NIGERIAN ALAAFIN OROMPOTONIYUN, THE FIRST SURGEON ON EARTH TO PERFORM A TRANSGENDER SURGERY

Yorubyte: NIGERIAN ALAAFIN OROMPOTONIYUN, THE FIRST SURGEON ON EARTH TO PERFORM A TRANSGENDER SURGERY

Bruce (or Cathlyn) Jenner is one of the most popular figures in the entertainment industry in the U.S.A today. Her fame is because of her transgender status (which is not even complete yet).

Sex reassignment surgery or SRS (also known as gender reassignment surgery, genital reconstruction surgery, sex realignment surgery, or, colloquially, a sex change) is the surgical procedure (or procedures) by which a transgender person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble that of the gender they want to be identified with.

By (Oyinbo) medical records, the first transgender surgery was performed in Berlin, Germany in 1931 when Dora Richter became the first known transgender woman to undergo vaginoplasty (creation of a vagina from a penis). As a matter of fact many men had tried to become women since the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans. What used to be done was that such men simply had their penis cut off. It was not until 1931 that it was possible to create vaginas from penises.

But No, it had never been possible for a woman to become a man all through history (as recorded by orthodox medical sciences) until 1946 when Phalloplasty (the construction or reconstruction of a penis, or the artificial modification of the penis by surgery.) was achieved by Dr, Harold Gillies.

The first (recorded by medical sciences) phalloplasty done for the purposes of sexual reassignment was

performed on trans man Michael Dillon in 1946 by Dr. Harold Gillies.

Okay, let's cut the Bull crap. Who told the white man that they were the first to do transgender surgeries? Because they successfully did a transgender operation in 1946 ni le n le n’biyi (just yesterday here)? I laugh. Have they not heard of the great surgeon, Alaafin Orompotoniyun of Oyo Empire in Nigeria? Ajiun, ar'obo s'ete, oba olore n la, oba olore kanya-kanya (King Orompotoniyun, Ajiun the custodian of the vagina that kills evil plots. the king with the great gift, the king with the flabbergasting gift). Orompotoniyun was indeed a king like no other. He was the first person on earth that performed a successful transgender surgical operation complete with Phalloplasty (construction of a penis), mastectomy (removal of the breasts), chest reconstruction (the shaping of a male-contoured chest), and scrotoplasty (using the labia majora, popularly called vulva, to form a scrotum ). This, he did in faraway circa 1540, over 400 years before the white man could even think about it. Come along, let me tell you what happened.

Alaafin Ofinran, after the demise of his father (Alaafin Onigbogi), and living in a strange land (Bariba land), decided to collect his people together and set out for their return to Oyo where he and his subjects can live in dignity. Alaafin Ofinran proceeded on the journey with prince Eguguoju, princess Orompotoniyun and prince Ajiboyede. One of the king's wives was pregnant with a foetus. The little prince was born during the trip. He was named Tella Abiipa. The reason for the name Abiipa is another interesting history with two versions, but that is story for another day. While the procession was on its way back to Oyo, very many great events occurred (i would narrate those events someday, for now, let's say they are story for another day too).

Anyway, the Alaafin Ofinran died on the way to Oyo and his son prince Eguguoju became the Alaafin. Alaafin Ofinran's body was wrapped in an ass's skin to be taken to Oyo for burial. When the procession got to a place called Okutu-gbogbo, the chord that was used to wrap the king broke and the body had to be bound up afresh. The exact point where the chord broke is where the Shaki palace was built. The oracle was consulted and the Oyo people were informed about the sign they would see that would make them know where to stop. They saw this sign at Igboho (even the name of the town Igboho, is from the sign they saw. But again, that is story for another day). So the people of Oyo settled in Oyo-Igboho. It was at Igboho that Eguguoju's father, Alaafin Ofinran was buried. Egugoju also died after sometime and he was also buried in Igboho.

Okay, now, this is where the whole story changes. Take a deep breath, grab some popcorn and fanta apple, the greatest surgeon that ever lived is about to come in.

With the demise of prince Eguguoju, the next prince was prince Ajiboyede but he was still a young boy, too young to become a king. Of course, prince Tella (that was born on the way) was a toddler, so he was not even in consideration. The only other person who had a blood line to the Alaafin dynasty was the princess Orompotoniyun. But God forbid that a lady would become an alaafin to rule over men. obinrin at'eyin to! (A specie who urinates from the rear!), ka ma ri! Tufiakwa! God Forbid! So, some of the oyomesis (council in chief) members started plotting on how they would install themselves as king thereby introducing their own lineage into the Alaafin line.

See, royalty is always royalty. Let no one deceive you, the truth is that NOT ALL MEN ARE BORN EQUAL. Orompotoniyun was not going to let such sacriledge happen, she was determined to protect her family name at all cost. She was going to protect the royal blood from being corrupted. She was determined to defend what belonged to her family by right, by history and by divine providence.

