I was destined to be Ooni of Ife –Oba Ogunwusi
By Christy Anyanwu
Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, is a revered king in Africa, especially in Yoruba land. However, there have been a number of controversies and social media knocks for the monarch regarding his outgoing nature, with many oftentimes referring to him as ‘Enjoyment Kabiyesi.’
Even at David “Davido” Adeleke’s wedding last week Tuesday, where he was one of the dignitaries, he was still judged for exchanging pleasantries with a number of people, which to some of his critics, was unacceptable in terms of his status as the Ooni.
The monarch, in this interview with some select journalists, bared his mind about the social media buzz and other insinuations about his style of interacting with people.
In addition, he talked about his 50 projects to mark his forthcoming 50th birthday and lots more.
As a king, what is the extent of the authority and power you hold over your staff?
Our power is very strong, and we are fortunate because we are the single largest ethnic group in the world. Even the Chinese and Indians, with the largest populations globally, are very diverse, but the Yoruba people share a common denominator. Our names all have meanings that link us to our heritage. Whether practicing Islam, Buddhism, or Christianity, our names connect us to our ancestors. No other race in the world has this. Every name has a meaning that is linked to our heritage, stretching from Brazil to Cuba, Argentina, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, and many African countries. For me, the authority of the king’s staff goes beyond normal governmental power; it is rooted in our heritage, tradition, and culture. This power is critical because our tradition defines who we are, our culture shapes our personality and identity. Therefore, this is the power the throne wields, alongside many other supernatural powers, which I won’t discuss.
What Pope is to Rome and Muhammad is to Mecca, I believe you are to the Yoruba race and Ife. What do you think needs to be done for you to fulfill this role and attract attention to Ife as a significant cultural centre, similar to how tourism has boosted the Vatican?
We need to own collective infrastructure first, and once we get the collective infrastructure right, then we can start to build capacity. Many of our festivals attract millions of people, not just locally, but from beyond. We have 12 major festivals that are like blockbusters, very powerful. Every day in Ife, there are numerous activities to engage in. Throughout 365 days, we have over 300 activities in Ife, with 12 to 14 being particularly massive and powerful, suitable for showcasing. Recently, many people may not know that for the last 500 to 600 years, the world did not use a calendar from January to December. Our New Year starts after the festival of Ifa, using the moon and nature to mark our year. With a full moon every 25 to 28 days, each full moon cycle counts as one month, and with 13 full moons, we complete a year. This New Year typically begins around May or June, aligned with nature, marking the time to prepare for harvests. We then pray for a bountiful harvest around September or October, after the second maximum rain. This is the origin of thanksgiving celebrations worldwide and festivals like the yam festival, which occurs around that time. The yam festival is essentially a thanksgiving festival. After praying during the New Year, we engage in supplication for four months, followed by celebrations in September and October. From November to December, we begin another cycle of planting, all closely tied to nature. Many people are unaware that the Gregorian calendar, introduced by Europeans about 600 years ago, is relatively recent in human history. It is not based on nature. Saying “Happy New Year” in December in churches is incorrect; it is man-made, not nature-based. We are preserving this heritage, and everyone must come together to appreciate our cultural richness and significance.
One of the things lacking in Nigeria and Africa is a strong sense of history. Governments have hindered learning and teaching history in schools, which disconnects us from our roots and understanding of ourselves.
As a certified historian by virtue of your education and as the foremost king of Africa, how do you propose we share and preserve the knowledge that you embody, but currently keep to yourself?
The lack of historical understanding is a significant concern for me, not just as a Yoruba man, but as someone who values African history deeply. There’s a strong, albeit often misunderstood, connection between the Yoruba and the Igbo people. It’s becoming increasingly evident that these are among the oldest races in the world. In my palace today, there’s a section known as the House of Igbo, and where I reside is called Ile Igbo. The term “Igbo” in Yoruba means “to begin afresh,” which highlights our shared cultural roots. Some Igbo people claim ancestry linked to Judaism, but historically, many cultural elements, such as the kolanut, are shared between our peoples. Kola nuts only grow naturally in Yoruba land, not in Israel or elsewhere, which suggests a deep historical connection between the Yoruba and the Igbo people. The spiritual significance of the kolanut is profound in both cultures, further underscoring our shared heritage. These shared cultural elements and historical ties provide a compelling basis for deeper research and understanding. By exploring the origins of cultural practices like the use of kolanuts, we can uncover more about our intertwined histories and celebrate our common heritage. This exploration is crucial for fostering unity and mutual respect among all African peoples. The kolanut holds a special significance in both Yoruba and Igbo cultures, underscoring a shared heritage that spans centuries. It’s fascinating how this nut, which thrives uniquely in Yoruba land due to its specific environmental requirements, has cultural and spiritual importance across different regions of Nigeria. The fact that it struggles to grow elsewhere emphasizes its deep connection to Yoruba traditions. Among the Igbo people, the kolanut is revered to the extent that disputes over its use or the cutting of trees where it grows in the wild can lead to conflicts. This cultural attachment suggests a historical exchange between the Yoruba and the Igbo people, where such practices and beliefs have been shared and integrated. Understanding and teaching these histories are crucial for fostering unity and appreciation among African communities. By acknowledging our shared cultural practices, such as the reverence for the kolanut, we strengthen our collective identity and heritage. Building infrastructure that support cultural exchange and education, such as citadels of history and culture, can further enhance our understanding and respect for each other’s traditions. Advocating for these connections and promoting platforms that highlight our shared histories is essential in bridging gaps and promoting unity among African peoples. It’s through these efforts that we can celebrate our diversity while recognizing the profound connections that bind us together as a larger African family.
