Alaafin of Oyo under att¶ck over sitting to greeting Ooni of Ife
Alaafin of Oyo remains seated while greeting the Ooni of Ife at an event in Ibadan—sparking fierce debates over traditional authority and who truly holds the top royal title in Yorubaland.
The Yoruba royal scene lit up the internet again after a viral moment at an event in Ibadan: the newly crowned Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, remained seated as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwunsi arrived unlike other dignitaries who stood up, the Alaafin welcomed the Ooni with a handshake—an action that has stirred widespread controversy and reignited a century-old question: Who is the superior monarch in Yorubaland?
While some Yoruba social media users considered the gesture disrespectful, others argued that it reflected traditional protocol—because, in their view, the Alaafin is the higher-ranking Oba.
This isn’t the first time the superiority debate has surfaced. Earlier in the year, Twitter saw days of heated back-and-forth over the hierarchy among Yoruba kings. Supporters of the Ooni describe him as the spiritual and cultural custodian of the Yoruba people, the grand figurehead of tradition. However, many historians and traditionalists assert that the Alaafin of Oyo is the political and military head of the Yoruba kingdom, with deep-rooted ancestral authority dating back centuries.
Alaafin’s Historical Standing
A 1938 colonial-era document reportedly ranks the Alaafin of Oyo as the foremost monarch in Nigeria, even ahead of other prominent rulers like the Alake of Abeokuta, Awujale of Ijebu-Ode, and Oba of Benin. Interestingly, the Ooni of Ife appeared last on that list—a claim that, though controversial, adds weight to those defending the Alaafin’s position.
However, it is important to recognize that such classifications may have been influenced by political arrangements at the time, rather than traditional or spiritual authority.
Tradition vs Protocol
In Yoruba royal etiquette, it is widely accepted that Obas do not rise to greet one another, unless casually or in informal settings. Therefore, the Alaafin’s seated handshake may not have breached any protocol. As one observer put it, “It’s like comparing God to the Pope—both hold reverence, but in different dimensions.”
Spirituality vs Sovereignty
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The Ooni of Ife is revered as the spiritual father of the Yoruba race and the custodian of its ancient traditions. But many Yoruba historians point out that without the military and administrative prowess of past Alaafins, especially during the height of the Oyo Empire (17th to 19th century), the Ooni’s influence might have waned.
In summary, this incident has once again highlighted the complex, layered structure of Yoruba monarchy—where spiritual power and political authority coexist, and where public perception often varies by region, tradition, and lines.
