Alaafin of Oyo Biography, Age, Wives, Children

The Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi (born October 15, 1938), is from the Adeyemi branch of the Alowolodu family. He is the previous Alaafin of Oyo, the renowned Yoruba traditional empire that is now located in Nigeria’s Oyo State.

Name	Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi
Title	Alaafin of Oyo – Oba Lamidi Adeyemi II
Date of Birth	October 15, 1938
Religion	Islam Yoruba Traditional Religion
Number of Wives	13
Names of Wives	Ayaba Abibat Adeyemi, Ayaba Rahmat Adedayo Adeyemi, Ayaba Mujidat Adeyemi, Ayaba Rukayat Adeyemi, Ayaba Folashade Adeyemi, Ayaba Folashade Adeyemi, Ayaba Badirat Ajoke Adeyemi, Ayaba Memunat Omowunmi Adeyemi, Ayaba Omobolanle Adeyemi, Ayaba Moji Adeye
Date of Death	April 23, 2022
Nationality	Nigerian
State of Origin	Oyo State
Tribe	Yoruba
Place of Death	Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital in Ado Ekiti
Father	Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II
Mother	Ibironke
Coronation Date	18 November 1970
Reign	18 November 1970 – 22 April 2022

Biography/Profile of Alaafin of Oyo – Lamidi Adeyemi

Who is Oyo’s Alaafin? On October 15, 1938, Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi, the current Alaafin of Oyo from the Adeyemi clan of the Alowolodu line, was born.

He ruled as Alaafin of Oyo, the renowned Yoruba traditional empire, which is located in the contemporary Nigerian state of Oyo. He spent a brief period of his boyhood in Iseyin, where he learned the fundamentals of Islam.

Alaafin of Oyo Educational Background

Lamidi Adeyemi III received his early schooling at a Quranic School in Iseyin, a town not far from Oyo. He subsequently returned to Oyo Town and resided with the headmaster of St. Andrews Primary School before moving into the palace of the Alake of Egba, Oba Oladepo Ademola.

After Oba Ademola was compelled to abandon his throne and live in exile at Osogbo in response to Mrs. Funmilayo Ransome Kuti’s 1947-48 demonstration of Egba women against “Tax without representation,” his education came to an end.

In 1948, his father sent for him, and he was later sent to Sir Kofoworola Adebayo Abayomi in Keffi, Ikoyi, Lagos. He attended Obalende Modern School in Keffi and Tinubu Methodist School after that.

He was accepted into Igbobi College and St. Gregory’s College, Obalende, after completing his elementary schooling. St. Gregory’s College Obalende was his choice.

He graduated from St. Gregory’s College with honors and intended to study law; however, his plans were thwarted when his father was overthrown as Alaafin on February 14, 1946.

Alaafin of Oyo Career

While working at the Royal Exchange, Lamidi was given a job at the Royal Exchange Assurance in Lagos. He authored essays about himself and his experiences in newspapers under fictitious names.

In 1968, he penned an article titled “I SHALL BE GREAT,” and a year later, he wrote another titled “I SHALL BE THE NEXT ALAAFIN.” He was moved to write critiques of how Nigerian teachers were treated after seeing one of his former instructors with a ripped shirt and tie. He also wrote a book named. “In Yoruba land, women’s liberation is a misnomer.”

He was promoted to the 14 Floor, where he specialized in mandatory Facultative Insurance and internal memo drafting, shortly after his time at the Royal Exchange Assurance.

He began to make a lot of money, but his father insisted that he invest every cent he received. As a result, he started a business buying wrecked cars to fix and resell.

Alaafin of Oyo Family

Oba Adeyemi II, the former Alaafin of Oyo, was deposed and exiled in 1954 for sympathizing with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens. Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III is the son of Oba Adeyemi II, the former Alaafin of Oyo, who was deposed and exiled in 1954 for sympathizing with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). Oba Adeyemi II had a falling out with the Action Group’s deputy leader at the time.

Lamidi Adeyemi succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in the year 1971. Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo was the governor of Nigeria at the time, and this occurred shortly after the end of the civil war. He was working as an insurance clerk at the time. The King’s Ascension to the Throne

Following the death of Alaafin Bello Gbadegesin, the Oyomesi contacted Oranlola (Baba Iwo) of Alowolodu to become the new Alaafin, as is customary. He then convened a conference of the royal family of Alowolodu.

