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Sunday 10 April 2016

Oluwo of Iwo: Nigerian Funky king And His Canadian Wife 'Irunmole to nlo Panama' [Photos+Video}

Pictured is the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-rasheed Adewale Akanbi and his beautiful Olori in his palace

When the 14th Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Samuel Omotoso Abimbola 11, died in 1982, it took all of ten years before a successor to that highly-referred monarch and cabinet minister eventually emerged. The ancient Iwo town was rudderless for those years and in search of a leader.  The succession battle that was to follow was tense. There was acrimony, there was conflict; there were lurid tales about whether one family was a member of the ruling houses or a mere supporting clan, created only to beautify the crown. There was politics in the mix; there was also a show of power. In the process, one ambition was kindled and many others shattered. In the end, Oba Ashiru Olatubosun Tadese, an ally of the powers-that-be then in the state and in the region, was picked to become the next Oluwo of Iwo, the first from his own Tadese clan.


After some period of illness, Oba Tadese died in February 2013. But to the chagrin of many who had predicted another long-drawn succession battle, a new successor was picked in a rancour-free atmosphere barely two years after the Oba Tadese’s demise. Enter Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, the 16th Oluwo of Iwo. His emergence was greeted with general acceptability. He was warmly embraced by the people of the town, 
young and old, hence he added to his name Ilufemiloye, the town wants me as their monarch.

Unknown to many, Oba Akanbi was a child of a different hue and a monarch of necessity. Once, he went missing in secondary school and it took some time before he was discovered. And when they found him, his parents decided he should leave Iwo, his hometown for Ibadan. On another occasion, he was abducted and the leader of the gang who kidnapped him asked his boys to quickly return him to where they picked him, saying they were toying with a future king! His own dad, Chief Kola Akanbi, had struggled to be a monarch of Iwo until he died, but he was not to be.  One seer even predicted that he would prostrate before his son. But the issue was which of his grown-up sons, Adeleke and Adewale, that would be. Chief Akanbi had died before his son, Abdulrasheed Adewale, was crowned Oluwo of Iwo.


Oba Akanbi had his job cut out for him on assumption of the throne. He was well prepared for the job and he knew how to go about it and what he would like to achieve. As a mark of honour to Adekola Telu who, according to Yoruba history, was said to have discovered Iwo, Oba Akanbi picked as part of his title Telu 1. The story of Telu and his connection with Iwoland is particularly enlightening.  

According to Yoruba history and mythology, Luwo Gbagida Ayare was arguably the most powerful woman to have lived. Unarguably, she was the first female to ascend the supreme throne of Ooni of Ife, the seat of Oduduwa (the first Yoruba emperor and the progenitor of the Yoruba race). Luwo Gbagida, a daughter of Lafogido, was reknowned for her bravery and high-handedness. 

From her panegyric- “Ogboju Obirin to nfi Omo Orogun e ko ina Oti,” the metaphysical and political power she held was unrivalled within the Ooni lineage. Luwo Gbagida was believed to be the mother of Adekola Telu, an ambitious prince of primordial times who sought independence and control over an empire. Telu’s strong ambition led him to leave his mother’s territory in Ife to establish his own domain with the later handing him an Oduduwa Crown and other necessary paraphernalia that a king would need. The result of Telu’s adventure is the discovery of Iwoland as we have it today.

Oba Akanbi has accorded honour and dignity to those that ruled Iwo before him. Recently, he took this writer to the back of the palace where he has beautified the resting place of all the Oluwos that had ruled before him. And one of the things dear to his heart at present is to erect an imposing structure f Luwo Gbagida in Iwo town.

With his respect and recognition for his progenitors and forebears, who he fondly call ‘the Alale,’ and his noble ideas based on his wide contacts and cosmopolitan nature, the reign of Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi Ilufemiloye Telu 1may well lift Iwo to greater height and to the Promised Land as he would say.


The Man Oba Akanbi, His mission and Vision

By Adeola Oladele

Oba Adewale Akanbi is passionate about the unity and development of Iwoland. His vision is to take the town to its rightful place in Yorubaland. He says he will take Iwo to the ‘Promised Land.’ “We just need to move forward in development. Iwo is a Promised Land and we are taking it to a greater height, to its enviable place. Back in those days, Iwo used to install Baale in Ibadan. Bashorun Ogunmola who is from Iwo was sent to Ibadan by the Oluwo to fight wars for them,” he told WESTERN POST in an interview.

Before he became the traditional ruler, he had been involved in some developmental projects within Iwo town and its environs. Notable among his contributions is the patching of the pot holes on Iwo township major roads, repair of Ode-Oba culvert and the financial assistance to some indigent students from Iwoland. To develop Iwo, the traditional ruler also intends to leverage on his connections in Canada to bring investors to the land. Oba Akanbi also believes there is a need to develop our local fabric, Aso-oke, and use it to make all kinds of dresses including Muslim hijab and arami wears.


