Ooni Of Ife's 'Obabaku' Runs For His Dear Life, Burial Rite May Be Delayed As A Result!

As cradle of the Yoruba land, Ile Ife is known worldwide for its ancient and naturalistic bronze, stone and terracotta sculptures which developed between 9th and 12th century, and reached their peak of artistic expression between 1200 and 1400AD. Ife is a historical city and an embodiment of culture. 

The rulers and important people were often depicted with large heads because they thought Ase (authority) was held in the head.

The people of Ile Ife are culture inclined, evident in how they jealously preserve core traditional values of the ancient town.

'Abobaku' in Yoruba language means 'one that dies with the king', this means when the king 'Ooni' dies, the Abobaku equally dies with the king. It is a chieftancy title to that runs in some families. 

With the official announcement of the demise of the Ooni of Ife, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Wednesday, August 12, 2015, and preparations are in top gear towards his burial, there are wide spread reports that the Abobaku of Ile Ife, (perhaps not yet ready to die with the king) is on the run for his dear life, a situation that may delay the final burial rite of the Late Oba.  

Another report has it that the 'Abobaku' is not on the run, because he will not be buried with late Oba, as the practice has since been stopped in Ile-Ife.

Late Oba Okunade Sijuwade drew his last breath at the London Clinic, on 20 Devonshire Place, London, July 28, 2015.