Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi) Biography, profile, age, passing, spouses, additional details.
On October 15, 1938, Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi, the present Alaafin of Oyo from the Adeyemi lineage of the Alowolodu clan, was born. He is the reigning Alaafin of Oyo, the esteemed traditional kingdom of the Yoruba nation located in the modern Oyo State of Nigeria. He spent a short duration of his childhood in Iseyin, where he grasped the basics of Islam.
Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi): Profile Overview
| Name | Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi |
| Intro | Traditional leader of the Yoruba region in Oyo, Nigeria |
| Occupation | Monarch |
| From | Nigeria |
| Type | Royal |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 15 October 1938 |
| Age: | 83 years |
| Date of Passing | 22 April 2022 |
Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi): Biography & Profile
Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi (Adeyemi III) was born on October 15, 1938, to the Adeyemi branch of the Alowolodu family. His father, Oba Adeyemi II, the previous Alaafin of Oyo, was deposed and exiled in 1954 for his affiliation with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). Oba Adeyemi II encountered a clash with the then-deputy leader of the Action Group.
Adeyemi III currently serves as the Alaafin of Oyo, the revered traditional kingdom of the Yoruba people in the present Oyo State of Nigeria.
Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi): Age
Oba Lamidi Adeyemi is 83 years of age.
Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi): Early Years
In his late childhood, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi briefly resided in Iseyin, where he learned the foundational aspects of Islam.
Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi): Career Path
Oba Lamidi Adeyemi took over from Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in 1971, shortly after the conclusion of the Nigerian civil war, under the governorship of Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo. At that time, he was employed as an insurance clerk. Following the customary practice for selecting a new Alaafin after the demise of Alaafin Bello Gbadegesin, the Oyomesi approached Oranlola (Baba Iwo) of Alowolodu to discuss the next Alaafin. He subsequently convened a meeting within the Alowolodu royal family. During this meeting, he communicated his discussions with the Oyomesi and recommended his son, Sanda ‘Ladepo. All family members agreed to this recommendation, apart from Baba Salami Dudu, who proposed Prince Lamidi Adeyemi, a son of Alaafin Adeyemi Adeniran II. The contest for the throne intensified to the point where several princes from the larger royal families of Oyo joined the fray, including Aremo Sanni Gbadegesin, Prince Olanite Ajagba, Prince Afonja Ilaka, Prince Lamidi Adeyemi, and Prince Sanda ‘Ladepo Oranlola.
After all the complexities, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi Olayiwola III rose as the Alaafin of Oyo in 1970 and was crowned on January 14, 1971. He emerged as the victor after besting ten competitors following a rigorous screening process. However, observers noted political interference, as the then-government “declined to endorse my appointment, asserting the procedure was flawed,” as stated by this eminent monarch in one of his many interviews. Consequently, the selection process recommenced, yielding the same results on both the second and third attempts. Despite mounting pressure on the Oyomesi opposing his candidacy by the government, the Oyomesi maintained their stance. The procedure was therefore put on hold until after the civil war, at which point the entire process resumed anew. To the relief of many and the dismay of the opposition, Oba Adeyemi III was declared the winner and ultimately chosen by the kingmakers on November 18, 1970, and moved into the palace after fulfilling the necessary rites under the guidance of the Oyomesi.
In 1980, the Federal Government appointed Oba Adeyemi as the inaugural Chancellor of the newly established University of Sokoto, now known as Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, for an initial four-year term. Upon the conclusion of this term, the university’s senate and council recommended him for another term. The president and visitor to the university graciously accepted the recommendation, extending his appointment for a second term. Remarkably, upon the completion of this second term, he was appointed for yet another, his third, totaling 12 years as the university’s Chancellor, an achievement unmatched in the history of university chancellorship in Nigeria.
Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi): Personal Life, Spouses & Offspring
Oba Lamidi Adeyemi married two of his wives, Alhaja Olori Abibat Adeyemi (Iya Dodo) and Alhaja Olori Rahmat Adedayo Adeyemi (Iya Ilekoto), prior to ascending his ancestral throne. Among his recognized children are the late Alhaja Kudirat Akofade Erediuwa, Barrister Babatunde Adeyemi, Princess Folasade Arewaomoba, Princess Taibat Adeyemi, Prince Nurudeen Adesegun Adeyemi, Prince Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi (Skimeh), and Prince Adebayo Fatai Adeyemi. Currently, he has seven wives and is an enthusiast of boxing, having been a boxer before assuming his father’s throne. In February 2018, the 80-year-old monarch welcomed a pair of twins with one of his younger wives, Memunat.
