Fact has emerged why Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, is marrying wives and ready to add more to his harem of wives, Straightnews has gathered exclusively.
Oba Enitan is the current Ooni of Ife, which is the town regarded as the place of origin of the Yoruba race. Ife is about 218 kilometers northeast of Lagos with a population of 509,813, the highest in Osun State according to 2006 population census.
The traditional monarch began his reign in 2015, and he is the 51st king to be crowned Ooni of Ife. He is the face of Yoruba culture and the progenitor of Oduduwa Republic.
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The Oba is a worshipper of Ifá Christianity Islam religion, which allows polygamous practice. Before he became king in 2008, he got married to his first wife, Adebukola Bambota. They separated some years after.
In December 2021, Naomi Silekunola, the last wife of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, left him.
However, Professor Abiodun Oluwa, a modern Anthropologist in the Department of Sociology of Ahmadu University, Zaria who spoke with Straightnews on October 24, said, ‘‘Right from ancient days, Oba must marry many wives. This was caused by the nature of how palace was and is still being built. It is a Yoruba tradition.
‘‘Ooni is a big position and the Yoruba originated from there. It is normal. In fact, if complain in Yorubaland that Oba marries many wives, the people will laugh at you because this is a long-standing tradition among the Obas.
‘‘Apart from Christianity, Yoruba culture is polygamous. It allows marriage of many wives,’’ the Yoruba scholar added.
Ooni’s string of wives
Mariam Anako: Oba Ogunwusi married Mariam Anako on September 6, 2022. She is currently the first wife of the king. Anako hails from Ebira, Kogi State.
Elizabeth Akinmudai: Oba Ogunwusi married Elizabeth Akinmudai in Magodo, Lagos State, shortly after his marriage to Mariam Anako. She hails from Ondo State.
Tobi Philips: On October 9, 2022, the king officially married his third wife, Tobiloba Philips. She is an ex-beauty queen who hails from Okitipupa in Ondo State. She was born on June 4, 1992.
Ashley Adegoke: She is married to Oba Ogunwusi as his fourth wife on October 14, 2022.
Ashley Adegoke is a princess from Ile-Ife, who hails from the royal linage of Lafogido ruling house, Adagba compound. This is one of the four ruling houses in Ile – Ife, Osun State.
Ronke Ademiluyi: Ademiluyi is the latest wife of the king. She was married to the king on Thursday, October 20, 2022. Born in England, Ademiluyi is the great-granddaughter of the 48th Ooni of Ife, Ajagun Ademiluyi.
Olori Temitope Adesegun: The Ooni of Ife is set to marry his sixth wife on Monday, 24 October, 2022. The new wife is Olori Temitope Adesegun, She is an Ijebu Princess. The monarch’s spokesman, Moses Olafare stated this in a Facebook post on Sunday.
