A silent feud is reportedly brewing between two of Yorubaland’s foremost traditional rulers — the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi — with sources linking the tension to a little-known Yoruba community in the United States.
The spark, insiders say, was ignited in March 2025 at Oyotunji African Village, South Carolina, an intentional Yoruba cultural community founded in 1970 by Oba Efuntola Adefunmi I, a US-born African-American who traced his spiritual lineage to the Ooni of Ife. Upon his death in 2005, Adefunmi’s son, Adejuyigbe, succeeded him after being crowned by the late Ooni Okunade Sijuwade.
However, tragedy struck in July 2024 when Adejuyigbe was fatally stabbed by his sister, Akiba Meredith, during a domestic dispute. In response, the Ooni of Ife reportedly dispatched a high-powered traditional delegation to perform spiritual rites and pay respects — a move that appears to have unintentionally upset the new Alaafin of Oyo.
According to credible palace sources, Oba Owoade, who was still in seclusion at the time, allegedly reached out to one of the monarchs in the delegation, asking them to vacate Oyotunji on the grounds that the yoruba community “belongs to Oyo.” The team, led by Oba Adesoji Oladepo, Oba Idowu Adediwura, and spiritual leaders from Ife, reportedly found the intervention disrespectful and unfounded.
One source involved in the U.S. trip told ireport247new.com: “We were there on Ooni’s directive to perform traditional rites. The call from Alaafin’s camp, claiming ownership of the village, came as a shock. Oyotunji has always been under the spiritual guidance of Ile-Ife.”
While the Ooni reportedly ignored the gesture and avoided confrontation, signs of a strained relationship surfaced publicly on April 29, 2025. During a programme hosted by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, in Ibadan, a viral video showed Alaafin Owoade remaining seated as the Ooni approached to exchange greetings. Other traditional rulers rose in deference, but Oba Owoade’s casual posture sparked outrage and debate across social media platforms.
Amid rising speculations of a supremacy tussle, Alaafin’s Personal Assistant, Kolade Oladele, dismissed the reports, labeling them “baseless distractions.” He insisted that the Alaafin never issued any directive regarding Oyotunji and has no rift with the Ooni.
“Oba Owoade was in seclusion during the period they referenced. He had no involvement in any such call. People are just trying to stir division where none exists,” Oladele said.
He further clarified that the Alaafin extended formal invitations to the Ooni for his coronation and that “no slight was intended or committed.”
“The claim that Kabiyesi didn’t recognise the Ooni is unfounded. Let anyone present video evidence to support it. The Alaafin holds the Ooni in high regard,” Oladele added.
However, insiders maintain that the Alaafin has neither visited nor called the Ooni since ascending the throne, a protocol breach viewed in many royal circles as a slight. “That was the first time they were meeting publicly since the coronation, and it ended in that awkward encounter. That says a lot,” one source noted.
Despite growing public interest, both palaces have refrained from issuing official statements, perhaps in a bid to de-escalate tensions. Nonetheless, prominent Yoruba voices, including the Aare Ona Kakanfo, Gani Adams, have urged caution, warning bloggers and commentators against stoking royal rivalries.
Analysts say the unfolding drama reflects deeper questions about territorial influence and historical lineage among Yoruba monarchs — issues that have long remained sensitive in the race’s traditional leadership.
As the story continues to generate headlines, the Oyotunji African Village — thousands of miles from Nigeria — has unexpectedly emerged as the flashpoint of what could evolve into a significant royal rift. For now, the Yoruba nation watches and waits, hoping age-old customs of diplomacy and respect will prevail over pride and power.