By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Highlights
- Ooni’s Palace Responds to Oluwo’s Controversial Claim
- Oluwo Asserts Ile-Ife Lacks Yoruba Traditions
- Longstanding Controversies Over Yoruba Origins and Titles
- Ooni’s Palace Responds
- Cultural Significance
• Ooni’s Palace Responds to Oluwo’s Controversial Claim
The palace of the Ooni of Ife on Tuesday responded to the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, over his claim that Ile-Ife is not the origin of the Yoruba people.
Moses Olafare, the Ooni’s spokesperson, dismissed the statement, saying,
“No reasonable person will react to Oluwo’s comments.”
Oba Akanbi, known for his controversial views, had in a video posted on his Facebook page while conferring a chieftaincy title in his palace, insisted that “Ile-Ife has no Yoruba culture.”
Flanked by his chiefs, the Iwo monarch argued that the language spoken in Ile-Ife — widely regarded as the cradle of the Yoruba race — differed from mainstream Yoruba. He also questioned the use of certain expressions.
• Oluwo Asserts Ile-Ife Lacks Yoruba Traditions
“Ife is not the origin of the Yoruba race. Those people don’t speak our language. Their language is different.
They refer to God as Eledumare, and there is nothing like Eledumare in the Yoruba language. What we have is Olodumare.
Ife people will always say Olofin. If you ask them the meaning, they will tell you it means the owner of the palace. But in Yoruba, that is Alaafin. Ile-Ife has no Yoruba culture.
I am the Arole Olodumare because I am here to tell you the true history. Iwo is where you can get the real history that was not even documented,” he said, stressing his determination to preserve his version of history.
• Longstanding Controversies Over Yoruba Origins and Titles
Debates over the origin of the Yoruba and the authority of monarchs to confer titles have long been contentious.
Earlier reports highlighted a face-off between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, over the title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland, allegedly conferred on Ibadan businessman Chief Dotun Sanusi by the Ooni.
The Alaafin, through his media aide Bode Durojaiye, insisted no traditional ruler other than him had the authority to bestow a title covering the entire Yorubaland.
He issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Ooni to revoke the title or “face the consequences.”
• Ooni’s Palace Responds
In response, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, dismissed the ultimatum, stating that the monarch had decided to leave the matter “in the court of public opinion.”
He added on Facebook:
“We cannot dignify the ‘undignifiable’ with an official response.
We leave the matter to the public court of opinion, as it is already being treated.
Let’s focus on narratives that unite us rather than those capable of dividing us.
No press release, please. Forty-eight hours, my foot!”
• Cultural Significance
The exchange highlights the sensitivity surrounding Yoruba origins.
Ile-Ife remains widely recognised as the spiritual home and heritage of the Yoruba people.
The Ooni of Ife continues to serve as the custodian of the Yoruba’s cultural and historical legacy, preserving the people’s traditions, history, and identity for future generations.