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By, Ayoofe Aiyedatiwa
This Kabiyesi is a non-believer in traditional rituals. His belief is in his Creator, the King of Kings
Hear him…”…….As part of the coronation process, the Odis (aafin attendants) embarked on the various rituals that would lead to my installation as the Awujale of Ijebuland.
Personally, I can say here that there is nothing about these rituals that could not be made public. In fact, many of the Odis performing the rituals were themselves novices to the rituals and were actually trying out their roles for the first time.
“It must be remembered that my predecessor, Gbelegbuwa ascended the throne in 1933 and my ceremony was conducted 27 years afterwards.
Many of the Odis were at sea as to what was to be done. So, for many of them, it was all experimental and mostly guesswork.
All the secrecy that they maintained about the rituals was, therefore, as I saw it, simply a ploy to extort money from the public, just as their fathers did before them.
They deliberately made the rituals look very mysterious.
………….at the Owa Stream, the Elese of Ilese carried me on his back across the stream as custom had it that my feet must not touch the water.
After this, according to tradition, the Elese must never come to Ijebu-Ode again to visit me for the rest of his life.
Also, at Odo Esa, I passed an Iroko tree which, again by tradition, I was told I must never see again. Indeed, I was forbidden to ever pass that very road again or, according to tradition, I would die.
“I did not believe any of this of course and I have since travelled that road and passed the Iroko tree on several occasions!
Also, at Ijebu-Imusin, there was again another tree which I passed and which I was never to set my eyes on again, yet I have also seen this one many times.
