This details what the tradition says about the marital fate of the wives of the late Ooni of Ife as a new king has emerged.
The widows of the late Ooni of Ife
The widows of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade have two options as far as future marital engagements are concerned: either remain widows for life or be inherited by the new king. Ife is a Yoruba kingdom in the southwestern Nigerian state of Osun.
A report from The Nation has it thus:
“The rules is general and applies to all Ooni that has passed on and not peculiar to the wives of Oba Sijuwade, the immediate past Ooni. There may not be a clearly defined repercussion against the tradition but it is advisable that the order is obeyed at all times and for all generations. The best that can happen to the Oloris left behind by any late Ooni is for them to remain single or be inherited by the reigning Ooni.”
An unnamed palace official added that it is irrelevant whether the wives are young or old,“what matters is that the tradition must be sustained in the overall interest of the society.”
The late Ooni’s wives are Oloris Morisola, Ladun, Odunayo, Adedolapo and Linda and their ages are in the 40 and 60 bracket.
The first wife, Olori Yetunde, the mother of the first son, Prince Adetokubo, died some years ago, long before Oba Sijuwade. The current Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II) is married to Olori Adebisi Adebukola Ogunwusi and their marriage has produced a daughter.