You’re a very lively person, by the way you addressed us (journalists). Can you tell us a bit about your upbringing? Did you ever imagine becoming this influential worldwide or even becoming a king?
Before I was born, it was prophesied that I would become the king, and my upbringing was closely guarded. Young people often make many mistakes and face numerous challenges. However, in every situation, even in negativity, God has turned it into positivity for me. It’s not by accident that I have ascended to this throne. For instance, many influential individuals contested for this throne, but I was destined to be the Ooni of Ife. Through my work, I have known him and expressed that this is my calling. Kings are born, not made. While you can aspire to be a president, you cannot aspire to be a king; you must be born one. Life often signals transitions, but God created me for this purpose, and nothing can deter it. Thus, it has been foretold, and despite facing many challenges in my youth, the will of God has now come to pass in my life, bringing me to where I am today.
His Royal Majesty, you are clocking 5O years soon, anything significant to celebrate?
For me, basically, we come to this world for a certain reason. To the glory of God, there’s nothing I will ever aspire to become again in life. I have reached my peak. What I want to do now is leave a legacy for myself and be very impactful to mankind. For me, crossing that age is beyond celebration. It is beyond the normal routine of what is expected of everybody. I want to showcase 50 solid projects at 50 years of age. These 50 iconic projects are very impactful and cut across every sector, impacting human endeavours significantly. A lot of people don’t really know what I do, even before I became Ooni of Ife. In the last nine years, God has used me to set up very strong and impactful projects all over the world. I want to showcase this to the world, to prove that you can be on the throne and still be very impactful. The things I have done are so impactful that they have cut across many strata of different races, ethnicities, and even religious beliefs. I just want to use this to showcase to the world, and maybe, when I do, they will have a better understanding of who I am. A lot of people see me in different lights; some see me as a half-full cup, others as a half-empty cup. But I have been very focused. Ever since I ascended the throne, I have been clearly focused. One of the impactful projects that God has used me to accomplish is the revolution in the fashion industry, promoting our homemade goods in the area of textiles. My queen, Olori Aderonke, who has been very industrious and resourceful in everything she does, has anchored this programme very well. This is evident in the emergence and manufacturing of Adire textiles. We have a hub, and through this hub, we have achieved a lot. This hub has showcased many great things that can come out of Nigeria. Truly, we should believe in our country. The only issue we have as a nation is lack of patriotism. If we are serious and very patriotic, we will realize that we can go very far. It is important for us to know that being patriotic is what will take this nation out of the doldrums. For me, the Adire and Odudua textile hub is one of the projects I strongly believe in. It dovetails with her passion, her baby, what she’s known for, and I can say very clearly to the world that this was what brought us together about 12 years ago – African fashion. We pretty much started it together, though it was her idea, not mine. In terms of support, I can boastfully and with all humility say I have been her only consistent supporter. This support has strengthened our bond, first as friends, then as associates, and now as husband and wife. I am very proud of what she does because I like to surround myself with very resourceful people. She is one of the best and most resourceful women I have ever come across. For African Fashion Week, it has become a strong brand that has been put together by a passionate inventor. This inventor is a princess who is now a queen and a mother, deeply passionate about what she does. The only thing I did is in the Bible, and you know, even the Holy book says one against one thousand, two against ten thousand. We have been able to combine our formidable forces to be impactful. Out of the 50 projects I want to showcase, I make sure to clearly highlight one, and that is the Adire Odudua textile. We have been able to spread it across the entire continent and even beyond, to many Western countries. It is almost entirely made here, with only a few components, like the dye, being imported. However, we have our own local material, indigo, which we make from elu leaves. We are still doing further research on how to develop our industry for making dye because we still import a few of those items. So, around 90 to 95 per cent of the product is locally made.
