By Charles Nwagbara
It’s no longer news that the paramount ruler of Ijebuland, the Awujale, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona joined his ancestors on Sunday, July 13, 2025 at the ripe age of 91 years.
It’s also not news that the revered king, who sat on the throne for over 60 years was laid to rest on Monday, July 14, 2025.
However, there has been a raging controversy over the departed king’s burial rights and the choice of his burial place.
As you read this, several Yoruba sons and groups have risen to condemn the fact that the late king was buried in the Islamic way rather than as a custodian of the Yoruba culture.
A group, the Concerned Sons and Daughters of Ijebuland, in a press release said it was wrong to have buried Oba Adetona in his private residence rather than the traditional grove made for the burial of kings of Ijebuland.
As they put it, burying “the Awujale of Ijebuland outside the sacred grounds of Igbo Odu, the traditional resting place of our fathers, is sacrilege. To bury the custodian of our culture, our history, and our soul within the confines of his personal residence, rather than within the sacred earth prepared by our forbearers, is to shake the foundations of Ijebuland’s spiritual covenant.”
The group wrote, “The Awujale was not a mere mortal in our eyes; he was Orisa, a symbol of divine authority and as such, he deserved not just our respect in life, but the sacred transition owed to every true monarch in death.”
Sam. O. Ajayi in a social media post insisted that, “A traditional seat/position remains a traditional position” and as such, the moment you agreed to become a king, you are ‘lost’ to tradition!” He continues, “I do NOT expect any of you to agree with me. If you know your religion, IMPORTED ONE FOR THAT MATTER, will not allow you to carry out some traditional rites that your office as a king requires of you, INCLUDING HOW YOU ARE INSTALLED and HOW YOU WILL BE BURIED, do not take the throne! Enough of the stupid and nonsensical modernism. We are Africans and Africans we will remain forever. Everything done during the burial of Queen Elizabeth was TRADITIONAL as far as the English were concerned. Parading the body of a king during burial is a SLAP on our tradition as Yorubas.”
Many others quote Justice Akinside’s memorable treatise at the 5th Chief Kehinde Sofola Memorial Bar Lecture, where he maintained that “Obas must accept traditional burials.” Akinside went on to say that the Constitution recognizes your right to freedom of choice, but added that “once you become an Oba under the customs of your people, you cannot reject those customs—even in death. The installation process, your powers, your titles, your beads, your staff of office—everything is rooted in tradition. Why then should the final rite, the sacred burial, be different?”
Justice Akinside said that, “once you voluntarily step into the shoes of tradition, you are bound by its rules. You can’t shift goalposts mid-game and cry “freedom” when the same tradition calls for your final honor.”
Again, many who have written against Oba Adetona’s burial rites, query why a man who was enthroned by the gods, guided by ancestral customs, will want to ditch those same customs in death for a religion he embraced halfway into the throne.
They insist that “Obas who claim Christian or Muslim identity but want to enjoy traditional privileges without fully embracing the consequences is a sort of hypocrisy which has weakened our culture, divided our communities, and dishonored the throne.”
However, in a social media post on the issue titled, ‘Awujale: Culture, Religion and Postcolonial Identify Crisis’, Research Professor Kayode Eesuola of the University of Lagos , posits that there should not be any controversy or conflict between Muslims and the so called Traditionalists over how Oba Sikiru was buried. According to him, “people choose or remain in a religion. Sikiru chose Islam, and the sole end purpose is the race to go to Alujanna or Jaanama which is determined by Allah (SWT). So, let Sikiru be buried in the Islamic way so his Allah God will not be offended and throw him to hell. The traditionalist so called, have no wish of Aljaana or Jaanama for Oba Adetona. Their concern is so that the departed king eats no millipede nor worm in his journey to meet his ancestors”.
Prof. Eesuola maintained that, “Sikiru now joins the ancestors henceforth and, next Egungun season in 2026, he is part of the spirit behind the mask. He will visit Ijebuode as an egungun, and, this time, to bless his people and pray for them. “
He concludes that “Oba Sikiru Adetona lived as a Muslim, and should be buried as a Muslim. The a-religious group called Traditionalists are there to wish him a blissful trip to the land of the ancestors. There is no rivalry in this, so, let there be peace.”
