THE FOUR MOST POWERFUL CARDINAL CULTURAL LEADERS IN YORUBALAND, NIGERIA

1. Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, the Arole Oduduwa worldwide. The office of the Ooni of Ife is the most supreme royal cum spiritual place in Yoruba and held sacred by the Yoruba people all over the world. Ooni of Ife is the custodian of Yoruba traditional and spiritual heritage called Iseshe, the oldest human culture on earth.   May the current Arole Oduduwa live long! Ase!

2. Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III is the leader of the famous Yoruba Empire of Oyo-Ile and he is the traditional leader of the Yoruba kings (olori Oba; Oba t’on f’oba je). Since the establishment of Oyo by Oranmiyan and his succeeding descendants Ajaka , Sango et al, Oyo has become the political, economical, cultural and military centre of the Yoruba. Alaafin has been the custodian of the Yoruba socio-cultural and military heritage. Alaafin’s role is to protect and promote Yoruba innovative and sophisticated culture. He appoints generalissimo (Aare Onakankafo), Bashorun among others.

3. Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther, the first African Christian leader was a prominent child of Oduduwa. He is a legend for his unprecedented achievements in Christian evangelism, translations of African languages, development of African letters and dictionaries, new culture. Therefore, he was the Father of African Christendom. And his legacy lives on. 

4. Chief Imam Yoruba of Ilorin, Yorubaland , Sheilkh Abdulraheem  Aduanigba is the founder and promoter the United Yoruba Kingdom, Oodua. He is a descendant of the legendary first Yoruba Muslim leader in Ilorin, Shielkh Abubakar Alade Baba Oyo. He is the Yoruba cultural and religious leader from Ilorin. He is the prophet/messenger of the sacred Holy Yoruba: The Book of Oodua. He protects Yoruba culture from the jealous and evil invaders. He is the true defender of Yoruba Muslim World from the unislamic influences of the Fulani Caliphate who is found of using Islam as a tool of socio-cultural subjugation. Through his foundation, he promotes and protects women’s interest to safeguard our wards from being wayward so we  won’t produce the like of Fulani herdsmen killers, Boko Haram, Maitaseni, Al-Qaeda,Al-Shabbab, cultists, thugs, thieves, kidnappers, fraudsters but full of Omoluabis. His office confers on exceptional women the title of Iyalode of Northern Nigeria, the Yeye Oge of Northern Nigeria, Yeye Oge of Yorubaland. His office appoints Yoruba peace, progress and unity ambassadors across Nigeria, Africa and world at large for peaceful and mutual coexistence that will promote oneness of mankind. He campaigns against injustice, tyranny, ethnocentrism, religious fanaticism and exploitation, corruption and impunity. 

In summary, each leader represents a vital cultural aspect of Yoruba life. Ooni is the custodian of traditional heritage of Iseshe. Alaafin is the head of cultural monarchical and military system in Yorubaland. Pa Ajayi Crowther remains the icon of Christendom in Yorubaland, Africa in general. And the Chief Imam Yoruba of Ilorin is the leader of Yoruba Muslims, promoter and defender of true Yoruba culture and Islamic religion. Sheilkh Abdulraheem Aduanigba is the First Chief Imam Yoruba of Ilorin, Yorubaland and African Muslim Leader, founder of United Yoruba Kingdom, Oodua and Prophet of the sacred book of Holy Yoruba:The Book of Oodua.