Now, if you remember, Orompoto was with her father during the war that caused them to move to the bariba land and she learnt about "strategy of survival". She was with her father when he organised moving them from Bariba land back to Oyo, she learnt "planning to progress". She was with her father when they proceeded on the trip, thereby learning "execution of strategy after planning". Orompoto was with her brother when he finally brought them to Igboho, it means she learnt "finishing". She was extremely very well blended in conceptualization of strategy and its execution to a logical conclusion. Above all, she was a princess of an Alaafin, - Death the father, Death the mother, second in command only to the gods. The child of death, that can't be killed (Omo iku ti iku o le pa). The offspring of diseases, that can't be afflicted by diseases (omo arun, ti arun o le se). The scion of disaster whom can not experience disaster (Omo ofo ti o le se ofo). Alaafin the one who threads on his kingdom with benevolence but marches on rebelious others' with anhilating destruction (Alaafin ti n f'ese ire te ojude ti e, ti n f'ese ika te ti omo olomo). Alaafin the great, who seeks whom to fight, because all and sundry cower at his great might and there exist none to engage him, he looks invitingly at the wall for a chance just to engage in a fight (Ko ri eni ba ja, o n wo ogiri rako-rako). Kaabiyesi oooo. This is the kind of lineage from whence Orompotoniyun comes from, and the treacherous plotters think she would hand over her family rights just like that without a fight? They must be kidding!

Orompotoniyun summoned the chiefs and told them in clear terms that they should start preparing for her coronation. "oti o" was the general response. "It can't happen, we won’t have a king who would urinate from the rear. Mba! Ko jor mehn". Even the chiefs who were not part of the treacherous plans to usurp the Alaafin's blood line couldn't support Orompotoniyun. having a female king is just a No-No! So Orompoto asked them all, "what if i show you proof that i am a man and not a woman, would that satisfy you?". "What sort of question is this", they responded, "princess, is all well with you?". At this point the treacherous chiefs (awon olote) decided it would be a good idea to even ridicule her with her own offer. So they told her, "we would make you king if you can show proof that you are a man. However, the only acceptable proof to us would be to see you stark naked". You know what, Orompotoniyun agreed to the deal. She said they should meet at the palace in 7 days time for the proof or otherwise.

From the day of the meeting, Orompotoniyun started wearing male clothings. Buba and Sokoto with cap. Go ask any transgender doctor today, the first thing they ask you to do when you say you want to change your gender is to start wearing the clothings of the new gender you want to become. There was no oyinbo doctor who taught Orompotoniyun this procedure. I tell you, our African fore bears had advanced knowledge that we lost somewhere along the way.

The whole of Yoruba land had heard about the face off and all were looking forward to the D-day.

On the 7th day, Orompotoniyun was waiting at the "ipebi", the venue of the show down. As each chief entered the venue, they greeted Orompoto grumpily "Bawo ni o", "pele o, omobabinrin". Greetings that depict condescension. Orompoto took it all without speaking a word. She mounted the podium and addressed Oyomesi, saying she was ready to show them proof. Orompotoniyun removed the cap she had on. Oyomesi ‘yinmu’ED at her. "Anyone can barb her hair and claim to be a man. Abeg remove your clothes". Orompotoniyun removed her Buba and Oyomesi saw a chest with breasts molded like that of a man (Masectomy). Oyomesi ‘moju’ED, "Many women have small breasts, that doesn't make them into men, abeg remove your trousers", those were the reactions of the chiefs.

At this point, Orompotoniyun started fiddling with the trousers she had on. All the chiefs knew she would be put to shame. There was no way Orompotoniyun would pull this off. The best that can happen is that Orompotoniyun would be a "lakiriboto" (a woman without vaginal opening), there is no way she would be able to conjure a penis. Even if by deceit, she tried to tie on a penis, where would she find a scrotum from? When Orompotoniyun dropped her trousers, Oyomesi was shocked. They not only saw a penis (phalloplasty), they also saw a scrotum sack drooping with two scrotum eggs in the sack. The whole of Oyomesi dropped on their chest in prostration and chanted the greeting of Obeisance at once, Kaabiyesi oooo.... She He was enthroned as Alaafin Orompotoniyun, Ajiun, arobo se'gun ote. Now popularly praised as Ajiun ar'obo se'te. (Ajiun, the one who has a vagina that quashed treacherous plotters).

Such was the story of Orompotoniyun, the greatest transgender surgeon who performed a transgender surgery ON HER OWN SELF within 7 days. Up till today, no other doctor has achieved the feat. Someday, orthodox medicine would learn the advanced science which our African fathers knew that enabled Orompotoniyun to achieve this great feat. Some would have said this is mere myth, others would say its demonic powers, but w

hen they look at Jenner Bruce, they say its advanced science that the white man uses. To all such people, I say… May the Lord return the brains that was seized from you. Africa had, and still has a science, we only need to seek it and present it in a formal way.

Orompotoniyun went ahead to be a very successful king. He built a wall around Igboho which you can still see till this day. He devised an ingenious way of moving his warriors to attack enemies in such a way that nobody knew which way the warriors were headed. This he achieved by placing the foot soldiers in front and the cavalries on horses behind. Each horse had broad leaves tied to its tail, drooping to the ground, such that the leaves cleans off the footprints of the horses and men on foot.

Orompotoniyun won many wars and kept the capital safe and secured in his time.

When next they tell you the white man was the first to do something, you may want to check with our African fathers first.

WE ARE AFRICANS….. AHU!!!


- Till Next week Friday.








follow Olufemi on twitter: @ffadairo

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NB: Special thanks to the Aare of Igboho land, the Alepata of Igboho and the Oba Ona-Onibode of igboho, for recieving us in their respective palaces and showing us the Igbo-oba where the yorubyte crew saw the tombs of Orompotoniyun and the other kings.