Born on June 21, 1967 in Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi had his elementary education at Omolewa Nursery and Primary School, Oritamefa, Ibadan between 1972 and 1978. He proceeded to Iwo Grammar School, Araromi between 1978 and1982 and later Oba Akinyele Memorial High School, Idi-Ape, Ibadan. He obtained National Diploma in Mass Communication at the Polytechnic Ibadan between 1985 and 1987, Certificate in Cybis & Axis System, Convergys Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada from 2001 to 2005, Seismic Certificate in Operations, Oil and Gas processing Facilities in 2005. In 2009, he Akanbi bagged B.Sc in Business Administration from George Brown College, Toronto, Ontario. He worked as a Data Processor, Bio-Skin GMBH in Hamburg, Germany (1996-2005), International Development Analyst (Oxfam, Canada) travelling to help war and disaster-stricken countries around the world by supplying and supporting refugees with relief materials.  Oba Akanbi also worked as Associate Supervisor, Purdy Wharf Towers, Halifax, Nova Scotia in Canada.

He is the Chief Executive Officer of Prince Enterprises, Toronto, Ontario M5H4E7 Canada, Director and Founder of People against Loneliness Inc. 508-58 Waterson Road, Toronto Ontario, Canada, West Africa Coordinator (Karcher Group Future Tech} presently working on supply of future technology on peace-keeping force to the Defence Ministry. He is a member of some Iwo development groups like Iwoland Development Coalition, Greater Iwoland among others.

Jamaican woman becomes Queen Of Oba Rasheed Adewale Akanbi 

The Imperial ruler of Iwo kingdom, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, met and married his wife, a Jamaican known as Chanel Chin, in Canada early this year. 32-year-old Chanel Chin, who is the daughter of a Jamaican reggae artiste, Ludlow Chin aka Bobo Zaro, became the queen of Iwo Kingdom in Osun state. 

The Rastafarian people of Jamaica seem very excited that one of their has become royalty, even though it’s in a foreign land. Below are some of their reactions to the information: A Facebook user, Emmanuel Mathias, showed his allegiance with the queen by saying: “Destiny is powerful, her ancestor was taken away as slave, but she return back home as queen. Let us embrace her and tell her you are welcome back home. 

This is one giant step towards bringing back home our descendants that great fathers and mothers were casted away.” Quoting the website, they showed their pride in one of their own by saying: “Decades after Rastafarians in Jamaica began to espouse a return to the motherland of Africa, from where their ancestors were shipped to the Caribbean during the slave trade era, from the middle of the 15th century to the end of the 19th, the seed of a Rastafarian brethren has returned to the motherland in a royal capacity.” The new queen reportedly told a Jamaican news outlet, 

The Gleaner, that she was very honoured to be representing Jamaica in that big way. Here’s what she had to say: “My ancestors were taken away as slaves, but I have returned to Africa as a queen. One’s destiny cannot be altered. As a young child, I always wanted to come to Africa, but didn’t know how. I feel this is a great opportunity for black people worldwide to return to their home. Our forefathers and ancestral mothers were cast away as slaves to never return, but I want Jamaicans everywhere to know that Africa is so nice. The culture and traditions are so rich and lovely. It’s truly something every black person should come and experience.” 

The queen went ahead to say her responsibility towards the women and young girls in her community entailed her setting a proper example for them, including dressing in conservative and respectful outfits according to the tradition. “No matter what I wear, my shoulders and full legs must be covered at all times. 

All of my clothes are custom made to match these requirements. Also, as queen, the king and I like to regularly visit the local schools in the community to remind the children of the importance of education and excelling in all areas of their school work and examinations. We believe they are the future” When asked if she had any challenges with the language and her new way of life, she had this to say: “I know some words. Everyday, I am still learning. Another challenge is that the food is quite different from our mouth- watering Jamaican dishes.”


Past Oluwo of Iwo

1. Oba Paarin Olumade-1415-1505

2. Oba Olayilumi- 1505-1541

3. Oba Adegunodo-1550-1610

4. Oba Gbaase-1610-1673

5. Oba Alausa-1673- 1744

6. Oba Ogunmakinde Ande-1744-1816

7. Oba Muhammadu Lamuye-1816-1906

8. Oba Sunmonu Osunwo-1906-1909

9.  Oba Muhammadu Abimbola Lamuye-1909-1929

Faaji King, Oluwo of Iwo. Stolen from Aloma Olamilekan Yusuf
Posted by Aishat Alubankudi on Saturday, 9 April 2016

10.Oba Seidu Adubiaran Lamuye-1929-1930

11.   Oba Amida Abanikanda Lamuye-1930-1939

12.   Oba Kosiru Ayinde Lamuye-1939-1952

13.   Oba Rufai Adegoroye Ajani-1953-1957

14.    Oba Samuel Omotoso Abimbola 11-1957-1982

15.   Oba Asiru Olatunbosun Tadese 1-1992-2013


16.   Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi Ilufemiloye Telu 1-2015-till date.

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