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By, Biola Davies
Oba SIKIRU Kayode ADETONA the immediate past AWUJALE of IJEBU LAND is changing the narrative of a king’s funeral after death.
It is generating reactions at home and in diaspora! Many are worried.
Soldiers, on Monday, barred traditionalists believed to be members of the Osugbo cult from the Muslim funeral held for the late Awujale of Ijebu land, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
The presence of cult members at the funeral caused some apprehension, but people around began shouting at them, while soldiers took control of the situation and escorted the traditionalists out of the royal father’s residence.
The remains of the monarch were later interred at his Ijebu Ode private residence around 6 pm on Monday, according to Islamic rites.
YOUNEWS understand that there will soon be nothing to keep custody of, if every new Oba chooses what he wants retained and what should be discarded in the very customs which Obas are supposed to be custodians of culture, customs and traditions.
Despite London being a globally recognized defining centre for everything modern, the House of Windsor has not caused any fundamental change in how Kings and Queens of England are buried even in the last 500 years.
Already, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi
., has described the burial process of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, as a freedom for the Yoruba traditional institution and a step towards restoring its sanctity.
Oba Akanbi expressed satisfaction with the burial rites adopted in honouring the late Awujale, stating that he was not subjected to mutilation or cannibalisation “as done by butchers.”
Oba Adetona was buried according to Islamic rites on Monday, after his death on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the age of 91 years.
Soldiers, during the burial, prevented traditionalists from hijacking his burial, as Governor Dapo Abiodun said the traditional ruler had indicated he should be buried according to Islamic rites.
In a statement by his Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, the Oluwo said the courage demonstrated by the Awujale, his family, and Governor Abiodun was a victory for the Yoruba race.
“The courage demonstrated by the late Adetona’s family, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the Attorney General of the state, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), is commendable and a foundation blessing to restore the glory of Yoruba stools and its occupants. The Governor is true blue blood.
“Any town willing that his king be butchered after death should appoint an herbalist, Osugbo and Ogboni as their king,” Oba Akanbi said.
He noted that the late Adetona had set a path of honour for deceased Yoruba monarchs.
The monarch said, “The sanctity of Yoruba traditional institution has been protected by the process adopted in burying the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
From Awujale to Olubadan, religious burial trend rises among Yoruba monarchs
“The seizure of the king’s corpse from his family by any secret group should be optional, depending on the wishes of his family.”
He promised to continue to campaign against any form of idol worship and traditional cultism in his domain.
“In Iwo, I have freed the Oluwo stool from the bondage since my ascension 10 years ago.
“The Osugbos and the Ogbonis have no relation with the Yoruba monarchy. Every attempt to enslave the stool will be eternally restricted by my stool.
“Iwo throne can never be subjected to the command of any secret society. I have freed my town. Even after my death, I trust Iwo people, they will never condone absurdity.”
“Ọba Sikiru Kayọde Adetọna (10 May 1934 – 13 July 2025) was the Awùjalẹ̀ of the Ijẹbu Kingdom, a traditional ruler in Southwest Nigeria . He was installed as the king on 2 April 1960. “
He ruled for 65 years and lived for 91 years. As a tradional ruler, he was reverred, and loved. For these years, he was looked up to as one man, preserving our culture and tradition.
Unfortunately, day ago, he was buried like an Imam, while the traditionalists who he dined with could not have access to him. His body was laid to hypocrisy in his private resident, not in the people’s palace.
Some tagged it “A Disgraceful Exit of an Hypocrite
With this attitude, some are already call for his ruling house-Anikinaiya, to be banned from the Awujale stool !
” This used to be the punishment for such act of deviance in the past. He lived as the longest serving king in Ijebu, first to be buried in the Muslim way, and first to stop the tradional process of burial and installation.
By this cultural aberration , no new king would have the essence of Obaship. One of its major components is already taken with him. And the tradional institution, I supposed, will not remain the same.
Concerned Sons and Daughters of Ijebuland expressed worries in a press statement:
It is with a heavy heart and a deeply troubled spirit that we condemn in the strongest cultural and spiritual terms the decision to bury our revered monarch, the Awujale of Ijebuland, outside the sacred grounds of Igbo Odu, the traditional resting place of our fathers.
This act is not merely a deviation it is an abomination.
“Eku may no longer cry as eku, eja may no longer cry as eja, and Omo eniyan may no longer speak with the dignity of mankind…”
These are not empty words; they echo the depth of our spiritual fears and ancestral warnings. To bury the custodian of our culture, our history, and our soul within the confines of his personal residence, rather than within the sacred earth prepared by our forebearers, is to shake the foundations of Ijebuland’s spiritual covenant.
Let it be known that:
This act violates centuries of ancestral protocols.
It threatens the spiritual continuity of our kingship.
It invites ancestral vengeance, disrupts communal harmony, and may plague generations yet unborn with confusion and misfortune.
The Awujale was not a mere mortal in our eyes; he was Orisa, a symbol of divine authority and as such, he deserved not just our respect in life, but the sacred transition owed to every true monarch in death.
We therefore call on the Council of Chiefs, royal lineage, custodians of Ijebu traditions, and all well-meaning sons and daughters of the land to:
- Review and correct this abomination, if at all still spiritually possible.
- Ensure this unholy precedent is not repeated or normalized.
- Convene a reconciliation with the ancestors to appease the offended spirits.
The abomination in Yoruba land, especially Ijebu which is home of traditions and cultural heritage
The place where Obas (traditional kings) are buried is traditionally known in Yoruba culture as “Ile Odù” or “Igbo Orò” or “Ìgbó Olófin or Igbo Oloja” depending on the town or kingdom.
It is often a sacred forest or ancestral shrine set aside specifically for the burial of kings and sometimes high-ranking traditional chiefs. The exact name may vary from one Yoruba kingdom to another, but the concept is the same,a spiritually significant place reserved solely for royal burials.
WHY ARE OBAS BURIED DIFFERENTLY?
Obas are not buried like ordinary people because:
- Spiritual Continuity: Obas are believed to be semi-divine or representatives of the gods on earth (e.g. some are seen as descendants of Oduduwa or Oranmiyan). Their burial is considered a transition to the ancestral realm.
- Preservation of Sacred Knowledge: Some believe certain rituals must be performed to transfer spiritual authority and protect the kingdom from chaos.
- Cultural Tradition: The process is tied to long-standing customs, often involving traditional rites, secret societies (like the Ogboni’s,Osogbo’s or Oro cult), and kingmakers.
- Protection of Royal Secrets: The location and method of burial often remain secret to protect the sanctity of the royal stool and kingdom.
What Happens If a King Is Not Buried in the Designated Place?
Disregarding these traditions is believed to have serious consequences:
- Spiritual Disruption: It is feared that the spirit of the king may not rest or may become vengeful, causing unrest in the kingdom.
- Cultural Desecration: It is seen as an abomination, which could invite curses, misfortune, or disunity within the community.
- Loss of Legitimacy: Future kings may be seen as illegitimate if the predecessor was not properly buried, affecting traditional authority and rites.
- Ancestral Disconnect: It disrupts the line of spiritual succession and communion with the ancestors, which is vital in Yoruba cosmology.
It’s Abomination to Yoruba land when all the spiritual rites are not thoroughly put in place for any king in our society
May the land forgive us.
May the ancestors find a voice again And may Ijebuland not become a shadow of herself.
