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The ruler of Oyotunji(African Village in South Carolina, USA) Oba Adejuyigbe Adegbolu Abiogemo Adefunmi II, aged 47, has passed away.
He was declared dead after a fatal stabbing incident involving his sister on Monday.
Investigators are yet to disclose the motive behind the incident, whether it stemmed from personal dispute or other circumstances within the village.
According to reports gathered, Adefunmi, known as the “Oba” or ruler among the Yoruba community, a West African ethnic group with cultural ties across North America, succumbed to multiple stab wounds at 3:32 p.m. at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, according to the Beaufort County Coroner’s Office.
The accused, identified as Adefunmi’s sister, 52-year-old Akiba Kasale Meredith, has been charged with his murder, confirmed by Master Sgt. Danny Allen, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office.
Adefunmi took over leadership of Oyotunji African Village in 2005, following the passing of his father, Oba Adefunmi I, who founded the community in 1973.
Initially established without modern amenities like plumbing and electricity, the village gradually integrated these conveniences while preserving its cultural heritage. Residents engage in both traditional practices and commerce with the outside world to sustain their lifestyle.
