High Chief Saliu Adetunji becomes the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland.
His coronation is currently being held at the famous Mapo Hall, in the
ancient city of Ibadan, Oyo state.
Many would believe that Adetunji’s ascension to the throne, coming
45 days after the demise of the former Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, can
aptly be described as 'an act of God'.
Going by the Olubadan succession system, which recognises the civil
and the military lines as royal lines, and the hierarchy within the
Olubadan-in-Council, Adetunji’s right to the throne would have
materialised only after the reigns of the former Balogun Olubadan, High
Chief Sulaiman Omiyale, and the Otun Olubadan, High Chief Omowale Kuye,
if they had all lived long enough to mount the throne.
The highest ranking high chief in the military (Balogun) line,
Omiyale, was next to the late Olubadan while Kuye (from the civil line)
followed in the order.
But on November 7, 2015, Omiyale died at the age of 91, paving the
way for Adetunji, who was next to Omiyale, to ascend the position of the
Balogun.
The newly crowned Olubadan, High Chief Saliu Adetunji was born on
August 26, 1928 to the family of Raji Olayiwola and Suwebat Amope
Adetunji in the Alusekere compound, Popoyemoja, Ibadan, and is the
eldest of his father’s 17 children.
His mother came from the Balogun family of Apomu while his father
was a renowned Ibadan indigene. Like many influential figures in those
days, Adetunji’s father had more than one wife. Of the four children
that his mother had, he (Adetunji) and his brother, Ambali (76), are the
surviving ones.
Ambali, who is the Aare Musulumi of Odo-Oba in Ibadan, and who now
oversees the music recording business of his brother the king, said
Adetunji had a humble beginning, starting as traditional attire (aso
ofi) weaver, a tailor and later a music promoter.
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