OLUBADAN, A STOOL NOT FOR BOYS, ...... BUT MEN.

YoruByte: - OLUBADAN, A STOOL NOT FOR BOYS, ...... BUT MEN.

25/03/2016

There is an adage in yoruba land that goes thus "Ti Olubadan ba wo nika, o mo egbe baba eni ti n se". it means "Even if the Olubadan adorns a mere knicker, he definitely knows those who his contemporaries are ". It may better be appreciated as, "Though the Olubadan may adorn just a knicker, he definitely is not a contemporary/mate of many people's fathers". Indeed, it is true both literarily and metaphorically.

The Olubadan stool is a very unique monarchical stool such that no other kingdom in the whole of the world has such advanced succession plan. i stand to be corrected. The system of ascension unto the Olubadan stool is so unique that it is worthy to be given some special study by a university someday.

Becoming an Olubadan is not moin-moin o. To become an Olubadan, you must escape infant mortality at birth. You must dribble mortal diseases in your early childhood. As you reach puberty, your hiding skill must be greater than Death's seeking skill. As you play whot with life in your university days, and death hums around you, you must be able to give "Death" pick two, pick three, general market and suspension while you serve your semi last card in 300 level, last card in 400 level and checkup as you graduate, without meeting death. Sorry, you are not qualified yet to be Olubadan. As you go for NYSC, you must be able to "gbe'kude". when you come back from service and start proper life, you are required to be able to do leg-over for Death. you must win death both at the Emirate and Campnou. You must serve death with the salo service and consistently do an Hussain Bolt against death for a long time in your life. what all these simply means is that ..... you must have a long life span.

You may want to ask why one needs to have a long lifespan before he can become an Olubadan. the simple reason is that the Olubadan stool is the only kingship stool that you attain by promotion. The traditional chieftaincy system that produces the Olubadan of Ibadanland essentially consists of two approved lines - Otun and Balogun lines. . The Balogun line is a military career line to the kingship stool, while the Otun line is a civilian route to the Kingship stool. Now, the Balogun line has a 23-step rung, while the Otun line is 22-step rung before the eventual emergence as Olubadan in a promotional system that abhors supersession unless there is an exceptionally grave circumstance.

The promotion in the line of Balogun follows this pattern: From Jagun – Ajia – Bada – Are-Onibon – Gbonnka – Aare Egbe Omo – Oota – Lagunna – Are-Ago – Ayingun – Asaju – Ikolaba – Aare-Alasa – Agba-Akin – Ekefa – Maye –Abese – Ekarun Balogun – Ekerin Balogun – Ashipa Balogun – Osi Balogun – Otun Balogun and eventually to Balogun. The journey from Jagun to Balogun will take a prospective candidate through a 23-rung ladder, and, having reached the top of the ladder, he becomes Balogun and would, therefore, wait for his turn to emerge the Olubadan of Ibadanland.

The promotion in the line of Olubadan follows the same pattern, but is 22 rungs : From Jagun – Ajia – Bada – Aare Onibon – Gbonnka – Aare-Egbe Omo – Oota – Lagunna – Are-Ago – Ayingun – Asaju – Ikolaba – Aare-Alasa – Agba-Akin – Ekefa – Maye – Abese – Ekarun Olubadan – Ekerin Olubadan – Ashipa Olubadan – Osi Olubadan and finally to Otun Olubadan. The nomenclature looks the same with that of Balogun, until when the prospective candidate finally gets to the Ekarun Olubadan. Upon emergence as the Otun Olubadan, the candidate is set to emerge the next Olubadan of Ibadan land on his turn.

Here is the catch, promotion is not by performance, promotion is by DEATH! A promotion happens only when someone ahead of a candidate dies! Now you see why the youngest ever Olubadan was said to be 72 years (i am not able to independently confirm the age). The current Olubadan is over 80 years.
There is a proverb in yoruba land that says "No matter how you promote a chief, you cant promote him to the extent of becoming a king". Usually, we add "Except the Olubadan".

May God bless the reign of the new Olubadan, Oba Saliu Akanji Adetunji. Kabiyesi, may your days be long like that of Methusellah and may you rule with the wisdom of Sulaiman. May you achieve great accomplishments like Obatala and may your reign be peaceful for all and sundry in Ibadan. Postrating on flat on my chest, I say KAABIYESI ooo!!!

Indeed, even if the Olubadan adorns a mere knicker, he definitely knows those who his contemporaries are.
- Till Next Week Friday

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Yorubyte Tour
The Yorubyte tour to Igboho would take off tomorrow with Friends and Fans of Yorubyte who have signified interest. Igbo-ora , Sepeteri, Shaki, Iseyin, Igboho and Igbeti. Special thanks to the great Alaafin of Oyo. Baba has graciously accepted to receive us in his palace on our way back. can't wait to take a selfie with the Kabiyesi.

SOMETIMES, PEACE IS BETTER THAN TRUTH (Part 2).

YoruByte: SOMETIMES, PEACE IS BETTER THAN TRUTH (Part 2).

http://yorubyte.blogspot.com.ng/2016/02/sometimes-peace-is-better-than-truth.html is one of my weekly Friday YoruByte posts i made about four weeks ago. I didn't know i would be making a 2nd part of the post. i made the post immediately the Alake made his pronouncement on the ranking of the yoruba kings. I said it then that the Kabiyesi had stirred a hornet's nest, and now see as the sting is coming from left right and centre. Hmmm.... Yoruba roonu o.

