Who Run IBADAN Land With Oba OLAKULEHIN
His Imperial Majesty Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin 1 is the current Olubadan of Ibadanland. The 89-year-old monarch was crowned in July 2024, becoming the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland following the death of Oba Mohood Olalekan Balogun four months earlier.
He emerged from the Balogun (military) line, having climbed the 23 steps to the throne from his line. The other line to the revered Olubadan throne is the Otun (civil) line. The Otun line has 22 steps to the throne.
As it’s widely known, Ibadan runs the smoothest and most peaceful royal succession system in Nigeria, if not in the whole of Africa. It’s also a public knowledge that for one to become an Olubadan, you must have aged.
The present Olubadan is 89 years old. The one before him, Oba Lekan Balogun ascended the throne at the age of 79 and died at 81. Oba Saliu Adetunji that Balogun succeeded became Olubadan at 87 and died at 93.
What many people may not know, however, is that there are 12 high-ranking chiefs making the Olubadan-In-Council. They are mostly Obas of their respective domains as result of the recently reviewed Ibadan chieftaincy declaration. All of them are Obas except four who are high chiefs.
They are members of Olubadan-In-Council whose primary duties include but not limited to seeing to the traditional governance and cultural leadership of Ibadan, represent the Olubadan at various cultural and traditional functions, among other responsibilities. They advise Olubadan on matters concerning the well-being and development of Ibadan and its people. They also, when necessary, influence decisions pertaining to traditional practices and customs. In this report, City People’s Dare Adeniran (08057639079) presents to you members of Olubadan-in-Council running Ibadan with Oba Owolabi Olakulehin. Read on…..
OBA RASHIDI LADOJA
His Royal Majesty Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja is presently the most senior in Olubadan-in-Council from Otun line. The former governor of Oyo State doubles as the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland. Ladoja who was recently crowned as a beaded-crown wearing Oba is now 80 years old. His coronation comes about seven years after he refused the beaded crown which confers the “his royal majesty” title on him.
OBA TAJUDEEN AJIBOLA
Oba (Barr.) Tajudeen Abimbola is the Balogun of Ibadanland. He’s the most senior and the next in line to the reigning Olubadan from Balogun (military) line. Oba Ajibola is 80 years old. He turns 80 in September 23 this year.
OBA KOLAWOLE ADEGBOLA
His Royal Majesty Oba Kolawole Adebola is the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland.
OBA EDDY OYEWALE (FOKO)
His Royal Majesty Oba (Sir) Eddy Oyewole is the Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland. He hails from the prominent Foko family of the ancient town. He’s in his late 80s.
OBA OLUBUNMI DADA ISIOYE
Oba Olubunmi Dada Isioye is the Osi Balogun of Ibadanland.
OBA ABIODUN
KOLA-DAISI
His Royal Majesty Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi is the Ashipa Olubadan of Ibadarýland. He’s the youngest of the beaded-crown wearing Obas in Ibadan. Abiodun Kola-Daisi is the son of the Ibadan’s foremost industrialist, Chief Kola Daisi. Abiodun Kola-Daisi himself is an accomplished business development and management guru. He also plays big in the hospitality sector. He’s the Executive Chairman of Royal Resorts, Ibadan. Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi is in Otun line.
OBA DAUDA AZEEZ
His Royal Majesty Oba Dauda Abiodun Azeez is the Ashipa Balogun of Ibadanland.
OBA HAMIDU AJIBADE
His Royal Majesty Oba Salawudeen Hamidu Ajibade is the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadanland. He’s a renowned businessman who deals in Clearing and Forwarding.
OBA ADEBAYO AKANDE
His Royal Majesty Oba Murtala Adebayo Akande is the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland. He’s a successful businessman and Chairman of West-Midland Communications, the parent company of Splash FM and Lagelu FM, Ibadan. The 85-year-old Adebayo Akande is from Isale-Ijebu in Ibadan.
HIGH CHIEF THERESA OYEKANMI
High Chief Theresa Laduntan Oyekanmi is the only female member of the Olubadan-in-Council as the lyalode of Ibadanland. She’s the 14th Iyalode of Ibadanland. The 91-year-old woman of substance is from the prominent Ladapo family of Abebi Ibadan and the Balogun Ibikunle in Ayeye area of the ancient town.
HIGH CHIEF AKEEM ADEDOYIN
High Chief Akeem Mobolaji Adewoyin is the Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland.
