Late Ooni’s Wives Banned From Re-Marrying

The wives left behind by the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, have been banned by tradition from re-marrying, The Nation reports.

Quoting a palace chief, who preferred not to be named, the report said the order was prescribed by Ife tradition, since the Ooni is not considered dead but to have transited to a higher realm.

The chief, maintaining that the Ooni still lives, said it is forbidden for wives left behind by Oba Sijuwade to re-marry.

He said: “The rules is general and applies to all Ooni that has passed on and not peculiar to the wives of Oba Sijuwade, the immediate past Ooni. There may not be a clearly defined repercussion against the tradition but it is advisable that the order is obeyed at all times and for all generations.

The best that can happen to the oloris left behind by any late Ooni is for them to remain single or be inherited by the reigning Ooni.”

The palace chief added that it does not matter whether the wives are young or old, “what matters is that the tradition must be sustained in the overall interest of the society.”

The late Oba Okunade Sijuwade left Oloris Morisola, Ladun, Odunayo, Adedolapo and Linda behind, with their ages ranging between 40’s and 60’s.

The first wife, Olori Yetunde, the mother of the first son, Prince Adetokubo, died some years ago, long before Oba Sijuwade’s death.