I read this morning again that Kabiyesi, the Alake says he still stands by that ranking. His justification of the ranking is based on the salaries of the Obas as declared in 1937. Haba! In yoruba land, we do not determine seniority by riches. The colonialists may give whatever salaries they want to give, it does not mean we dont know our history na. Hmmm..... Yoruba roonu o.


So, does it mean if a First born and a last born work in the same company, and the first born is a messanger while the last born is a manager, when they get to their family house, the last born would be said to be the senior because he collects a higher salary? Hmmm.... Yoruba roonu o...

Okay, even going by the salary that the Alake is using as his basis for seniority (sic), from the 1937 salary scale below, how come the Alake is ranking the Ooni above the Alaafin when the Alaafin earns far higher than the Ooni? in the salary scale, you can see that the 2,250 pounds claim of the Alake as salary and the 1,700 pounds salary of the Awujale are still the same captioned amount. from the same salary scale, you can see that the Olubadan earned more than the Alake, yet, the Olubadan was clasified as a 2nd class king. it shows that salary is not what depicts seniority of Obas in Yoruba land. Hmmmm..... Yoruba roonu o.

Yoruba Obaship Seniority is NOT based on salary, neither is it based on how urbanized the respective towns/kingdoms are. Seniority is based on Blood lineage and royal customs.

Still my mouth does not take it to say an Oba is wrong. so i would just go down flat on my chest again and say to the Alake, ..... Kaabiyesi o. May your reign be peaceful, and may the gods grant you the wisdom to lead us aright. Again, i say, Sometimes, "peace" is better than "Truth".

-Till Friday."

follow Olufemi on twitter @ffadairo

BEBE, A CELEBRATION OF WONDERS

YoruByte: BEBE, A CELEBRATION OF WONDERS

04/03/2016

"o ga o, e n se bebe o" is an expression anyone who has lived in the Yoruba speaking southwestern part of Nigeria has heard at one time or the other. The expression, loosely translated means "wow, you are doing wonders". It is a phrase usually employed to show the achievement of a great feat. It is also usually used when a party is a big success with plenty food and booze. You would usually hear something like, "Ha, ee wa si inawo ana, won se bebe ni inawo yen o" ( Ha! You didn’t come for the party yesterday, the hosts did wonders).

Many people think the word "Bebe" is a slang, probably coined by the Isale Eko (Lagos Island) boys. But no! The word "Bebe" is a proper Yoruba word which has a proper meaning and origin.

The Bebe is the golden jubilee anniversary of the king's reign. That is, the 50th year celebration of a king being on the throne. There have been just a few Bebes celebrated in the history of the Yorubas. On some VERY rare occasions, a king may evoke the Bebe celebration without being the golden jubilee celebration, but for this to happen, a VERY significant event must have occurred in the Yoruba kingdom. ONLY the Alaafin can evoke a Bebe celebration of that kind, no other king in Yoruba land has the authority to do so.

Hmmm..... The Bebe Celebration..... A celebration like no other celebration ON EARTH! Mother of all celebrations, the envy of other nations, pride of the Yoruba nation, with plump and pageantry, experienced only by chosen generations. Indeed, the Bebe is a magnificient celebration.

A Bebe celebration lasts for 3 YEARS! Yes, 3 multiplied by 365 days! That alone tells you the kind of celebration i am talking about. During the 3 years period, liberty of speech and action is granted to everyone, high and low, rich and poor throughout the Yoruba nation, without the fear of being accused of sedition or treason. No riots or fights are to be heard of anywhere, all provocations or aggravations must be suppressed throughout the 3 years while the Bebe celebration lasts, for no one is to be prosecuted during the period. All is peace.

The King's Illaris (enforcers) are rarely seen around on duty during the 3 years of the Bebe festival. Even when seen, they do not enforce anything. See, the Bebe festival is a time to just enjoy and be pampered as citizens. No tolls or tributes are paid, no taxes are paid, everyone just mingles and enjoys unprecedented enjoyments. Country folks go to Oyo to enjoy themselves without fear. Feudatory kings and princes, and those of adjacent countries pay visits to Oyo to offer congratulations; Presents are given and received. Even King Solomon would be envious of the majesty and lavishness of a Bebe celebration.

There is however one dark blot on the Bebe festival, ….. It is always accompanied with human sacrifices offered to the memory of all preceding kings from ODUDUWA downwards. Two persons for each king! So, if a Bebe is to be celebrated today, we would require AT LEAST, 84 persons for sacrifice ( I have counted 42 Kings from Odudwa to the current Alaafin. The 42 i counted do not include the kings that i do not know of, and definitely there are many of them).

So, the people are slaughtered, alongside many other animals (goats, sheeps, cows, donkeys, e.t.c). The bloods are all mixed together and poured out on the ground of the village square for the king and his courtiers to have a religious dance on the red blood. Does anyone feel like they also now understand the origin of the English phrase "Painting the town red" used in connection to parties? Maybe the Oyinbos coined that phrase after watching our Bebe Celebrations. *Flees*.

