News

Late Ooni of Ife’s wives banned
from re-marrying...

According to a Palace Chief who spoke
anonymously, the wives of the late Ooni of Ife,
Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II, by
tradition cannot re- marry as its forbidden, they
can only be inherited by the new Ooni. This order
was prescribed by the Ife tradition since the Ooni
is not considered dead but to have transited to a
higher realm.

“The rule is general and applies to all Ooni
that has passed on and not peculiar to the
wives of Oba Sijuwade, the immediate past
Ooni. There may not be a clearly defined
repercussion against the tradition but it is
advisable that the order is obeyed at all
times and for all generations. The best that
can happen to the Oloris left behind by any
late Ooni is for them to remain single or be
inherited by the reigning Ooni. Whether the
wives are young or old does not matter,
what matters is that the tradition must be
sustained in the overall interest of the
society.” the source said