Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the 51st monarch of the Yoruba Kingdom of Ile-Ife, otherwise known as the Ooni of Ife, became King in 2015.
I remember reading a few things about him then. At 41, he elicited a lot of attention because of his dashing good looks and not much was known about him. I think we created a progressive air around him and were looking forward to a new touch to an old throne.
The first thing that was obscure was if he was married or not. It then came out that he had an adult child with a woman who was later identified as Omolara Olatubosun. It was said that they were no longer married.
He then married Adebukola Bombata. They separated a year into his reign.
In 2016, he married Zaynab Otiti Obanor and that ended in 2017.
In 2018, hee married Prophetess Morenike Naomi Oluwaseyi. Then in 2021, she announced that she had left him.
So far, 4 marriages right?
On the 6th of September, he married Mariam Anako.
On the 7th of September, he married Elizabeth Opeoluwa Akinmuda.
Then on the 9th of October, he married Tobi Phillips
On the 14th of October, he married Ashley Afolashade Adegoke.
On the 20th of October, he married Ronke Ademiluyi.
Again, on the 24th of October, he married Temitope Adesegun.
Phew!
What is going on here?
I get that he is an Oba and traditionally, they have been known not to practice monogamy. But stupid little me thought that he being a Gen X man would have a modern approach to things pertaining the throne.
I can see a septuagenarian married a dozen wives because he is king. A man in his 40s… It is a bit worrisome.
But hey, he is a man. With a choice, most men would not practice monogamy. In fact, most men do not practice monogamy. They may have an official wife but they never left the playing field.
So, my wahala is surrounding the women. What is going on there?
My first thought was that the Ooni was marrying women who were traditionalists. I had a picture of the wives of the late Alaafin of Oyo before he passed on. There was something about them that didn’t make one wonder why they would not mind being part of a harem.
But my goodness, the women that the Ooni of Ife is marrying are not in the same category.
From all indications, these women are highly educated and even successful in their endeavors. It doesn’t look to be about money but one cannot say.
Is it about the title?
Surely it can’t be about love!
I mean I am not sure these women are Muslims and doesn’t Islam put a cap at 4 wives?
Why are these beautiful and accomplished women queuing to wed the Oba?
I think his third wife Queen Tobi Phillips provided a little insight into the why.
She wrote something long and winded on Instagram about being mocked for not being married. She said someone said she didn’t seem like a woman who would get married. Also, she said that it was the straw that broke the camel’s back for her. She said she prayed for a gift from God. And it came in form of this marriage.
I was taken aback.
But I shouldn’t have been. This matter of being advancing in years without a husband is one that most women can never shake off; regardless of what they say.
Women want to be married.
She may be Harvard educated or a billionaire or even both. But she would still not feel enough if she was not in a marriage.
What else explains it?
Or is it that they are fame hungry?
I did call the Ooni a good-looking man. He is also royalty. He is a man of power and his position is well respected in the whole country as first-class royalty.
Certainly, he would be eligible if he was single.
Are there perks to being an Olori? I am talking about private travelling lounges, priority passes; invitations to the really exclusive societal events. Are these women seeking exclusivity that they believe being a queen would afford them?
But to the point that the women know about each other and are taking numbers to be wed to him… My people, I catch cold. What perk could be worth that?
Is there a scarcity of men?
Are we in the last days as Toke Makinwa said in one of her podcasts?
She said it was happening. We are living in the prophecy made in the bible where 7 women will be to one man.
Whatever it is, I hail my Oba, the Ooni of Ife. To gather such beautiful and accomplished women means that his net is strong.
Something tells me he will be making the gossip rags and gutter blogs’ headlines more frequently henceforth. You can’t have that many wives without corresponding adequate trouble.
Already, Twitter has given him a new title; “Horny of Ife”. I guess the title is self-explanatory.
Interesting times ahead.
Kabiyesi o!
By Abiodun Nkwocha
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