The new Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Saliu Adetunji is currently been crowned in an elaborate ceremony as the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland.
High Chief Saliu Adetunji becomes the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland. His coronation is currently being held at the famous Mapo Hall, in the ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo state.
Many would believe that Adetunji’s ascension to the throne, coming 45 days after the demise of the former Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, can aptly be described as 'an act of God'.
Going by the Olubadan succession system, which recognises the civil and the military lines as royal lines, and the hierarchy within the Olubadan-in-Council, Adetunji’s right to the throne would have materialised only after the reigns of the former Balogun Olubadan, High Chief Sulaiman Omiyale, and the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Omowale Kuye, if they had all lived long enough to mount the throne.
The highest ranking high chief in the military (Balogun) line, Omiyale, was next to the late Olubadan while Kuye (from the civil line) followed in the order.
But on November 7, 2015, Omiyale died at the age of 91, paving the way for Adetunji, who was next to Omiyale, to ascend the position of the Balogun.
The newly crowned Olubadan, High Chief Saliu Adetunji was born on August 26, 1928 to the family of Raji Olayiwola and Suwebat Amope Adetunji in the Alusekere compound, Popoyemoja, Ibadan, and is the eldest of his father’s 17 children.
His mother came from the Balogun family of Apomu while his father was a renowned Ibadan indigene. Like many influential figures in those days, Adetunji’s father had more than one wife. Of the four children that his mother had, he (Adetunji) and his brother, Ambali (76), are the surviving ones.
Ambali, who is the Aare Musulumi of Odo-Oba in Ibadan, and who now oversees the music recording business of his brother the king, said Adetunji had a humble beginning, starting as traditional attire (aso ofi) weaver, a tailor and later a music promoter.