MY ENCOUNTER WITH BAALE OF SHOMOLU BY OLALEKAN ODUNTAN

CHIEF SALIU AKANNI OLUNDEGUN
BAALE OF SHOMOLU 1

I recently paid a visit to the palace of Baale of Shomolu One, Chief Prince Saliu Akanni Jimoh Olundegun and got him talking on some interesting things about Yoruba tradition and culture. During our discussion, I discovered that the man is not only brilliant but he also holds the Yoruba tradition and culture in high esteem. The Baale explained that it is not a small role that appeasement plays in cleansing our land.

THE BAALE AND OLALEKAN ODUNTAN

Particularly during this year on going masquerade's festival, a lot of money has been spent to appease the land against diseases and sicknesses. He said whenever they want to hold festivals like Oro, Igunnuko, Jigbo, Ifa, Ogun, Egungun e.t.c. people are asked to make their monetary contributions towards the task and the response is always very good. And this is the way the above mentioned festivals are funded any time the Oracle divines that they should appease any of them. The Baale said his chiefs will then form themselves into a planning committee headed by his right handed chief in order to make things go on smoothly during the entire festive period .Aside from making provision for eating and drinking, the issue of security is not taking lightly too. 

For any appeasement to go on successfully without hitches does not only require money but lot of cooperation and assistance from his chiefs. Prince Saliu Akanni Jimoh Olundegun is the tenth Baale of Shomolu one. He was enthroned after his predecessor Chief Ishola Akinpelu Irunmu Ekun passed on. Chief Akinpelu was the nineth Baale while the father of the current Baale on the throne was the eighth Baale. Chief Saliu Jimoh Akanni 

BAALE'S PALACE

Olundegun said that his reign has been enjoying a lot peace both from his subject and lieutenants. Although once in a while, there may be misunderstandings either from his subject or his chiefs, but God Almighty is always giving him wisdom and knowledge to resolve them. He said that it was high time that the government took the bull by the horn to support our culture and tradition because this are the only gifts we have to show people in the western world and with them we would laurels for our great nation. 

Government should be assisting the traditional religion practitioners with money to appease Egungun, Oro Cult, Ifa, Igunnuko e.t.c. to cleanse our land for us. With this, we would have a nation free of negativity and backwardness. The Baale is indeed surrounded with good people and adored by all his chiefs. He is married with children and grandchildren.