Well, the part of the Bebe ceremony where the king dances on the blood of the humans and animals is regarded as the highest act of worship and of Thanksgiving. Again, does anyone feel like they have an idea of the English phrase "Blood on the dance floor"? erm... never mind jare.

The Bebe is sometimes termed the Iku or Funeral rites, as if intended to mark the close of a long reign. This is from the fact that the few kings who celebrated it died a short time after. *Sad Face*.

The current Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111 has spent 46 years on the throne. We wish Kabiyesi Long life in good health for him to be able to declare a Bebe Celebration (Baba, Please leave out the human sacrifice part o). And we wish he would break the record of living long after the Bebe celebrations.

So when next you see an “Agbero” in his “Abete” with his “fish” wrapped in his “Rizzla”, 3 “ogidigas”, 3 “Alomos”, and one “Olosho Pupa”. If he smiles at you and says awa n se Bebe n biyi with a husky voice, just smile knowing that what he uses as a slang has a deeper meaning.

- Till Next week Friday.

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YORUBYTE TOUR

The Yorubyte Tour would leave on the 25th of March 2016 (Good friday) and return on the 26th. We shall be visiting Igboho after Shaki to learn about Orompotonihun the "Female" king of the Yoruba empire and see her tomb. There is room only for 15 people.
Transport fare would be 4k per person. and hotel would be 4k per person too (2 people in a room). It is an adventure tour not a luxurious tour. Inbox me to get account details to pay into.


Olufemi fadairo can be reached on twitter using the handle @ffadairo

AN AFRICAN QUEEN OF SUBSTANCE

YoruByte: AN AFRICAN QUEEN OF SUBSTANCE

(Previously posted in 2013)

At age 6 when other girls were playing with dolls, her mother found her playing alone at the back of the house with a dagger! the surprise was that she held the dagger like the warriors hold it.

She conquered every town from Bauchi to Bida. She introduced metal armours for war. every town she conquered, she built a wall around it.She was the most powerful person in hausa land. The rulers of Katsina

and Kano paid obeisance to her.

She determined the fate of men but she never got married. Instead, she took a temporary husband from the legions of vanquished foes after every battle. After spending one night together, she would condemn him to death in the morning in order to prevent him from ever speaking about his sexual encounter with the queen.

She was "Amina, Yar Bakwa ta san rana" meaning "Amina, a woman as capable as a man".

She is Queen Amina of Zaria, in North Western Nigeria.

She is African. Hahu!!

- Till next week Friday


follow Olufemi Fadairo on twitter: @ffadairo
 

VALENTINE – THE AFRICAN WHO DIED FOR LOVE

YORUBYTE: VALENTINE – THE AFRICAN WHO DIED FOR LOVE

It would be Valentine's in a few days, it is the celebration of love they say. Whenever sacrificial love is being talked about, they make it seem like Africans do not have the capacity to pay the ultimate price for love. They talk about how Jack died for the girl in Titanic, they talk about how Romeo died for Juliet, they talk about how St. Valentine died for a babe. You want to know the truth, they are all LIES! The Love story in Titanic was fabricated, Romeo was just a product of Shakespeare's imagination, and there was no St. Valentine death anywhere. Please confirm for yourself.
 

On the other hand, in Africa, we have some real genuine cases where guys died for the sake of their lovers. Guys who lived amongst us in flesh and blood, not some made up Jack Dawson, Romeo or St. valentine. Let me tell you the story of one of such people who gave his all for his love, here in Africa.

The Oyo empire was a very big empire in West Africa back in the days, it was situated largely in the country called Nigeria today. it formed one of the four major empires of Africa. To rise to become the king of the Oyo empire, a group of people called Oyo mesi (kingmakers) have to give their blessings. It so happened that at one time, the head of those King makers was a man named Gaa, his chieftancy title was "Bashorun", so he was called Bashorun Gaa!

Ha! Gaa was wicked! he was feared! Just the mention of his name made quite a lot of people develop weak knees. You think the biblical Pharoah was wicked? compared to Gaa, Pharoah was an angel. Bashorun Gaa personally installed 4 kings and killed them, just to show his might. When Bashorun Gaa installed Labisi as king, the man didn't even finish his installation rites before Gaa caused his death. Just 17 days into the initiation rites and the poor dude was dead.
He appointed the next king immediately, Alaafin Oduboye. After Oduboye became king, Gaa demanded that the king prostrate to him. Just because Oduboye refused, saying it's never done, Gaa killed him just 130 days after he ascended the throne!

Pronto, Another prince, Alaafin Agboluaje was made king by Gaa again. Alaafin Agboluaje tried to obey Gaa but the "Bebe" celebration caused a rift between them, and guess what? Yes, you guessed correctly, Gaa killed him! (The Bebe is a story for another day).
Next, Gaa installed Agboluaje's brother, Alaafin Majeogbe promptly. Within 90 days, you know what happened? Yeah, you are catching on real fast, Majeogbe was killed. 4 kings within a spate of one and a half years! Gaa was a terror.

Look, you won't understand the impunity Gaa wielded in Oyo with his sons. Let me give you an example; Gaa's son forced an "alabaru" (a commercial load carrier) to carry a luggage far heavier than the guy could carry. He walked behind the alabaru amusing himself with the guy's suffering. He remarked in jest that the man's neck had become so thick that he doubted if a sword could cut through. He pulled out his sword to confirm it. Peu! he cut the "Alabaru's" head, just like that! Ni'lu to l'oba, to ni'joye. No one dared touch him, cos he was Bashorun Gaa's son.

