The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has dismissed claims made by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, suggesting that the Yoruba people did not originate from Ile-Ife.
In a recent viral video posted on Facebook during a chieftaincy ceremony, the Oluwo argued that Ile-Ife, long regarded as the cradle of the Yoruba race, does not embody true Yoruba culture. According to him, the language spoken in Ife differs from mainstream Yoruba, and certain cultural expressions including the use of the word Eledumare are not consistent with traditional Yoruba heritage.
“The people of Ife don’t speak our language,” Oba Akanbi said. “They say Olofin means the owner of the palace, but in Yoruba, that word is Alaafin. Ile-Ife has no Yoruba culture. I am the Arole Olodumare, here to reveal the true, undocumented history. Iwo is where the real Yoruba history lies.”
His comments quickly stirred controversy, reviving long-standing debates about Yoruba origins and the authority of monarchs across Yorubaland.
Reacting to the remarks, Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, described Oluwo’s statements as baseless and unworthy of attention.
“No reasonable person will react to Oluwo’s comments,” Olafare stated, urging Nigerians to ignore divisive narratives.
The clash comes barely a month after another royal dispute involving the Ooni of Ife and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade. That controversy centered on the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland, which the Ooni had conferred on Ibadan businessman Dotun Sanusi. The Alaafin, through his media aide, insisted that only he had the authority to issue titles covering the entire Yoruba nation and even issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Ooni to revoke the title.
In response, Olafare dismissed the ultimatum, writing on Facebook:
“We cannot dignify the undignifiable with an official response. Forty-eight hours, my foot! Let’s focus on unity, not division.”
