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The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has berates Yoruba kings and chiefs who goes to club, smoke, drink and indulge in other untoward behaviour, saying that they are not worthy of honour and any respect.
Oba Adeyemi who spoke during the in the installation of Fuji maestro, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, as the Mayegun of Yorubaland in Oyo town, responded to reports credited to him on social media as saying that after Wasiu’s coronation, he was not expected to prostrate before some kings in the land.
“I did not mean that he should disrespect the royal fathers.
“He understands the culture and I am not saying that he should disrespect the culture. But kings who go about clubbing and drinking do not deserve any respect.
“Accord deserving honour and respect to kings; they are custodians of culture. But there are kings that are not worthy of honour and respect.”
On why the musician was chosen for the title, the oba said it was time Yoruba people honoured those who had distinguished themselves in their callings.
He said gone were the days when Yoruba people were silent about the exploits of their own while they were being honoured in other areas.
He made reference to the likes of IK Dairo and Haruna Ishola who died without being properly honoured.
Oba Adeyemi said, “As we all know, there are three tiers of government. We have the executive, the judiciary and the legislature. The media is regarded as the fourth estate of the realm, and musicians are a vital part of the media.
“Through music, some of them criticised government’s excesses. A king who wants progress for his people should listen to good words of music that are deliberately picked to correct societal problems. I looked round and acknowledged the efforts of some of our musicians who are not just singing for the sake of it.
“For a long time, I have been documenting some of the works of our good musicians in Yorubaland. IK Dairo of blessed memory was honoured in the United Kingdom many years ago. Then, Sunny Ade was discovered. They called him King of Juju music. What we have done is to discover our own talents. The music of Wasiu is philosophical. It is time we honoured our own.
“I did not mean that Wasiu will not respect our culture after being installed. He will honour our kings but will not prostrate before kings who are ignoble. A king should not be drinking (alcohol) at clubs and in public places, and a king should not smoke.
“We have been on the issue of the Mayegun for the past 11 years. Today, the Mayegun has been installed. His duty is to ensure that things go well and right and excesses should be addressed.
The President, Muhammadu Buhari, was represented by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, at the event. The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, were also present on the occasion. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo was represented by Babafemi Ojudu.