Another Son of Bashorun Gaa shot dead a farmer making ridges in the farmer's own land. When he was asked why he killed the farmer, Gaa's son replied, "the bastard was disfiguring Oyo land by making horns on it". Ridges! .... Horns! Not even the king could do anything about it because he was Gaa's son. Now you have a LITTLE understanding of who i am talking about.

Bashorun Gaa had a mortar in his house that if he sits atop, he is said to turn into a mighty elephant that can destroy 400 battalions of soldiers at once. uhn-uhn, Gaa was not a man to toy with.

So, after Alaafin Majeogbe was killed and a young prince of about 25 years was again appointed by Bashorun Gaa as king, the young king, Alaafin Abiodun Adegoolu, as we say in this part, really borrowed himself brain o. Infact, by that time, no one wanted to be Alaafin anymore. but kingship was forced on Adegoolu. To preserve his life, the Alaafin Adegoolu used to go to Bashorun Gaa's house EVERY morning to prostrate for him. We are talking about the greatest king in the whole of Yoruba kingdom fa! The only king who has the title of DEATH!. Iku baba yeye, alase ikeji orisa (Death the father, Death the mother, second in command to the gods). When the King prostrates to a chief, who else dares look the chief in the face? None, save for a man who has love burning in his breast.

Alaafin Adegoolu had a daughter called Agboin. just to please Bashorun Gaa, Alaafin Adegoolu made up his mind to give the girl out to Gaa in marriage. So, every morning when the king comes back to the palace from his prostrating session with Bashorun Gaa, Alaafin Adegoolu would send his daughter, Agboin to Gaa's house to give him some kolanuts on her way to the market. Agboin obeyed her parents by taking the kola nuts to Gaa but she always complained to her mother that she was not interested in Gaa as she already had someone she loved. on one of such days when she was complaining to her mother, the queen asked her who this boy was that she was always talking about?

Agboin, the princess of the Alaafin opened her buccal cavity and uttered an odoriferous stench, she said she was in love with the son of a common peasant, his name was Akinkunmi. "Akinkun-what?! What does that even mean?" asked the mother. Akin, in yoruba language, actually means courage. Akinkunmi is a name that translates to "I am filled with courage". The queen gave Agboin a lecture i want all ladies reading this to pay attention to. "listen my daughter, any Akin (courage) that does not have an Ola (wealth) in it, is a useless Akin. if you must fall in love with an Akin, he should be an AkinOLA, AkinbobOLA, AkindunmOLA, e.t.c. Any other kind of Akin is a useless Akin". Yet, Agboin loved her peasant Akinkunmi so. Thank God i am FemOLA, so i am worthy of a princess. ‪#‎TongueOut‬#

As i was saying jare...,
So, it came to a time that Bashorun Gaa decided to make a charm to increase his wealth. The herbalist told Gaa that the blood of a deer would be required for the sacrifice. in yoruba language, a deer is called AgbonRin. the next morning when the king's daughter came to deliver the kolanut, Bashorun Gaa detained her and gave her to the herbalist to use for the wealth charm. "My Lord", said the herbalist, "this is a human being, what we need is AgbonRin (a Deer) for the sacrifice. Gaa retorted and said "this is Agboin, i order you to use it, there is no difference between AgboRin and Agboin save for an alphabet". Thus, the princess was pounded alive until she became pulp and blood could be extracted from her.

When Alaafin Adegoolu heard what had happened, he was devastated. He shed tears, hot tears but there was nothing he could do, he dared not confront Bashorun Gaa. Otio. Gaa ke? Rara. If Shea-Butter (ori) ever dares the sun, the ointment is attempting a ruinous transformation of state from solid to liquid. Alaafin Adegoolu, despite being angry reminded himself that "shoe get size, and Okrika get quality". The Alaafin sought for help. He dressed up as a woman and went to look for the Aare-Ona-Kakanfo (War Generalisimo) of the yoruba race. The Aare-ona-Kakanfo at the time was Aare Oyabi, he was resident in Ajase.

For three days after the killing of Agboin had gone viral (yes ke, it went viral ni now), Akinkunmi could not sleep. he was boiling in anger. he was furious that his love was killed just like that and no one could do anything about it. On the fourth day, while the king went to Aare Oyabi, Akinkunmi couldn't stand the pain any longer, in anger, he barged into the house of Bashorun Gaa early in the morning of the fourth day.
"Where is that big fool called Gaa?" Akinkunmi shouted as he entered Gaa's house. Sacriledge! "Egbin o n yoro". One of Bashorun Gaa's slaves, Gbagi, came out to meet Akinkunmi and said to him, "You this son of a peasant, what is it that makes you so garrulous without a fear of consequences, are you aware of where you are?" Akinkunmi responded with a classic statement that has never been forgotten ever since. He said, "I may be the son of a peasant but what i am is a SON to my father, no matter the wealth you display, what you are is a SLAVE to Gaa. Just call me that old fool named Gaa and let him come explain to me why he had to kill my Agboin".

