By: Abiola O. Aloba
When the Spiritual Ordains but the Political Objects: Who Holds the Higher Power?
When a spiritual head of a race bestows honor, yet a political head rejects it—whose voice should prevail?
At the heart of this current conundrum is the supposed prestigious chieftaincy title, “Okanlomo of Yorubaland”—a title if actually given that translates as like “special son,” or maybe even “first among equals” in the Yoruba nation.
This supposed title was supposedly or allegedly conferred upon a supposed worthy subject by none other than the Ooni-Orisa of Ile-Ife—the Arole Odua, custodian of the source and spiritual father of the Yoruba race.
To understand why this matters, we must revisit the beginning.
The Source of It All
No one disputes that Ile-Ife is the cradle of the Yoruba race—the headquarters of its existence, its spiritual homeland. And who is the monarch of this cradle? It's none other than the Ooni-Orisa!
According to the Yoruba creation myth, Oduduwa (Odua)—sent by Olodumare, the Almighty (Supreme Being) after Obatala the elder brother who had been sent 1st had gotten drunk on his way—Oduduwa descended upon a watery earth with three sacred items: a chain to descend, a handful of earth to sprinkle on the water, and a cockerel to spread the earth with it's feet.
From this act came solid ground, and the very first place where his feet touched became Ife—“the land of love.”
Oduduwa is the 1st ever Ooni-Orisa. Meaning that the ancestor & spiritual head became the 1st monarch of Ife. That sacred ground that is foot 1st touched is at a point in Ife, believed to be the center of the earth.
This sacred ground is still preserved today as the palace of the Ooni, the living representative of Oduduwa himself.
Thus, whoever sits on the throne of the Ooni is not just an ordinary king, but the spiritual head of the Yoruba race, the Arole Odua Olofin Adimula Ooni-Orisa. Whoever is the Ooni-Orisa is the descendant of Oduduwa & his representative hence the title Arole Odua.
Alaafin: Political Power, Not Spiritual Origin
By history, the first Alaafin of Oyo was Oranmiyan, grandson of Oduduwa, though some historian says the son of Oduduwa. While Ife gave birth to the other Yoruba monarchies—including Oyo—the Alaafin rose to political prominence through conquests and territorial expansion.
It was empire-building which could also refer to wealth acquisition that brought the Alaafin power, not spiritual inheritance.
The Alaafin’s throne may have grown wide in political influence, but never has it been recorded that Oyo at any time conquered Ife or subordinated the Ooni-Orisa.
Equally, the title of Arole Odua—direct descendant and representative of Oduduwa—has never left Ife, nor has it ever been vested in any other domain.
This alone makes the Ooni’s stool permanently supreme.
Spiritual Always Above Political
By all standards—historical, spiritual, and cultural—the Ooni is the undisputedly highest monarch of Yorubaland.
The Ooni is the living Orisa-- 400 + 1, the custodian of the source, while every other king—including the Alaafin—sprang from that source.
It is said in the Yoruba myth that there are 400+ 1 orishas. Orisha here loosely translates to, destiny picked, e ni O ri sha. They are men & women of renown of old, mostly mortals who one way or the other distinguished themselves. Some were reportedly spiritual beings who transformed to mortals. They are not gods to be worshipped as there's only one Supreme Being-- Olodumare, the uncommon one whose calabash can never be empty-- Olo odu to mare. So amongst the orishas all of whom have transformed into celestial beings, the supposed only living one is the Ooni-Orisa.
The Ooni-Orisa is like a central figure of the other so-called religions. Whatever they represent in those religion, is what the Ooni-Orisa represent in traditional religion often referred to as Isese. So the Ooni-Orisa is seen as the representative of the Almighty God here.
In traditional religion he is held in high esteem! And seen as the human voice of God. Not as the God though.
In every civilization, the spiritual outweighs the political.
Just as the Prime Minister of Italy bows to the Pope despite commanding greater geographical territory & wielding vast political power, so too must earthly conquest acknowledge spiritual custodianship.
The foundation is always higher than the empire it birthed.
A Call for Wisdom and Unity
That is why it is baffling, and frankly deceitful, for any Alaafin to claim superior authority over the Ooni-Orisa, or to issue ultimatums of any kind concerning pan-Yoruba titles. This particular title conferment has even been pooh-poohed. As it has been claimed by some that Ooni-Orisa never gave such a title in the 1st place. But even if he were to have given such, he had the powers to do so as the Arole Odua Olofin Adimula.
In truth, by yardstick of origin, of spirituality, of cultural significance, and of history, the Ooni-Orisa stands above all.
No throne, no matter how vast its empire once was, be it from here to Timbuktu, can surpass the throne of the source, even if the geographical location or size of where Ooni's palace is a few feet.
At a time when Yorubaland holds the political leadership of Nigeria, what is needed is not unnecessary supremacy battles but unity of purpose—to channel collective strength into progress and development.
Anything that fans division should be firmly checked, for a house divided against itself cannot stand.
Ire ooooo.
—
0 Comments