Oyo Makes 40-day Prayer For Late Alaafin

Late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi

Indigenes of Oyo state have held prayers to mark 40 days after the demise of the late Alaafin Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

Sango and Asa Orisa devotees led in the prayers on Wednesday with bean cakes aka Akara.

Photos of prayers being held at Bara with the Oluwo Alaafin Sango devotees and the president of Asa Orisa in Oyo Metropolis for the traditional prayers were posted on the Instagram page of the late Alaafin.

Alaafin Adeyemi, the third from the Alowolodu Ruling House, died on April 22 at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State.

He was 83 years old and the longest reigning Alaafin ever, having ruled for more than 51 years.

His death came months after the two other senior Oyo State monarchs – the Olubadan of Ibadan, Saliu Adetunji, and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Jimoh Oyewumi – died. All happened in less than five months.

Alaafin Adeyemi was born Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi on October 15, 1938 into the Alowolodu Royal House of the famous Oyo town.

He was crowned on November 18, 1970, succeeding Oba Gbadegesin Ladigbolu I. He was known popularly as Iku Baba Yeye.