The Alafin of Oyo has no crown at all. Ade lafi nmo Oba. Thecrown being used now was granted by Adeoyo (Balogun Akinlagun), father –in-law to my great grand father who was also a Balogun of Ibadan.
The crown was not fortified accordingly because the Kabiyesi, Ogunola the Baale and final arbiter in Yoruba Land, the Emperor of Ibadan Empire refused to grant real crown for the fact that he saw Alaafin as someone that would eventually grow wings. Many people who know the History of Ibadan vis – a- vis the authority the Baales displayed over their fore fathers, still harbor resentment against Ibadan of today.
The Oke-Ogun Obas, people and Alaafin are in the same camp. Ibadan Indigenes of today are loving, accommodating, and very Godly.
In reaction to this, The Alaafin said
“the crown is a sacred object. It is the most prized paraphernalia of kingship. It connotes the essence of the Oba. Yoruba Obas wear crowns for cultural, traditional and religious purposes.”
“the subjects must be eager to see the type of crown the Oba would wear. An average subject must see the crown of the Oba once in his lifetime. Subjects can only see the Alaafin putting on his crown in pictures. How many times is Her Imperial Majesty, the Queen of England, seen wearing her crown? What you see on her is her hat.
It is not right to find traditional rulers wearing their crowns to just any kind of meeting or social function. Some monarchs have turned it into fashion objects. You will also find them carrying the same staff but with different colours everywhere. Even if their subjects don’t publicly talk about it, they are not happy about it.
Peoplesmind
