When IFA speaks, the integrity of its message is always unassailable. It carries the endorsement and approval of our ancestors. The paraphernalia of authenticity are always self-evident about Ifa’s message. Overtime, events always bear out the correctness of Ifa messages.
The coming out of the Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Abimbola Owoade, the Alaafin of Oyo has been inebriating. It has engendered the natural pride in our history and our culture. It has caused the resurgence of love and appreciation for our tradition in Yoruba land. It has underscored the importance of our heritage and its appeal when properly handled. It underlined the aphorism of our forefathers, E je ki a se bi nwon ti nse, ki o lee ri bi o se ye ki o ri. Obviously, this has been done the way it is supposed to be done, and here we are, we are all celebrating.
Oba Owoade is an organic royalty. Royalty is innate to him. He is natural. His carriage is kingly. He walks like a true emperor of the Oyo Empire. He oozes dignity in all ramifications. His voice is a blend of velvet and depth. He sounds so mellifluous and booming. His voice commands attention as a matter of course. The added beauty to this is his means of communication. He does so in pure Yoruba that is untainted and uncontaminated. When you listen to Oba Owoade speaking Yoruba, it is akin to being serenaded with an iconic musical genre. It intoxicates. It hypnotizes. It fascinates. It mesmerizes.
More importantly, his beautiful means of communication are fully embedded with substance. He is coordinated, organized and methodical in his communication style. His delivery is penetrative. That is what is called rendition. It is analogous to the melting power of water over salt. There are exudations of logic and intelligence. Pervasiveness of depth and vistas are self-evident. Oba Owoade is comfortably at home with Yoruba acclamatory. He uses it to approbate his messages.
He is very classy. Very elegant. Culturally suave. Traditionally modish. He seems to swim in the natatorium of authentic Yorubaness. He does not belong to a genre of classless ignoramuses on some thrones across Yoruba land who have no idea what it means to be a king. Who goes about prostrating for ordinary human beings tagged as pastors or reverends or GOs or whatever emblems of idiocy on Yoruba thrones!
According to BUSINESS DAY of January 10, 2025, Born into the Owoade-Agunloye royal family in Oyo town, the Canada-based prince is a descendant of Aremo Aderounmu Iyanda Owoade of the Agure Compound. He completed his secondary education at Baptist High School, Saki, Oyo State, in 1992. Pursuing a passion for engineering, he earned a National Diploma from The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro (1994-1997) and a Higher National Diploma from The Polytechnic, Ibadan (1999-2001), both in Mechanical Engineering. After his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) tenure with the Nigeria Gas Company in 2002, he briefly worked as a teller at Oceanic Bank International Plc in Warri (2003-2004).
Furthering his education in the United Kingdom, Prince Owoade obtained a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Sunderland in 2008 and a Master of Science from Northumbria University in 2012. He also achieved Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in June 2015.
Professionally, he served as a Planning Engineer at Oil Reach Company in Glasgow before relocating to Canada, where he currently holds the position of project coordinator at Manitoba Hydro, a leading utility provider. Also, he is the president of 100279 Manitoba Limited, a real estate investment and financial services firm.
Owoade is recognised for his philanthropic endeavors and active involvement in Yoruba cultural organisations abroad. His selection as the Alaafin of Oyo is anticipated to bring a wealth of global experience, educational insight, and visionary leadership to the throne.
It is important that we acknowledge the openness and fairness of Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State in this process. His determination to ensure that a Fulani protégé was not allowed to buy the throne of Alaafin of Oyo is highly commendable. His recourse to our traditional way should be praised and emulated by those who have responsibilities for this kind of assignment.
All authentic Yoruba sons and daughters who are fighting for the preservation of our Yoruba culture and traditional values are very proud of the role of Awise of Yorubaland, Professor Ifawande Abimbola, who used his affinity and knowledge of Ifa to guide us and lead us to a veritable Alaafin of Oyo in Oba Abimbola Owoade, the Iku Baba Yeye.
Ki Ade o pe l’ori o
Ki Bata o pe l’ese
Ki Akun o pe l’orun
Irukere yio d’okinni o
Esin Oba yio je oko pe titi o. Ase.
© Remi Oyeyemi
Remi Oyeyemi writes from the US
