By Peter Adeniyi
The Arole Oduduwa and the Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, on Wednesday named his newly born prince after the 49th Ooni, Oba Tadenikawo Adesoji Aderemi.
Oba Ogunwusi had pledged to name his prince after the 49th Ooni of the 3rd dynasty and first monarch in Africa to become Governor of the old Western Region in Nigeria, who reigned from 1930 to 1980.
At an elaborate naming ceremony rites inside the palace on Wednesday, the new born prince was named Tadenikawo, Adesoji, Aderemi, Eri-Ifeoluwasimi, Adeiwa, Inioluwa, Ademide, Adegbite, Diekoloreoluwa, son of Ogunwusi.
The names of the prince were handed to Lowa of Ife, High Chief Adekola Adeyeye, by Araba Agbaye.
High Chief Lowa then officially pronounced the names to the anxious crowd.
Presenting the baby’s names to the public, he said the traditional rites which started a week ago, will be concluded after 21 days from birth.
According to him, it has become important for people to understand the culture and traditions of naming princes following the legacy established by Oduduwa Olofin Adimula, the progenitor of Yoruba race.
Also, statement by the Ooni’s Director, Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, said: “The birth of the prince on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 was greeted by three phasses of 21day traditional rites according to the dictates of Yoruba cutoms before it was rounded off today within the premises of Ile Oodua Palace of the Ooni.
“The day which climaxed the first eight-day of the 3 week cultural rites traditionally observed at the Ile Oodua Palace of the Ooni of Ife for naming new born princes and princess started with the traditional movement of the Ooni from his private residence in the palace to the sacred Yeyemoolu well to offer prayers and traditional rites before moving through various palace chambers; from Ile Ogun to Ile Odikeji and Ile Omirin, finally to Ile-Igbo to mount the oldest stool of Oduduwa at Ile Igbo, where a reigning Ooni occasionally sits whenever there is a very important events.
“At Ile Igbo, spiritual obeisance by the Isoros and other traditional rites were offered to formally welcome the royal baby to the Ife Royal Court and announce his names to the general public.
“Custodians of various deities known as ‘Oba Isoro’, Obas and Ife High-Chiefs, offered prayers in the traditional way with items like sugarcane, Aadun, honey, dried fishes, money, pen, bitter kolas, kola nuts, alligator peppers, snails schnapps, water, palm oil, doves and other Yoruba core prayer items.
“After the prayers and sacrifices, the Ooni consulted Ifa oracle through the Araba Agbaye, head of Ifa priests worldwide, before making the baby’s names public.”
