Remembering my father, Ikú Bàbá Yèyé, By Mufu Onifade

Ikú Bàbá Yèyé
Aláṣẹ Èkejì Òrìṣà
Ìbà Akọni
Tí ń bẹ
Ní káà ilẹ̀

Today, I remember His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III who now communes with his ancestors! I have fond memories of the legendary monarch who is an encyclopedia of knowledge, politics and history. It will take ages to find another monarch like Baba.

Today, I do not wish to share my personal encounters and rapport with him; rather I want to share a story shared with me in my office by the energetic chanter and dancer, Muri Amulegbajo.

According to Muri, he was invited to MC an event graced by the Alaafin of Oyo. Prior to the event, he had further researched and reloaded himself with the Alaafin’s oriki (panegyrics). He was also set to impress the Alaafin with his knowledge conveyed through his super oratory as a master chanter!

The event started and Muri was piloting it well as the audience kept raining applause on him. Then the grand entry of His Imperial Majesty accompanied by his usual comprehensive, esteemed royal entourage including his young wives. The audience stood still in reverence to the highly respected Oba.

As soon as Kabiyesi assumed his seat, Muri seized the moment and chanted the oriki of the Alaafin. He went on and on until he exhausted himself. He had expected the Alaafin to wave his horsetail at him, but rather the monarch remained calm on his seat, unmoved with his fingers clasped and eyes tenaciously fixed on the chanter. Nothing happened. Although the audience clapped and clapped, but the Alaafin was unmoved.

Shortly after, as he carried on his MC job, he got an information that one of the Alaafin’s young wives should be invited to the stage. Immediately, Muri announced and the delectable Queen strutted majestically to the stage amidst thunderous ovation. She grabbed the mic, removed her shoes, went on her knees in obeisance to the Alaafin. The Alaafin waved his horsetail at her; she then rose up, put her shoes back on and re-grabbed the mic. When she opened her mouth, her sonorous voice sent the audience into a frenzy. She started chanting what Muri instantly realised was the Alaafin’s original, undiluted oriki. The Olori (Queen) went on and on and the audience could not stop showering her with applause mixed with loud ovation.

According to Muri, that was the longest oriki of Alaafin he had ever heard. To crown it all, every word of the oriki was new and fresh – totally different from whatever he must have heard or read before now. By the time the Olori finished and went on her knees again to rever the Oba, the ovation that followed remained deafening until she returned to her seat.

Muri said he was frozen! No, he was transfixed! It took him eternity to return to full consciousness. Till the end of the event, he did not forgive his own inadequacy. He realised that the oriki of Alaafin he had been chanting all along and which he also chanted that day was “oríkì i tíátà” (the panegyrics only fit for theatre performance).

Before the Aláàfin and his entourage left, he sent some money to Muri; and that was a soothing consolation for him

Ikú Bàbá Yèyé!
Kááááááááááábíyèsí ooooooo!