His children appear to be thriving in various domains; Prince Akeem Adeyemi, also known as Skimeh, served as a two-term Chairman of Atiba Local Government and currently represents Afijio/Oyo East/Oyo West/Atiba Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives; Princess Adetutu Adeyemi-Akhigbe, the Commissioner of Culture in Governor Ajimobi’s first term; and Princess Folasade Adeyemi, a cultural ambassador and CEO of Arewa House of Culture.
Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi): Quick Facts about the Alaafin of Oyo
1. The Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, was born on October 15, 1938
2. He is the first Alaafin of Oyo to marry an Igbo woman or seek a spouse outside Yoruba land
3. With his latest wife, Lamidi Adeyemi now has 13 wives. They include Abibat, Rahmat Adedayo, Mujidat, Rukayat, Folashade, Badirat Ajoke, Memunat Omowunmi, Omobolanle, Moji Anuoluwapo, and Damilola.
4. Lamidi’s father, Oba Adeyemi II Adeniran, was deposed and exiled in 1954 for his allegiance to the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC).
He was at odds with Bode Thomas, the deputy leader of the Action Group.
5. Oba Adeyemi was removed as the permanent chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Oyo State on May 3, 2011, by the then-governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala.
The Alaafin supported the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) during the April 2011 elections.
6. Lamidi Adeyemi was a boxer before taking his place on the throne of his ancestors.
7. He succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in 1970, during Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo’s governorship.
This occurred following the end of the Nigerian Civil War.
8. He served as chancellor of Uthman Dan Fodio University in Sokoto from 1980 to 1992.
9. In 1990, President Ibrahim Babangida designated him Amir-ul-Hajj, acknowledging his dedication to solidifying Islam in Nigeria.
10. He was part of the entourage of the late Head of State General
Murtala Mohammed to Hajj in 1975.
Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi): Net Worth
The present net worth of the Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi) has not been disclosed by Forbes. He is a financially affluent Yoruba monarch valued in billions of naira. The Alaafin of Oyo ranks among the wealthiest kings in Nigeria. He is an esteemed first-class monarch in Nigeria and has served as a leader of the Yoruba community for many years. The Alaafin of Oyo is also a prosperous entrepreneur owning numerous real estate properties in Nigeria and overseas.
Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi): Other Titles
Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi) is recognized and referred to by various titles such as Kabiyesi, which signifies “the Sovereign Who Is Beyond Question”, Iku Baba Yeye, which translates to “The One Who Commands Death” or “Declares the Same Upon His Parent” or “The One Who Is Parent To Death”, Alashe, meaning “One Who Holds Power”, and Ekeji Orisha, translating to “second-in-command to the deities”.
Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi): Honours
Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi) holds the Nigerian national honour of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR). It was also he who appointed the late Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola (MKO) as the Aare Ona Kakanfo (Field Marshal or Generalissimo) of Yorubaland in 1988. The Alaafin of Oyo also honored the gifted singer, Salawa Abeni, whom he designated as the Queen of Waka Music in 1992.
Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi): Chancellor Of Uthman Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III served as the chancellor of Uthman dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto from 1980 until 1992. In 1990, he received the title of Amir-ul-Hajj from the then military president, Ibrahim Babangida. The Alaafin of Oyo and the Ooni of Ile Ife are regarded as the two most influential Yoruba monarchs.
Alaafin of Oyo (Oba Lamidi Adeyemi): Death
Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the third member of the Alowodu Ruling House, passed away on the night of Friday, 22nd April 2022, at the Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State in South-West Nigeria.
According to palace insiders, the remains of the prominent Yoruba traditional ruler were transported to Oyo town, located 62 kilometers from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in the early hours of Saturday, 23rd April 2022, where traditional rites commenced.
He was 83 years old and the longest-serving Alaafin in recorded history, reigning for 52 years.
