About the Ooni of Ife

Arolé Oduduwa

Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, Ojaja II

• Date of Birth: 17th October 1974
• Title: The 51st Ooni of Ife, Ojaja II

Lineage and Ancestry:
Arolé Oduduwa hails from the Giesi ruling house of Ile-Ife and is a direct descendant of Ooni Orarigba, the 44th Ooni of Ife. His lineage is a testament to the enduring continuity of Yoruba royalty and the sacred duty entrusted to the throne for the preservation of the people’s identity and culture.

Ascension to the Throne:
On the 26th of October, 2015, destiny aligned with heritage as Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi ascended the sacred throne of Oduduwa. His formal coronation followed on the 7th of December, 2015, marking the beginning of a reign that carries with it the profound weight of history, tradition, and spiritual responsibility.

A Custodian of Culture and Spiritual Leadership:
As the 51st Ooni of Ife, Arolé Oduduwa is much more than a traditional monarch. He is the spiritual guardian and cultural custodian of the Yoruba race, a people numbering well over 200 million across the globe. Ile-Ife, revered as the cradle of humanity in Yoruba cosmology, remains the epicenter of Yoruba civilization, and the Ooni, its foremost defender and interpreter.

Cultural and Global Influence:
In his reign, Arolé Oduduwa has redefined what it means to wear the crown of Oduduwa in the modern age. He has become a unifying symbol, bridging tradition and modernity, faith and culture, Nigeria and the diaspora. His interventions transcend spiritual matters, extending into diplomacy, education, youth empowerment, peace advocacy, and cultural renaissance.

Legacy and Vision:
Fostering unity has been the bedrock of Arolé Oduduwa’s reign.