Alaafin Owoade Puts Traditional Rites on Hold, Returns to Canada

Even after ten days since being officially appointed and receiving the symbols of office from Governor Seyi Makinde, the newly crowned Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, has not commenced the customary month-long rituals leading up to his coronation.

During the January 13 presentation to Owoade, at the Oyo Governor’s Office, State Secretariat, Ibadan, Governor Makinde had declared that the coronation of the new Alaafin would take place in four weeks’ time.

“The coronation proper will take place in four weeks, but today I will hand over the certificate and staff of office,” Makinde said.

Upon receiving the official certificate and staff, the newly elected Alaafin immediately proceeded to Oyo town, where he was greeted with a grand procession and celebration by the townspeople.

He also visited his family house in Oyo town where he was received by family and friends.

However, contrary to some quarters’ belief that the Alaafin-elect would immediately commence traditional rites to beat the four-week deadline of the Oyo State Governor for coronation, Oba Owoade jetted out to Canada the following day.

It was gathered that Owoade had to return to his Canadian base to officially resign from his workplaces and engagements in Canada.

“He (Owoade) is still in Canada.

He has to resign from the places he works in Canada and perfect all those papers before returning to Oyo,” a source told The PUNCH on Wednesday.

The Alaafin-elect is a Nigerian and Canadian entrepreneur, philanthropist, and President of 100279 Manitoba Limited, a real estate investment and financial services business in Manitoba, Canada.

Owoade is the Project Coordinator at one of the largest electric power and natural gas utility providers in Canada, Manitoba Hydro.

As of Wednesday, individuals and groups that the Alaafin-elect is mandated to visit, to carry out enthronement rites, said they still awaited Owoade to begin the rites.

“He is yet to commence the traditional rites. We believe he is still preparing himself and getting ready. The process is long as he has to offer several sacrifices and do rituals. It is non-stop, once he starts, he has to visit many places, so he has to be ready.

“I can’t specifically state the number of days that the rituals will take, but it will be close to a month; as that includes the Ipebi rituals too,” one of those involved in the traditional rites told The PUNCH.

Documents relating to the Alaafin installation indicate that the divinely selected candidate goes to Ipebi for traditional rites and is installed as the new king after the completion of all the traditional rites.

The Ipebi (seclusion) ritual involves several individuals and groups playing key roles in guaranteeing the spiritual well-being and authority of the Alaafin.

Among them is the Oluawo (Ifa priest) who serves as the spiritual guide and advisor to the Alaafin through the Ipebi ritual.

The Oyo Mesi, priests and priestesses also play roles in offering prayers, performing sacrifices and providing spiritual support.

Other traditional rites are that the Alaafin-elect is to perform additional enthronement rites at the Baba Iyaji residence, Ona Isokun, Ilemole, Bara before he proceeds to the Koso chamber accompanied by his chiefs and priests.

In the Koso chamber, the Alaafin-elect will be crowned with his royal headdress, symbolising his renewed spiritual authority.

He also would perform additional rituals and make offerings to the Orishas and his ancestors solidifying his connection with the divine.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, confirmed to The PUNCH on Wednesday that the state government had approved April 4 as the date for the coronation of the new Alaafin

Text supply: The Punch