The Oyo Kingdom in South West Nigeria is mourning its late monarch, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III who transitioned Friday at a hospital in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
His remains were brought to the palace in Oyo where Islamic rites were conducted on it Saturday.
The 83-year-old may have passed, but his legacies and style will remain with the people of Oyo Kingdom and Nigerians.
Here are five things you probably didn’t know about him:
His Ascension to the Throne
Born Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi on 15 October, 1938, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III took over power from Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in 1971 when he was 32.
His father, Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II was the Alaafin of Oyo until he was deposed by the government in 1954; so, Oba Adeyemi III was born into a royal house.
His ascension to the throne began in 1968 when he was invited to contest for the vacant stool of the Oyo Empire. He defeated 10 other princes after a rigorous screening exercise, but the government refused to endorse his appointment.
The government said the screening was fraudulent, and so there was another process, and another, and yet a fourth one, until the government gave up, and the Oyo Mesi (traditional council of state) had his way.
Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, the Alaafin of Oyo was finally crowned on 14 January 1971.
His Politics
In 2011, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi was accused by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of supporting the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the election of April of that year.
That support cost him the permanent chairmanship of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Oyo State.
The state government passed a new law, and on 3 May 2011 the outgoing governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala announced that the chairmanship of the council will be rotated between the Alaafin and his rivals, the Olubadan of Ibadanland and the Soun of Ogbomosho.
His Wives
Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III was reportedly married to 13 wives. He got married to his first wife, Ayaba Chief (Mrs.) Abibat Nihinlola Adeyemi more than 60 years ago.
She marked her 81st birthday with an intimate ceremony in 2019.
The second is Ayaba (Chief) Ramat Adedayo Adeyemi.
And the third is Ayaba Chief (Mrs.) Sulat Adeyemi.
Other wives came later.
Oba Adeyemi III is known to always attend public functions with his wives, all dressed in matching outfits.
He caused a stir when he went shopping in London with four of his wives in 2014. All wore matching Ankara outfits.
The monarch didn’t just look around Oyo when choosing a wife. He went as far as Igboland to marry one of his youngest wives, Chioma Adeyemi.
His Boxing
The late Alaafin was a boxer and a lover of boxing. He retired from the sport after his enthronement in 1971, but couldn’t help getting back in the ring for an exhibition match in October 2016.
The fight at the Oyo Township Stadium was a part of a nine-day ceremony to mark his 78th birthday.
His Father
Like father, like son; Oba Lamidi III’s father, the Alaafin of Oyo Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II had multiple wives before his son.
While the latter Alaafin had 13, his father was married to 200 women.
He reportedly had 30 come to visit at a time when he was in exile in Lagos.
Another 30 would come after the first 30 had left.
And just like the son, the father also had a brush with the government of his day.
He had come into conflict with Bode Thomas, the deputy of the then Action Congress party after the colonial government elevated political officials above monarchs in 1952.
35-year-old Chief Thomas was appointed the chairman of the Oyo Divisional Council in 1953 and the octogenarian Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II would not stand up for the politician on his first appearance in council.
There was a confrontation between the two and the Alaafin reportedly placed a curse on Chief Thomas which led to him barking like a dog all night until he died in the morning.
