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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Ooni of Ife Unveils Names of Newborn Princess at Traditional Ceremony

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, officially named his newborn daughter at a traditional ceremony.
  • The princess received four names: Adelewa, Adeyele, Adeshikemi, and Ayoade.
  • The ceremony, held a week after the baby's birth, was attended by traditional rulers, chiefs, and dignitaries, featuring prayers and Yoruba customs.

The ancient Emese Court within the Ooni’s Palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State, was the setting for a vibrant traditional naming ceremony as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, officially unveiled the names of his newborn daughter. The ceremony, which took place on Sunday evening, occurred exactly one week after Queen Oluwatosin Ogunwusi safely delivered the royal baby girl. The event drew a distinguished gathering of traditional rulers, palace chiefs, custodians of Yoruba culture, members of the royal family, and well-wishers from across Nigeria.

During the ceremony, traditional rites, including prayers and royal blessings, were performed to formally welcome the princess into the revered House of Oduduwa. The Lowa Adimula of Ife, Oba Ademola Adeyeye, announced the princess's names, Adelewa, Adeyele, Adeshikemi, and Ayoade, with the Ooni's approval. He offered prayers for the princess, wishing her wisdom, sound health, strength, grace, and a long life, hoping she becomes a worthy representative of the royal dynasty and the Yoruba race.

a precious gift of new life and a divine blessing to the House of Oduduwa.

— Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye OgunwusiDescribing the birth of his newborn daughter during the naming ceremony.

Symbolic Yoruba customs were integral to the event, with items such as sugarcane, honey, dried fish, money, a pen, kola nuts, and doves used. These items represented prayers and wishes for sweetness, prosperity, wisdom, longevity, abundance, peace, knowledge, fertility, divine protection, and an honorable life. The Lowa Adimula expressed gratitude for the princess's safe arrival, calling it a momentous occasion for the palace, Ile-Ife, and the Yoruba people. He congratulated the Ooni and Queen Oluwatosin, praying for increased peace, prosperity, unity, and progress in the kingdom.

The Ooni himself shared his profound gratitude to God for the "precious gift of new life" and a "divine blessing." He attributed the safe delivery to divine grace and faithfulness, expressing thanks for the well-being of both mother and child. The monarch emphasized that the birth brings immense happiness not only to the royal family but also serves as a blessing to the people of Ile-Ife and the entire Yoruba race. He concluded with prayers for the princess to flourish in wisdom, grace, honor, health, and divine favor, living a life of purpose, service, excellence, and strong connection.

wisdom, sound health, strength, grace and long life.

— Lowa Adimula of Ife, Oba Ademola AdeyeyePraying for the newborn princess during the traditional naming ceremony.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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