"Who the hell is that?" Bashorun Gaa himself asked as he came into the outer room to meet the two young lads. "Oh", retorted Gbagi the slave, "The dog that goes into the lion's den would earn itself a bath of blood". "its okay", said Akinkunmi, "However, the lion itself would have some stains of blood on its skin". At this, Akinkunmi rushed at Gaa and took out an ounde (charmed belt) which he swiped at Gaa. The great Bashorun Gaa became paralysed! Gaa realised that truly, the one who sneers at the kudeti river, calling it an inconsequential flash flood, is usually drowned in that river. An inconsequential Akinkunmi struck a debilitating blow to the mighty Gaa!. At that point, Gbagi struck down Akinkunmi with a sword and Akinkunmi died on the spot. He died for his love Agboin, even when he knew Agboin may never be allowed to marry him. Akinkunmi sacrificed his all, just for his love.

It is said that by the time the Aare-ona-kakanfo Oyabi entered the city of oyo with his warriors against Bashorun Gaa, Gaa couldnt get to his mortar quick enough to get into it to turn into an elephant. this was why Alaafin Abiodun Adegoolu was able to conquer Gaa. if Gaa was not paralysed, he would have gotten to his mortar. if he had gotten to his mortar, even the Aare-ona-kakanfo might have been toast.

All of Gaa's children were killed. To ensure Gaa does not have any family lineage at all, the Alaafin ordered the killing of all his grand children too, even the toddlers. And finally, any pregnant woman carrying Gaa's blood was disemboweled, before Gaa himself was killed.

Due to this event, an adage was coined in yoruba land that is being used uptill today. it goes thus :
"Bi o l'aya osika, bi o ri iku Gaa, o yio so otito". if you have the heart of a cruel man, take note of Gaa's death and be true.

Happy Valentine in advance.

- Till Next week Friday


follow Olufemi on twitter: @ffadairo

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ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD "OBA"

The word OBA is definitely a yoruba word. it is a generic word that signifies superiority. OBA is derived from something that towers above some other things (nkan to gaba le nkan mi). since time immemorial, yorubas have refered to kings as Obas that's why there is an adage saying Oba ba lori oun gbogbo (The king towers above all else).
The OBA of Benin is OUR royal father, it is a taboo to OPENLY say OUR royal father is wrong. it wasn't the king that said OBA is not a yoruba word, so we can correct the chief with all due respect.
OBA KHA TO KPEE EEE ....... ISE!

SOMETIMES, PEACE IS BETTER THAN TRUTH (Part1).

YoruByte: SOMETIMES, PEACE IS BETTER THAN TRUTH (Part1).

Yeah, I know YoruByte is posted only on fridays, but this has to be done.

I have promised not to say anything about the recent utterances of the Alake of Egba land but my mailbox is almost torn over the issue. Calls and text messages also almost every 15 minutes.

In all of this supremacy issue so far brought up by the Alake, we are still facing one side, the side of the Yorubas versus the Benins. That is because its the Benin palace that has responded. But I tell you That is the easiest part.

If i know the Alaafin as well as i think i do, there is right now at least 7 men in that his palace library, digging out royal edicts, royal letters, historical land marks signifying direct instructions and orders given to some Oonis in the past. I fear a messy brew coming up. The Alaafin is thorough like that. I appeal to Kabiyesi to Je ebure, awo olugbebe. Iku Baba yeye should think of the yoruba race and not tow that line.

I am sure the Orangun of Ila is currently seething in anger with the statement of the Alake too. That the Alake called five major kings in yoruba land and the Orangun of ila is not mentioned, while the Awujale and Alake himself was mentioned. Hmmm.... Please tell the Orangun of ila not to be angry, please remind him that "agba ti o binu l'omo re n po jojo". The Orangun is a direct child of Okanbi, neither the Alake nor Awujale are. But like I said, if we start analysing the Alake's statement too much, we would loose the gains achieved so far by the Ooni. That unity is very vital to us now.

Some have castigated the Ooni for travelling around to meet other kings, saying that is what caused the whole issue. Its not true, it is mandatory for all new Oonis to go visit the sons of Oduduwa after his coronation. The Ooni is doing the right thing, he is doing the thing required by tradition.

I pray no other Kabiyesi responds on this issue again.

Sometimes, "Peace" is better than "Truth".

-Till Friday.

follow Olufemi on twitter : @ffadairo

YoruByte: SUPERIORITY BETWEEN THE ALAAFIN AND THE OONI, FACT OF THE MATTER

 

YoruByte: SUPERIORITY BETWEEN THE ALAAFIN AND THE OONI, FACT OF THE MATTER

First of all I am immensely grateful to the two most prominent royal fathers Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamide Adeyemi III and Ooni of Ife, Oba Ogunwusi for their display of maturity and bringing together the whole Yoruba race again. I say to both revered fathers, KABIYEESI O!!! (As usual, with my chest flat on the floor). Both of them are great kings of Yoruba land and none should ever be disparaged!.

That being said, we need to clear the air on this superiority issue being bandied around by a lot of people without the sense of history. Some say The Alaafin is the supreme-most king in Yoruba land, while others say it is the Ooni. I would try to give an abridged version of the history of the two and let you, the YoruByte reader make your own decision.