What is your take on local production of goods and services in Nigeria?
To everyone in the country, I ask, why are we always talking about the dollar? Is the dollar our legal tender here? Why is it going up every time? We are not a serious country. Let us look at ourselves, our essence of living, and what we do every day. Some people even use imported water for their baths, insisting it must have certain levels of alkaline and acid. Why are we like this? It’s a big issue as a nation. Even our toothpicks, as small as they are, some people import them. Every day I wake up, I ask myself, “Is what I am putting on proudly Nigerian?” If everyone did this, including those in media work, ensuring that everything we do justifies being proudly Nigerian, we would realize that the demand for the dollar would go down. I tell people, you keep talking about the dollar. It is the same rock that you are going to crush that has been inside those places for the last 50 years. The only thing that probably impacts the dollar cost is maybe diesel, and we are the ones causing the problem ourselves. Let us look inwardly. The day everyone in Nigeria decides we don’t want any imported goods for now and focuses on everything we want to do in Nigeria, we will be a better nation. That is what is bringing the topic of African Fashion Week in London, Nigeria, Brazil, and now we are taking it to the Caribbean. It is a brand that came out of Nigeria and is now an international brand. How many companies, ideas, and initiatives have grown out of Nigeria as a nation? We see the likes of Apple, Samsung, and Coca-Cola brands from other countries that we use daily. What type of brand have we grown out of Nigeria? This is the problem. How are we impacting the country by generating employment for the youth, the same youth who make up 60 per cent of the population? That is equivalent to the entire population of England. In just 20 years, Nigeria has grown by 60 million people. Where are we going? We need to start planning, and these are the things we need to be doing. For me, showcasing 50 industries, 50 services, and 50 impactful projects that God has used me to pioneer is essential. These projects have impacted millions of people in areas such as the health sector, entertainment, manufacturing, and education. Many people don’t know that I have a university called Ojaja University, and there are many other things God has used me to do that are impactful. I am putting together one of the best healthcare systems in Nigeria, perhaps the best in the world. It is a fantastic system where anyone, even in an emergency, will receive immediate treatment. This addresses a significant problem in the sector, as it often revolves around complex insurance structures. Everyone should have a good, solid insurance structure so that if there is an emergency, they receive treatment first. We will have some type of foundation to ensure that if someone genuinely cannot afford it, the foundation or a social responsibility organization will step in immediately. We have proven beyond reasonable doubt that health is wealth and that we can save lives before dealing with costs. Maybe when you need it, I will tell you to go and see it. It is in Lekki Phase 1, and you will be blown away. You won’t even think it is a hospital. It has the best of everything – the gynecology and dialysis centres, the obstetrics and gynecology department, everything. This is one of the projects I am going to showcase. Altogether, I don’t even know how I did it. All 50 projects are massive, and by the special grace of God, they mark the height of my 50th year. For me, it is beyond being acclaimed; it is a service to the masses. May God Almighty continue to bless us.
When is your birthday?
17th of October.
As the current head of Adire Hub, what is your personal style? What do you enjoy wearing?
I won’t lie to you; it’s the core of the throne that makes me dress like this. To me, it signifies purity, spirituality, clarity, cleanliness, and a very strong connection to my spirit head. That is why I dress this way. However, I can add some panache and refinement to it. If you look at me from head to toe every day, at least 80 to 85 per cent of what I wear is made in Nigeria. You can ask me questions – I am a cobbler. I learned shoemaking, and I still make and design my shoes to this day. I do everything, including the drawing and choosing the materials. My dress, this Aso Oke, is made from Iseyin and Ilorin. I know my suppliers and I pay them in naira, not dollars. All the materials, including the embroidery, come from local manufacturers. This satin is from Aba, and these beads are made in Ife, known for coral beads. I also source materials from Benin, Ekiti, and Ibadan.
What about your accessories?
