A Decade On: Remembering Oba Okunade Sijuwade

10 years after his passing, the legacy of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, the 50th Ooni of Ife, continues to shine brightly, writes Sunday Ehigiator

It was an atmosphere soaked in grandeur, tradition, and reverence as the memory of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, was celebrated ten years after his passing. The commemoration was more than a memorial; it was a grand festival of royalty, heritage, and nationhood.

The venue transformed into a royal court from the moment the gates opened, bursting with colour, cultural opulence, and symbolic regality.

Ornate traditional attire flowed like rivers of fabric in rich white, indigo, gold, and coral red hues. The scent of incense and native perfumes wafted through the air as Yoruba chants, talking drums, and flute melodies carried the spirit of Ile-Ife across the space.

Attendees included dozens of traditional rulers from across Nigeria, from Yoruba kings in Osun and Oyo, to Northern emirs and Southeastern Igbo monarchs. Also present were political leaders, diplomats, scholars, and descendants of royal households. It was a gathering befitting a monarch widely regarded as ‘Oba awon Oba’ (the King of Kings).

A Regal Legacy Celebrated in Style

Two major events defined the day’s commemoration: The Oba Okunade Sijuwade Legacy Exhibition and the Oba Okunade Sijuwade Symposium.

The exhibition, curated with royal artefacts, portraits, personal effects, historical photographs, and documents of the late Oba, took attendees on a journey through Oba Sijuwade’s illustrious reign.

It reflected his modern yet deeply traditional approach to leadership, from his global diplomatic engagements to his intimate interactions with palace chiefs and spiritual custodians in Ile-Ife.

The symposium, meanwhile, gathered scholars, royalty, and statesmen to reflect on his life’s work and legacy, with conversations spanning politics, religion, culture, diplomacy, and education.

A King of Style, Wisdom and Unity

Speaking with THISDAY, Prince Akinade Adenekan Adebunyi of the Oshunkola Ruling House in Ife shared personal memories of a monarch he regarded not only as a leader but a close confidant.

According to him, “Kabiyesi was a king of kings. A man of incredible style and discipline,” he said. “He wasn’t just a traditional ruler; he was a strategist, a statesman. During the political crisis threatening President Obasanjo’s administration, it was Kabiyesi who called for calm, who reached out to the Emir of Kano and brought leaders together to preserve the unity of Nigeria.”

Prince Adebunyi emphasised Oba Sijuwade’s deliberate efforts to strengthen ties between northern and southern Nigeria, and his vision of national cohesion long before it became a political buzzword.

A Father to Many, Giant to All

Also speaking, the late monarch’s daughter, Princess Adenekan Adebunyi, offered a more personal portrait of the king, one of compassion, discipline, and inspiration.

“He made us strong. He believed in education and raised us to succeed, to be honourable. That’s the legacy we continue to live. We didn’t realise how many lives he touched until we began planning this remembrance.

“My father was a lovely man, and he was a father to many. He nurtured us, made us strong people to withstand everything. And to him, education was very important, which we all excelled at and ensured that we could make a future for ourselves. So, today we’re celebrating him and honouring him.

“He touched so many lives. When we started this, we didn’t know how many people he had touched in their lives and had an impact on. So, today is a celebration of him, remembering the good he did for the country in bringing Ife to light. Going to so many foreign lands where he was recognised as the Ooni of Ife. He even met the Queen in England when she was alive. She came to Ife as well.

“So, it’s a celebration of his journey through life and his impact on the people he’s touched.

“We never forgot him, but today we’re bringing to light everything he’s done. And letting people see how impactful he was, how powerful he was, how his reach was. He touched not just people in Nigeria, but he touched people abroad as well.

“So, today is really important in highlighting the good he did whilst he was here. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no one like him that I’ve met or will ever meet. He was one of a kind.

“You see it now. You see all of us working hard. That’s how he trained us to be good at everything we do.

“So, we’re self-sufficient, we honour him, we’re honourable, we keep his memory alive. And one thing he always told us was, and that is what guides our lives. Thank you very much.”

Her voice, laced with emotion, underscored the event’s deeper meaning; this was not just a royal celebration, but a familial tribute to a father who left a timeless imprint on his children and his people.

The King Who Took Ife to Harvard

Harvard University professor and cultural historian, Prof. Jacob K. Olupona, who was the keynote speaker, shared insights from his close encounters with Oba Sijuwade, notably during the monarch’s official visit to Harvard.

“He dignified the Yoruba kingship most particularly. At Harvard, he wasn’t just a visiting monarch. He represented the philosophical depth, elegance, and power of Yoruba civilisation. That visit is still talked about at the university.”

The professor also described how the Ooni emphasised the spiritual aspects of kingship, recalling his response when asked about the significance of shrines in his palace: “They are here so I may not speak wrongly or act out of place.”

It was, Olupona noted, a testimony to the monarch’s humility and belief in tradition as a guide for moral leadership.

“Today, I honour the memory of a truly remarkable king, who embodied the very best of Yoruba tradition. He was a born leader, and his life’s work was dedicated to promoting and preserving Yoruba culture, tradition, and society in southwestern Nigeria.

“One of his most admirable qualities was his wisdom. He possessed a deep understanding of the world and its complexities, which guided his decision-making and leadership. He was also remarkably humble, always willing to listen and learn from others.

“But perhaps most impressively, he had an extraordinary ability to welcome people from all backgrounds into his kingdom. He was a true unifier, and his door was always open to visitors from far and wide. He believed in the importance of building bridges between different cultures and communities, and he worked tirelessly to promote understanding and cooperation.

“As a leader, he was also deeply committed to tradition and dignity. I recall a particularly notable example of this, where he gave the priests in his kingdom a significant role in governance. This not only demonstrated his respect for tradition but also his willingness to empower others and share leadership.

“His wisdom, humility, and inclusiveness made him a truly beloved figure, both within his kingdom and beyond. And his legacy continues to inspire us today.

“I also had the privilege of witnessing his dignity and pride firsthand during his visit to Harvard University. He was an ambassador for Yoruba culture and kingship, and he left a lasting impression on everyone he met.”

Hard Work Greater Than Sleep

In his remarks, the Oragun of Oke-Ila, Oba Dokun Abolarin, painted a vivid picture of a king who mentored many younger monarchs and never compromised on excellence.

“I remember staying with him at a hotel during a Harvard event. At 12:30 a.m., he summoned me. When I arrived, he smiled and said, ‘You want to be great? You must reduce your sleep.’ That night, he taught me that greatness comes through sacrifice.”

He described Oba Sijuwade as a historian, a man of depth, and a king who believed that culture must evolve with time. “He was friends with monarchs across Nigeria, the late Emir of Kano, and the Obi of Onitsha. He believed in diversity. He lived it. He built bridges.”

A Living Legacy

The atmosphere, though celebratory, carried an undertone of reverence. It was clear that Oba Okunade Sijuwade was not just remembered for the titles he bore or the crowns he wore, but for the lives he transformed, the traditions he preserved, and the future he envisioned.

From the glamour of the gathering to the depth of the tributes, the 10th-year remembrance was a reflection of a man who modernised Yoruba royalty without compromising its soul.

As traditional chants closed the evening and the final drumbeats echoed through the hall, one message stood tall: Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s legacy is not just in the past; it is alive in the present and will continue.

The King of Kings may have joined the ancestors, but his reign lives on in the culture he protected, the unity he fostered, and the people he inspired.