Ogunwusi concludes rites, Crowned as Ooni Of ife

Though newsmen were prevented from taking pictures of the scenes, but shortly after the crown was invoked out of the hills, Oba Ogunwusi received and held it on the tip of his fist. He later moved to a spot near the hill where another set of rituals were observed, after which he acknowledged some traditional rulers that accompanied him on the journey.

 According to some traditionalists who accompanied the monarch, Oba Ogunwusi could not wear Are crown because it is worn once in a year during Olojo festival.

They added that the Are crown, which is also called Ade Oduduwa, had left Ife town on the demise of Oba Okunade Sijuade. It was also learnt that an Ooni is never crowned by any individual as the practice is in many Yoruba towns. One
of those who accompanied the monarch from Giesi Ruling House, who does not want to be named, told our correspondent that, the Are crown, at the demise of Ooni is kept by the 201 Ife deities and can only be released to another monarch succeeding the departed one. As early as 5 am, the monarch began the rites that would last all day by wearing Seseefun crown, otherwise called Ade Obatala and began spot to spot rituals across Ife town.

 The monarch, who was dressed in all white lace material, was accompanied by members of Isoro cult, some Ife traditional high chiefs, and many indigenes of the town. As the monarch and his party moved round to town, gun shots were fired amidst drumming and dancing by the people of the town.

At Walode compound, Oba Ogunwusi entered an old building and was received by some women and he spent few minutes there. When he emerged from the building, a ram was slaughtered and the blood of the animal was sprinkled on the floor.