Death in a normal situation is what no one wishes for oneself or a known or unknown individual. Since no one wants his/her relative dead, losing a known person is the hardest thing to deal with. Therefore, the news of the passing away of people comes with intense sadness, disoriented, overwhelming pain, and shock.
The death of a person is followed by weeping and mourning, to the extent that family and close associates of the deceased will find it difficult to eat and drink, how much more, the death of a king, particularly in the Yoruba-speaking part of Nigeria. King’s death in southwestern Nigeria is felt by the entire people. It comes with the official announcement by the governor, after being informed by the high-ranking chiefs. Once announced, traditionally, some days characterised by different rituals are set aside for mourning. The mourning period is a calm period when the sound of a drum will not be heard. However, this is not the case in Ibadanland, where the paramount ruler of ancient Ibadan known as Olubadan died. Two mandatory cultural reactions greet the demise of Olubadan – while the family of the deceased is thrown into mourning and sadness, the successor, and his family are happy and go into jubilation as his residence becomes lively with dances, banters, and assorted drum beats.
This scenario played out immediately after the demise of the immediate past Olubadan, Oba (Dr) Lekan Balogun was announced by the Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde. The monarch died on the evening of Thursday, March 14, 2024. The following day, while the family, associates, friends, and palace workers carried gloomy faces and were crying, the new monarch, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, his family, and friends were rejoicing. The palace drummers immediately left the palace of Oba Balogun to the residence of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, drumming, and praising the incoming monarch and many people who had gathered in the residence of the new monarch could not hide their joy as they were profusely dancing. The new monarch also danced in the open to the beat of the palace drummers. Some hours before the burial of the deceased, the Olubadan-in-Council visited the incoming king as a mark of its acceptance as the ancient city’s king. This scenario maked other tribes of the Yoruba name Ibadan people “Omo Agbotikuyo” (the news of the death of a sitting king makes his successor happy).
Ayekooto, on X, explained the situation, “The Possible Olubadan Elect has started dancing already. Nobody should be angry or misunderstand this at all. Yesterday also did the same for the day before yesterday, tomorrow too is anxious. He has waited so long for this day…….Ibadan King is not a joke. Elemi lo ma last. Our prayer is that may God give the incoming Olubadan a longer life, and good health and may his time bring more prosperity to Ibadan. They call lbadan Oba’s a’gbo tiku’yo. All the families have to do is to pray for the longevity of their protege to the stool.”
A prince of Ibadanland, Alhaji Prince Ibrahim Asawale Oloyede-Asanike has frowned at this attitude of Ibadans to the demise of Olubadan, advising Olubadan-in-Council and kingmakers against dancing on the grave of the dead, stressing the importance of according to departed souls the respect they deserve. Oloyede-Asanike noted that it’s crucial to always pay late Olubadan the utmost respect by observing at least 24 hours of mourning because all souls will eventually experience death, adding that it is surprising that anyone would celebrate the unexpected passing of a monarch after they had earlier gathered at his resident to discuss Ibadanland’s development. He urged the Olubadan-in-council, kingmakers, and traditional leaders in Ibadan to stop subjecting the royal houses and lineage to mockery and exercise prudence, particularly in this day and age when social media is making fun of the Ibadan royal family, pointing out that it’s too early to start pitching tent with a successor.
