The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Eniitan Ogunwusi has been in the news for making series of courtesy visits since his ascension to the throne – which many infer to be a curious way to begin his reign over the cradle of the Yoruba race.
Just recently, he traveled to the United States with his entourage for 3 weeks – where he visited the United States Congress, the Smithsonian Museum of African Art in Washington D.C. and other important locations.
Although conversations about his courtesy visits have been raging for quite some time, his trip to the US has thrust the discourse further into the public consciousness.
On Wednesday, a video posted by @DoubleEph on Twitter of the Ooni singing in church went viral.
Here's my question – what is it in Christianity that is so incompatible with traditional beliefs? https://t.co/zoU6EYG3s5
— tyro (@DoubleEph) June 29, 2016
The video has so far elicited diverse reactions from Nigerians on social media.
Some Nigerians argued that since the Ooni is supposed to be the custodian of the Yoruba culture and belief system, he shouldn’t be embracing other religions.
See some reactions from Twitter.
…of traditional faith? Can the Ooni perform a traditional ritual in the church? Can he be what he represents there?
— Chris Ihidero (@Chrisihidero) June 29, 2016
However, some people do not see anything wrong with the Ooni’s declaration.
https://twitter.com/jag_bros/status/748273523571851264
I don't understand what people have a problem with here exactly. I really don't. https://t.co/lYxlPhBiop
— Bukola Ogunyemi (@zebbook) June 29, 2016
Even languages are part of cultures. Obas, Obis, Emirs now speak English. does that make them less than custodian of 'our culture'?
— Oyèyẹmí Bámidélé (@Chrisbamidele) June 29, 2016
He said the Oba cant devote himself to Christ totally. You that you are not Oba have you been able to?
— Bukola Ogunyemi (@zebbook) June 29, 2016
So an Oba can be a Christian and still be a custodian of culture, he just mustn't say Jesus is his father. Okay. https://t.co/JA7U3c4RLO
— Bukola Ogunyemi (@zebbook) June 29, 2016
https://twitter.com/jag_bros/status/748266498737700865
https://twitter.com/jag_bros/status/748262765509378048
@MolaraWood, a journalist and the author of ‘Indigo’ also took to her Twitter to discuss the matter.
See her tweets below.
Those who installed Ooni Ogunwusi on the exalted throne of Ife, political and cultural, need to sit him down before he causes us ruination.
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) June 29, 2016
And the Ooni need to stop with all that twaddle about the tomb of Sheba, Noah's Ark being in Ife. Why must our ideals be couched in Judaism?
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) June 29, 2016
It is unhelpful and dangerously Eurocentric to seek to explain or construct a nativity for the Yoruba nation based on the Bible. What the??
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) June 29, 2016
Apart from the fact that it sounds silly, it's not factual. We pre-existed. Our beginnings, our relics, totems, do not derive of the Bible.
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) June 29, 2016
Origins of the Yoruba nation do not need to be rubber-stamped with biblical references in order to have validation. It's cultural erasure.
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) June 29, 2016
I know he makes the claims of Sheba & Noah's Ark in a bid to promote Yoruba pre-eminence, but he's going about it all wrong. It's misguided.
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) June 29, 2016
Ooni Sijuwade, in his 80s, made some claims that maybe caused sceptics to raise their brows, but I doubt even he went as far as Noah's Ark.
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) June 29, 2016
Sad thing is the young and vibrant Ooni Ogunwusi is not making these claims tongue-in-cheek. He is speaking in earnest. It's ridiculous.
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) June 29, 2016
If Ooni wants an eternal, bonafide Yoruba symbol, he needs look no further than Ori-Olokun. He could do some good by calling for its return.
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) June 29, 2016
Above all, Ooni needs to spend some time with the oral historians in Ife Palace, study the Ifa corpus – instead of perambulating up and down
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) June 29, 2016
We proclaimed somebody the Oonirisa and instead of him to seek for gravity and serenity, he is turning the throne into a travelling circus.
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) June 29, 2016
'Ojú àfó'fótán, ìjà ní n dá sí'lè'.#OweYoruba #YorubaProverb
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) June 29, 2016
"There are things that are noble even in the heathen" – Chinua Achebe.@ajazby
— Molara Wood (@molarawood) June 29, 2016
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