By Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife has named his newborn son after Oba Adesoji Aderemi, the 49th monarch of the ancient Yoruba town.
According to a statement by his spokesperson, Oba Ogunwusi disclosed the names of the prince on the 8th day in line with traditional rites.
The newborn prince was named by the Ooni at Ile Igbo after traditional movement through the various palace chambers. There, traditional prayers were made and sacrifices offered to the various deities of the land. Also, spiritual obeisance were offered by the Isoros among other traditional rites to formally welcome the royal baby to the Ife Royal Court.
The statement read: “The day which climaxed the first eight-day of the three-week cultural rites traditionally observed at the Ile Oodua Palace of the Ooni of Ife for naming newborn princes and princess started with the traditional movement of the Ooni from his private residence in the palace to the sacred Yeyemoolu well to offer prayers and traditional rites before moving through various palace chambers; from Ile Ogun to Ile Odikeji and Ile Omirin, finally to Ile-Igbo to mount the oldest stool of Oduduwa at Ile Igbo where a reigning Ooni occasionally sits whenever there is a very important event.
“At Ile Igbo, spiritual obeisance by the Isoros and other traditional rites were offered to formally welcome the royal baby to the Ife Royal Court and announce his names to the public.
“Custodians of various deities known as ‘Oba Isoro’, Obas and Ife High-Chiefs traditionally offered prayers with items such as sugarcane, Aadun, honey, dried fishes, money, pen, bitter colas, cola nuts, alligator peppers, snails, schnapps, water, palm oil, doves and other Yoruba core prayer items.
“After the prayers and sacrifices, the Ooni consulted Ifa oracle through the Araba Agbaye, head of Ifa priests worldwide, before making the baby’s names public.
“The names of the prince handed by Araba Agbaye to High-Chief Lowa of Ife, Chief Adekola Adeyeye who officially pronounced them to the anxious crowd are Tadenikawo, Adesoji, Aderemi, Eri-Ifeoluwasimi, Adeiwa, Inioluwa, Ademide, Adegbite, Diekoloreoluwa, son of Ogunwusi.”
