Following an emergency consultative meeting convened in Ile-Ife—the cradle of Yoruba civilization—the Council declared that such coronations are illegitimate, culturally misleading, and an affront to the sanctity of Yoruba traditional institutions.
“The title of Oba is not a decorative title for social relevance abroad. It is sacred, ancestral, and rooted in historical lineage and territorial authority,” said His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife and spiritual leader of the Yoruba race.
The Council warned that the proliferation of self-styled Obas in foreign countries and non-Yoruba territories—often performed without ancestral consent, traditional rites, or recognition from established royal institutions—poses a serious threat to the integrity of Yoruba culture and governance structures.
“There can be no Oba in exile, no throne without domain, and no crown without heritage. Crowning oneself in Europe, America, or even in Northern Nigeria is a distortion of our sacred tradition,” declared Oba Dr. Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Awujale of Ijebuland.
The Council cited recent instances of individuals parading themselves as “Oba of Yoruba in the UK,” “Oba Yoruba in South Africa,” or “Alafin in Diaspora” as culturally misleading and illegal. Many such individuals, the statement noted, have no ties to any ruling house, have not undergone any recognized traditional rites, and do not represent the Yoruba people in any official or legitimate capacity.
No Obaship without ancestral authority
The Council emphasized that the title of Oba is traditionally tied to:
A recognized Yoruba kingdom or town,
Endorsement by kingmakers and ruling houses,
Installation through sacred rituals and ancestral covenant,
Approval by state traditional councils and government where applicable.
“Anything short of this is a mockery and should be treated as fraud,” said Chief Yemi Elebuibon, a respected Ifa priest and Yoruba cultural scholar.
The Yoruba Traditional Council called on Nigerian embassies abroad, host governments, and the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) to disregard and reject the recognition of any self-styled monarchs claiming Yoruba kingship outside Nigeria.
Recommended Structure for Yoruba Leadership Abroad
In place of royal titles, the Council recommended the use of:
Yoruba Community President/Chairman
Leader of Yoruba Cultural Association
Yoruba Development Union Leader
Diaspora Cultural Coordinator
These titles, it emphasized, allow Yoruba communities abroad to organize without violating ancestral protocols or offending indigenous cultures of their host countries.
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