Oluwo Hails Awujale Burial As Liberation For Yoruba Monarchs

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has described the burial of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, as a turning point for the Yoruba traditional institution and a symbol of freedom from outdated secret rituals.

Speaking on the burial process, Oba Akanbi praised the decision to lay the late monarch to rest with dignity, without involving practices such as physical mutilation or ritualistic rites often imposed by secret cults. He called it a bold and honorable move that respected the humanity and status of the traditional ruler.

The monarch commended the family of the late Awujale and Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, for upholding what he termed a noble burial practice. He said their action had set a clear example for how Yoruba kings should be buried in the future—according to their personal wishes or those of their families, not the dictates of secret groups.

Oba Akanbi noted that the burial was not just about one king but represented collective liberation for all Yoruba monarchs. He said that by avoiding ritualistic interference, the late Awujale’s burial restored pride and control to the royal families and the traditional institution as a whole.

Referencing his own kingdom, the Oluwo said he had already reformed such practices in Iwo since ascending the throne a decade ago. According to him, secret societies like the Osugbos and Ogbonis have no place in the administration or burial of Yoruba kings.

He described the steps taken in Ijebu as a spiritual and cultural reset, and called on other Yoruba communities to adopt similar approaches. Towns still interested in using traditional cults for royal burials, he said, should consider choosing such individuals as kings rather than true royal figures.

The Oluwo praised the legal backing given to the Awujale’s burial process, thanking Ogun State’s Attorney General, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), for supporting the decision. He said the courage shown by the state government would be remembered as a key step in ending centuries of what he described as spiritual oppression in the traditional system.

In his words, the burial of Oba Adetona was not just the passing of a monarch, but the birth of a new era for Yoruba royalty.