HIGH CHIEF SARAFADEEN
ABIODUN ALLI
High Chief (Barr) Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli is the Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland. He’s a serving senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He’s representing Oyo South Senatorial District at the Upper Chamber under the umbrella of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
NEW STORY
City People Visits Late DURO LADIPO’s Wife
- Reveals What She Has Missed About Him In The Last 46Yrs
On Wednesday, 2nd October 2024, City People team visited Mama Abiodun Duro-Ladipo, the pretty wife of late Theatre icon, Chief Duro Ladipo, at her residence in Ibadan.
Mama, who is popularly called many stage names like Oya and Moremi has been quiet for a long time and City People decided to take a trip to Ibadan to see her. She is one of the Theatre legends we have decided to visit as part of the ongoing City People @28 visitations.
And when we got there, we met a hale and hearty woman who is at peace with herself.
At 84, Mama looks good for her age. She still lives in the same house she lived with her husband before he died 46 years ago. Nothing has changed about her house. She still has her husband’s photo hanging on the wall, in its natural state, along with the photos of her children, many of whom have grown to become accomplished Men and Women.
Mama does not look her age in any way. She has a sweet 16 look. She is still strong and agile, moving around the house unaided. She has sharp eyes, though she wears glasses occasionally. She still recalls dates, names and events that happened 30, 40, 50 years ago appropriately.
And even in death, Mama Moremi still loves her husband, as she kept telling us intimate stories about the 2 of them and how she was fond of him when he was alive and how the late strong man of the Theatre took great care of her. He doted over her, she revealed. Till today, Mama still believes that her husband’s spirit still hovers around the house.
She told us that one of the last wishes of her husband was for her not to move out of the house and for her to take good care of the children.
She said both request have been fulfilled, and she has refused to remarry.
At 84, Mama is still very, very beautiful, even without make up. Her face glows and shines and she has remained the very frank and highly principled woman she has always been.
No wonder, she took on City People when we walked in, accusing us of resheduling this appointment 3 times.
She told us how unhappy she is with such a move. We quickly apologised and she forgave us.
Mama Abiodun was born on December 25 (Xmas Day) into a royal family in Ijero-Ekiti in Ekiti State, thus making her a Princess of Yoruba heritage. Initially interested in becoming a Nurse, on completing her secondary education in 1963, she joined the Mbari Mbayo Theatre Group run by the late Duro Ladipo, and soon became the head of the Women’s Group. In 1964, she married Duro Ladipo. She was a permanent member of the troupe. She gained fame as an actress, taking the main roles in all the plays performed by the company.
She acted in her husband’s epic plays and was particularly successful in the role of Oya in Oba Koso and in the theatrical role of Moremi. In the 1960s and 1970s, she performed as an actress or singer in theatre and music festivals, including at Berlin’s Festspiele (1964), London’s Commonwealth Arts Festival (1965), the Festival mondial du théâtre de Nancy (1973) and also the Yoruba Festival in Zurich (1973). She also appeared in Belgrade, at Iran’s Shiraz Arts Festival and also the Arts Festival in Rome.
Her husband, Duro Ladipo a renowned Nigerian actor, playwright, and musicologist died on March 11th, 1978. His family organized a week-long commemoration of his death, including the launch of the Duro Ladipo Monument and stage performances of his works. The new film “Moremi Ajasoro” was also premiered.
Following her husband’s death, Abiodun managed the theatre company, an unusual task for women at the time. While she preferred stage productions, she was increasingly forced to turn to television, appearing in the musical series Oya Sings (1979) and the drama series B’Inaku (1981). Other television productions included Oyinbo Ajele (1986), Esentaye (1997) and Ayelaagbe (1998), all in support of traditional culture when threatened by colonialism. Her film appearances are based on her earlier stage roles. They include Erelu in Aropin n’Teniyan, Iya Ewe in Ija Orugun and, above all, the title role in Moremi. In 2017, she directed a new version of Moremi, the film titled Moremi Ajasoro.
She is keen to ensure that significant work is documented and she has been collecting newspaper articles about Yorùbá travelling theatre and in particular the Duro Lapido Theatre since 1964. She has a large collection of costumes and memorabilia.
Mama Abiodun Duro-Ladipo is one of the few veteran actresses that have left her footprint already in the film industry, considering how influential she has been in recent years.
Her personal life, career and so many other achievements in the past have made her so famous globally.
