabia. When he was coming from Saudi Arabia, he came with an aide who was later named Ooni, by the time he was dying, he left all he had in the possession of Ooni; Omonide, his wife; and Okanbi, the only
surviving son.
“First of all, the Ijebus know who is who in Yorubaland, their progenitor father emulated Oduduwa, they are from Wadai, that man heard that Oduduwa had settled down in a place called Ife, he also came down and settled.”
According to Mr. Adebowale, who is from the same ruling house with the incumbent Alake, the correct order of seniority ranks the Ooni of Ife as the foremost Oba in Yoruba land, while the Alake is the third behind the Oba of Benin.
“Alake said Ooni is the foremost Oba in Yorubaland, that is very correct, because Ooni had known Omonide and Okanbi who now beget the Obas in Yorubaland.
“There is a part of the history that says that Oduduwa died at Ife. Omonide, Oduduwa’s wife died in Egba forest at Alake’s place.
“So, when she died at Egba forest, she was buried and when the Egbas were coming to Abeokuta in 1830 August, they came to Abeokuta with the pots which she was using in preparing concoctions for her children; they were at Ake palace here where we worship Omonide every year.”
He explained that other Obas in Yorubaland, including the Alafin of Oyo, had never contested the superiority of the Alake.
“So all others, they do not contend superiority with Alake; the Orangun, Owa Obokun, and some others like Alaketu, so you can see now that to say Alaafin is next to Ooni is a great distortion of history, Mr. Adebowale said.
“What I am contending here is that Awujale who is not of Yoruba origin cannot be requesting for yardstick in setting out our seniority cadre.
“Both Awujale and Alake lacked history. If Alake is Alake of Ake, what concerns Awujale who is a foreigner? We are grandchildren of Oduduwa.”
I appreciate Mr Adebowale for putting the record straight. However, i wish to meet him on issues relating to historical matters especially in Yorubaland.
Am less concern about seniority, all I know is that true history must be appreciated. They are all kings but there is only one KING… Who is the king of kings
There is no need for this controversy at all. All of us are Yoruba. Whether we are Ijesa, Oyo,Egba, Ijebu,Ekiti, Ibadan or Ife.. Let us unite and build a strong nation that can compete with others in the Nigerian State. We
must watch it. Please, we must work together and take our rightful position in the comity of nations. God bless all the Obas and people of Yoruba Land.
Isnt it clear enough by now that Oduduwa story is fake? First they claim he came down from heaven with a chain as a first creation. Now they claim he’s from Saudi Arabia. This fortunate land grabbers calling themselves Royal houses are just comedians. Ijebu is not in a class of any Oduduwa and history has it that when Oduduwa was blind, it was here in Ijebu land he was cured of blindness. So this prodigal kids ought to know that they owe some gratitude to the Ijebus and not nonsense talk of who Oduduwas children are. Ijebus never claimed to be from Oduduwa and they never will.
When Oyinbos are telling us how many baskets of naira would make a dollar ,our fathers are fighting for seniority,would this bickering help the people in govt to give us basics of life?.I cannot blame them they are also part of our common wealth sharering formula.
It’s a shame to both parties, in my own knowledge the historian said oduduwa came from said and settle in ile ife, and the other came and settled in ijebu, which make the two foreigners, so what is the bone of Contention in it, we better look for peace than looking for cious
They are both foreigners so wat is d hue nd cry abt it ? Pls don’t coyrselfjareeeW thinking u can confuse us, we are all travellers nd foreigners in dis world jareee. A worker has no country wia ever he goes nd find peace his home.qed
What is important to us now is having the basic necessities of good life not unnecessary seniority issues baseless to our well being. Can this put food on our tables or shelter on our heads?
I cherish putting straight the history with no distortion. My historian has failed to inform us whose son were the Egbas. Yes, Omonide according to this tale died in Egba forest, where was this forest then? Ti a ba ka eru, o di dandan ki inu eru o baje, but the truth must be told without any acrimony..
@ Afolabi, but erroneous historic impressions have to be corrected.
You are right @ afolabi…. But history needs to be revisited when there is need for it……….
I am so amazed at how people can’t just get simple facts straight. The Awujale never claimed to be a descendant of Oduduwa, but even then I am glad no one is yet to claim that the ijebus were given land to live on by anyone. So if the ijebus want to go with the flow because of being surrounded by you as doesn’t mean they don’t know what goes on around them. How can the Ooni be the foremost Oba? I beg to disagree I with that school of thought. As the name implies Ooni is the short for Oonirisa which I believe has something to do with being the priest to the orisa so he is the foremost priest in Yorubaland. On the issue of seniority is this based on position of birth or might.
It is shame that the elders are behaving like toddlers including this writer. Shame. They should think of better ways to move the country forward.
The writer has just set the record straight. This piece is informative contrary to your opinions.
What nonsense is this?,how could someone come from Saudi Arabia and Sudan to become Oba in Yorubaland,so the Yorubaland aborignes have been deprived of the chances of ruling themselves.It seems the Yorubas are still colonized by foreigners,like KSA said “Onile a j’ori eja,ajoji a j’ori eku”,na waa o,
Just go back and read the story again before you drop comment,..God bless the writer.