The ancient city of Ile-Ife witnessed a colourful royal celebration on Sunday as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, formally welcomed his newborn daughter into the royal family through a traditional naming ceremony.
The ceremony was held at the Emese Court within the Ooni’s Palace, one week after Queen Oluwatosin Ogunwusi gave birth safely to the baby girl.
The gathering attracted prominent traditional rulers, palace chiefs, members of the royal household, Yoruba cultural custodians, dignitaries and other guests who came to celebrate with the monarch and his wife.
At the centre of the ceremony was the official naming of the princess. With the Ooni’s approval, the Lowa Adimula of Ife, Oba Ademola Adeyeye, announced her names as Adelewa, Adeyele, Adeshikemi and Ayoade, Omo Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
The traditional rites included prayers, blessings and the presentation of symbolic items believed to represent the hopes and aspirations attached to the child’s future.
Among the items used were honey, sugarcane, Aadun, dried fish, money, pen, bitter kola, kola nuts, alligator pepper, snails, schnapps, water, palm oil and doves. The items were associated with wishes for sweetness, prosperity, wisdom, longevity, abundance, peace, knowledge, fertility, divine protection and an honourable life.
During the prayers, the Lowa Adimula asked Olodumare to bless the princess with “wisdom, sound health, strength, grace and long life.” He also prayed that she would grow to become “a worthy representative of the royal dynasty and ambassador of the Yoruba race.”
He described the birth as an important occasion for the Ooni’s Palace, Ile-Ife and the wider Yoruba community, while thanking Olodumare for the safe arrival of the royal baby.
The traditional ruler also congratulated Oba Ogunwusi and Queen Oluwatosin, praying that the new addition to the royal family would bring increased peace, unity, prosperity and progress to the kingdom.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Ooni also expressed his gratitude to Olodumare, describing his daughter’s birth as “a precious gift of new life and a divine blessing to the House of Oduduwa.”