So, it is an agreed fact that the progenitor of the Yoruba race is Oduduwa. Fact undisputed! It also known that Oduduwa had only one child, Okanbi. Fact Unchallenged! Furthermore, It is universally agreed that Okanbi had seven children, Fact Uncontroverted! 5 boys and 2 girls. His first-born was a princess who married his chief priest (the Onirisa) and the first male child of that union became the Olowu of Owu. The second child was also a princess, who became the mother of the Alaketu, the progenitor of the Ketu people (how these two boys [Olowu and Alaketu] who were children of princesses became kings is a story for another time). The third, a prince, became king of the Benin people. The fourth, Orangun, became the king of Ila. The fifth, the Onisabe (king of the Sabes [In Benin republic]). The sixth, Olupopo (king of the popos [Also in Benin Republic]). And the last prince was Oranmiyan. All these princes became Kings who wore crowns as distinguished from vassals who did not dare wear crowns but used coronets called Akoro. You can read up the full story of Oranmiyan from a previous post I made on https://www.facebook.com/yorubyte/posts/301107606748271:0 . I strongly advise that you read the link because it lays the foundation for this post.

Where the argument starts is with Oranmiyan. Infact, the benin people have their own arguments too with Oranmiyan but that is a story for another day. As you would have noticed from the geanealogy, the first of the Okanbi princes is the King of Benin and people have wondered why he is not said to be the most important Yoruba king. The issue is that, it is the first prince born AFTER ascension to the throne that is the crowned prince, irrespective of the existence of an elder brother.
Oranmiyan was the only son born after Okanbi ascended the throne, therefore, Oranmiyan became the crowned prince. None of his brothers contested this with him. Oranmiyan was a hunter/warrior, so he was given to expedition. After he became king in Ife (please note that up till Oranmiyan, no ife king used the title Ooni), Oranmiyan decided to expand his territories and so he set forth with some of his men to “enlarge his coast”.

From the days of Oduduwa, the king always had a chief priest who performs the daily worship of the gods of Yoruba land, the title of the priest was Oonirisa (a compressed form of Olorisha) which means the custodian of the gods. The chief priest was never from the royal family! They never had any royal blood in them. Just like in the Bible where you have the kings and the priests. (This lends credence to the fact that the yorubas must have migrated from Egypt and not Mecca. Again, this is a story for another day).
Up till this very day, ALL the gods in Ife must be worshipped DAILY, so Oranmiyan, during his days, was not going to risk the gods not being worshipped because he wanted to go expand his coast. As a matter of fact, he required the assistance of the gods to make his mission successful. In view of this, he didn’t go on his sojourn with the chief priest, he left him at home to worship the gods and be the one to give guidance to the populace he left in Ife. Oranmiyan went ahead to establish the great Oyo empire from the bank of river Niger all the way to the tip of Popo town in the now Benin Republic. The Ooni was left as the leader of the Ife people by Oranmiyan, while Oranmiyan himself remained as Alaafin of Oyo empire. Whenever the Ooni required direction on crucial matters of state, he sent messages to the Alaafin who gave INSTRUCTIONS on what to be done. As time went on, the sons of the chief priests (Oonis) started taking leadership after the demise of their fathers and they also started being kings, but they all deferred to the Alaafins in Oyo from generation to generation. As a matter of fact, there was NEVER any Ooni who challenged the authority or the superiority of the Alaafin before the immediate past Ooni, Oba Sijuade who recently ascended to the realm of the spirits. But always, the Alaafins give special recognition to two kings. One, anyone who is an Ooni, because he sits on the stool sat on by Oduduwa. Secondly, anyone who is an Oba of Benin, because he is the eldest brother. But respect and recognition does not mean we don’t know who actually owns the authority.

This is the reason why ONLY the Alaafin can give a title that cuts across all Yoruba lands. All other kings can only give a title for their lands. E.g, the king of Owu can only bestow on you the title of Balogun of OWU KINGDOM, while Alaafin can bestow on you the title of Are Ona Kakanfo of YORUBA LAND.
The prominence of the kings who are Oduduwa’s grandsons come into perspective when you hear of the story of the current Oba of benin’s visit to the Ooni. When the Oba of benin visited the OOni Sijuade and the Ooni welcomed the Oba of benin by saying “welcome my son”, the Oba of Benin, Oba Omo N’oba, gave the response to Ooni Sijuade by saying “The father can’t be the son” and they both laughed about it. But the Oba of benin indeed passed a message there.

I would like to close by giving two analogie:-.

Very few people know that the Headquarters of the Redeemed Christian church of God is not the one along Lagos-Ibadan express way, the headquarters is in Yaba in Lagos state. Now, there is a pastor in charge of the headquarters of the church but Pastor Adeboye stays at the Redeemed camp. Does this fact make the pastor at the headquarters greater than Pastor Adeboye?

If I am the Only son of my father, and my father marries a wife after the demise of my mother, In African culture, if my father dies, who has the authority to control the home and decide how the inheritance would be shared, Me or my father’s wife? But one thing is certain, no matter what a heir does, he still has to always give respect to his father’s widow. This does not mean the widow would not know who has the ultimate authority.

Now you know the history, now you can decide who the greater king is.


Ooni Ogunwusi, may your reign be peaceful and may your days be long. Alaafin Adeyemi, may your wisdom guide the Yoruba race aright and may your days not end in shame. To both of you my fathers, again I say KABIYEESI o (Now rolling to the right and rolling to the left while still postrating flat on my chest)

- Till some other time.

You can follow me on twitter @ffadairo