I don’t wear wristwatches because time belongs to God, and every second counts. Why should I be constantly looking at the time? The beads on my hands are all made in Nigeria, from Benin to Ife to Ibadan. I have been very consistent in this. I try to add a little bit of modesty to it, and these beads are made using bronze technology. It is a very spiritual thing that I wear my beads. This gold is from my community, Ife and Ilesha. Those of you from Ilesha will know. I am happy that the Nigerian government has started doing artisanal mining. They buy gold from miners to use for transactions. We are heading somewhere. Previously, everything used to be taken out. I have been advocating for this for a long time – that we can make these resources transactional instead of always seeking dollars. We have gold here; let the government continue to buy it in naira and then value it in dollars. It benefits us because the miners mine in naira. The government should use gold to underpin our currency instead of looking for dollars. The Nigerian history is over 60 years old. If we had been paying attention to this, we would have been one of the greatest bullion collectors of gold in the world. Nigerian gold is the best, absolutely. A lot of people don’t know this. We should buy in naira and store in dollars. We can take it to any market to underpin our currency and reduce the demand for dollars. I am glad now; last week, the Minister of Solid Minerals presented something. I pray it is a programme they will continue. It is something I have been advocating for in many press releases. For me, my beads and my crown, you can see cowry shells there. I try to support our belief in Olori Aderonke. She tells me, “Let’s brand one of the cars with Adire.” We have done that. Kabiyesi put on this Adire, you know. I tell her all the time to make Adire that has a solid exposure of white because I deal with purity. She is still working on creating Adire that is only white. Occasionally, I mix colours when I have the opportunity to wear Adire, and in some of my pictures, you can see that I have worn Adire clothes. I employ all our media people to be conscious of our nation. The new national anthem is even stronger if you read about it. We are not conscious of our nation in everything we do, and everything has an impact. Even the glasses you wear and the chain you wear – ask questions about where it is made. Be patriotic. However, in Nigeria, if something is made locally, people won’t buy it. They will say it is rubbish. This mentality drives up the dollar. It is something I am very passionate about.
Is there anything you miss, fashion-wise?
I miss keeping it simple, fashion-wise. I miss it so much, but it is what it is because I uphold the spirituality of the Yoruba people. I don’t have the privilege that maybe some other kings have to be a bit relaxed. For me, no, I don’t have that ultimate privilege.
Do you feel 50 years old?
I am very restless, and for me, it is all about numbers. Normally, on this throne, I am not supposed to celebrate my birthday. Due to the youthful advocacy work I do, I should celebrate the days I am on the throne and cancel my age because I am a father to all, regardless of being old or young. However, I want to use this opportunity to pass a legacy message to the young. You can achieve great things within a particular time. Ask yourself, how impactful are you in anything that you do? That is the reason I want to do it.
A lot of people see the new Ooni of Ife, and sometimes they want to compare your social life with that of the former Ooni of Ife. What are your thoughts on this?
At one point, I used to bother about it, but I don’t any longer. I focus on my work. Maybe when I launch 50 projects at 50, a lot of people will see that I don’t have the energy to bother. I like to keep my eyes on the ball, staying very focused so I can get things done. When they compare me with my predecessors, they forget there was no social media back then. My predecessor, my father of blessed memory, Ooni Shijiade Olubushe II, was a very powerful socialite. He socialized more than I do, but there was no social media to capture those instances of him greeting people or relating with the youth. There’s a mysticism around the Ooni, very strong. But these days, if you don’t blend tradition and modernism, you are going to lose out. That’s the major problem. When I got to the throne, I said clearly that I would blend tradition and modernity. If you maintain mysticism to scare people away, how do you want development for the youth? How do you want them to grow? We need to grow a lot of people in this country. Yes, mysticism is there and should not be diluted, but try to manage the two well, and that is what I stand for. Today, I woke up to the news that I went to Davido’s party, that people were shaking me and I was shaking them. I just laughed. You know, every news story is news, whether good or bad, depending on how you spin it. For me, I want to spin any bad news about me into good things. The comparison with my predecessor lacks context because there was no social media then. He socialized more than I do. People like to talk about me a lot; I don’t know what I have done to them. Everything I do, they must talk about it, but they know little about me. This has actually helped me shield many of my achievements. A lot of people don’t know the relationships I have or the things I have done. Moving forward, let them continue to talk. I will keep my eyes on the ball and continue building the legacy that supports my dreams and aspirations of blending tradition and modernity.
Why can’t people from outside Ife come often to see things like the palace, museum, and other attractions?
We have a lot of heritage monuments, but the problem is the means to get there. We have bad roads, and we are appealing to the government. Thank God they have completed the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, which took them almost 20 years to finish. Now it’s done. The Ibadan to Ife road is another advocacy and campaign we are pushing. Once that is done, the journey from Ife will take about 2 hours, 15 minutes, maximum 2 hours, 30 minutes. Ibadan to Lagos now takes about 50 minutes, whereas before it was 3 to 5 hours. Thank God the government is doing what is right for the citizens. But you say now that I should sit in the palace and wait for people to come on those bad roads. Before you get to me, you will get lost two or three times. So will you come tomorrow? Compared to the olden days when they would say the king must sit in the palace, it’s important, but you need to achieve something, and you must actually go around to achieve that blend of tradition and modernity. For the museum, once the road is done, we’re also going to have a means of transportation at the airport.