He told them about his conversation with Oyomesi and suggested Sanda ‘Ladepo, his son. Except for Baba Salami Dudu, all of the family members agreed. Alaafin Adeyemi Adeniran ll was encouraged by Baba Salami Dudu to have a son by Prince Lamidi Adeyemi.

The battle for the Alaafin throne became more heated, to the point where some of the princes from Oyo’s major royal houses became contestants. Aremo Sanni Gbadegesin, Prince Olanite Ajagba, Prince Afonja Ilaka, Prince Lamidi Adeyemi, and Prince Sanda ‘Ladepo Oranlola were among those who participated.

Alaafin of Oyo Reign As Longest Alaafin

When Alaafin of Oyo became king, how old was he? After the end of the Nigerian Civil War, the Alaafin, Lamidi Adeyemi III, was coronated as the traditional ruler of Oyo, succeeding Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II, under the governorship of Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo.

Following the death of Alaafin Bello Gbadegesin, the Oyomesi contacted Oranlola (Baba Iwo) of Alowolodu to become the new Alaafin, as is customary.

He then summoned a meeting of the royal family. He told them about his conversation with Oyomesi and suggested Sanda ‘Ladepo, his son.

Except for Baba Salami Dudu, all of the family members agreed. Alaafin Adeyemi Adeniran ll was encouraged by Baba Salami Dudu to have a son by Prince Lamidi Adeyemi.

The battle for the Alaafin throne became more heated, to the point where some of the princes from Oyo’s major royal houses became contestants. Aremo Sanni Gbadegesin, Prince Olanite Ajagba, Prince Afonja Ilaka, and Prince Sanda ‘Ladepo Oranlola were among those killed.

On November 18, 1970, the kingmakers chose Lamidi Adeyemi, who subsequently moved into the palace after performing the proper rites under the supervision of the Oyomesi.

He was inducted into the mysteries of numerous gods, such as the Ifa mysteries and the Sango mysteries, as a result of this process. He was likewise forced to go through similar inductions in order to be the deities’ direct ambassador on Earth.

Alaafin of Oyo Coronation

The coronation of Lamidi Adeyemi III as the Alaafin of Oyo took place in the Durbar Stadium in Oyo town. Colonel (now retired General)Adeyinka Adebayo, the then military Governor of the Western State, presented him with the staff of office as the Alaafin of Oyo.

Wives of Alaafin of Oyo

How Many Wives Does Alaafin of Oyo Have? – The Alaafin is married to thirteen wives; their name are; Ayaba Abibat Adeyemi, Ayaba Rahmat Adedayo Adeyemi, Ayaba Mujidat Adeyemi, Ayaba Rukayat Adeyemi, Ayaba Folashade Adeyemi, Ayaba Folashade Adeyemi, Ayaba Badirat Ajoke Adeyemi, Ayaba Memunat Omowunmi Adeyemi, Ayaba Omobolanle Adeyemi, Ayaba Moji Adeye

He enjoys boxing and used to be a boxer before succeeding to his Fathers’ kingdom.

General Murtala Ramat Muhammed, the leader of state at the time, included the Alaafin in his hajj entourage in 1975. In 1979, he received the CFR national honor at the National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos.

For the first four years of his tenure, Kabiyesi Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi III was appointed by the Federal Government as the pioneering Chancellor of the newly created University of Sokoto, presently Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto. When his first tenure came to a close, the University’s senate and council nominated him for a second term. The proposal was generously approved by the president and visitor to the university, and he was chosen for a second term. And, at the end of the second term, he was unexpectedly appointed for a third term, giving him a total of 12 years as Chancellor of the university.

The Alaafin appointed Chief MKO Abiola as the Aare Ona Kankanfo in January 1988 in honor of Abiola’s contributions to Yoruba country and Nigeria’s overall social, economic, cultural, and political growth.

In acknowledgment of his devotion to the consolidation of Islam in Nigeria, the Federal Government selected the Alaafin as the Amiru Hajj operation to lead the Muslim faithful in the 21 states of the federation in 1990, under the government of General Ibrahim Babangida.

The Alaafin, as one of Yoruba land’s most powerful traditional rulers, utilized his position to enhance the lives of numerous Obas, elevating many non-crown-wearing Obas to the level of beaded crown-wearers and battling for their (the Obas’) welfare at all times.

Alaafin of Oyo Death

He died at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital in Ado Ekiti at the age of 83. The public is waiting for the Alaafin of Oyo’s burial arrangements. The cause of his death has not yet been revealed to the general public.