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When the Ooni of Ife Left His Throne to Visit Lagos in 1903

NigeriaGazette 
August 22, 2025 

History reminds us of a remarkable moment when the 46th Ooni of Ife, Ọba Adelekan Olubuse I, broke age-long traditions to honour the colonial Governor’s invitation to Lagos.

According to colonial records from February 21st, 1903, the Ooni was received in Lagos with grandeur, lodged at Tinubu Square, and accompanied by his wives, musicians, and a large entourage.
On his way, the Ooni explained that his people in Ife were deeply emotional about his departure. Many followed him as far as the river, refusing to return until he did. Out of respect, even the chiefs of Ife, alongside the Alaafin of Oyo, were said to have vacated their palaces and stayed outside their city walls until their leader’s safe return.

The Ooni revealed that it was only out of friendship and respect for the Governor that he broke the sacred tradition forbidding him from leaving Ife. To ensure a safe and prosperous journey, he offered sacrifices along the route.

The Governor, in turn, acknowledged the great honour of the Ooni’s visit, though he advised him not to feel overly bound by ancient restrictions, suggesting that nothing in the tradition truly forbade such travels if undertaken with dignity.

This extraordinary episode is echoed in later colonial records. In a 1917 official list of “Recognised Crowned Chiefs in the Western Provinces”, preserved in the National Archives, the Ooni of Ife was placed first among Yoruba kings, ahead of the Alake of Abeokuta, Awujale of Ijebu-Ode, Alaafin of Oyo, Ewi of Ado, Oshemowe of Ondo, Akarigbo of Shagamu, and others.
This clearly reflects the respect and recognition the Ooni commanded not only among his people and fellow monarchs but also in the eyes of the colonial government.

The 1903 journey of Ooni Adelekan Olubuse I therefore stands as a turning point in Yoruba history, a powerful reminder of how tradition, diplomacy, and leadership converged to elevate the influence of Ife’s sacred throne.

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