Inside Alaafin of Oyo's deserted palace

• Published date: 14 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Monarchs lament Oba Adeyemi's absence

Until the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi II, joined his ancestors while undergoing treatment at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on April 23 last year, his palace was always a beehive of activities. But all that has ceased with the palace shut as the ancient city awaits the emergence of another Alaafin. GBENGA ADERANTI looks at things that have changed in the monarch's palace since he passed on

Before the longest reigning Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi II, joined his ancestors in the early hours of April 23, 2022 at the age of 83, there was a daily routine in the palace that was never compromised. The monarch and other palace dwellers were woken up every morning by the melodious beat of the talking drum while praise singers were always on hand to sing his praises. It was the custom that even before he woke up in the morning, his palace would be filled with people who were there to seek one form of favour or the other.

While it is yet to clock one year since the late Alaafin departed, many of the palace routines that were taken for granted are no longer in existence. A source close to the palace told the reporter that not long after the monarch died, his belongings were moved out of the palace.

Indeed one of the widows of the late Alaafin said that all forms of activities in the palace had been suspended until a new Alaafin was appointed.

'Until a new Alaafin is appointed, nothing can happen. All activities have been suspended. The traditional rites will resume when a new Alaafin is installed,' she said.

Asked what had become of the late Alaafin's valuable items like his books and historical documents, the source said that plans were on to build a centre where the books and documents would be kept for research purposes. Some who are involved in the project described the transition of the Alaafin as a big blow that had caused a temporary setback.

Nonetheless, Sade, a daughter of the late Alaafin, expressed optimism that the project would soon come to fruition. 'Rome was not built in a day. We are working on it and it will come to pass,' she said.

While the stream of visitors to the palace has dried up, the widows of the late Alaafin remain in their various homes that he built for them. A source in the palace said: 'They are in the various houses that baba built for them before he passed on. They are also engaged in their various jobs. Thankfully, the majority of them were up and doing while...