Ooni presents twin princes as guests storm Ile-Ife palace - Punch Newspapers
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and his wife, Olori Mariam, on Friday, September 11, 2026, presented their twin sons to the public in a grand ceremony at the monarch’s palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State, months after the queen gave birth to the boys in May. The event, which drew a large crowd of royal fathers, government officials, chiefs and well-wishers to the ancient palace, saw the Ooni seated on his throne while holding the twin princes, who were dressed in white. Videos of the ceremony, which trended on social media, showed women in colourful attire carrying the infants as they were formally presented to guests in keeping with Yoruba royal tradition. Among the dignitaries at the event were members of the Ooni’s household, including his wives, Olori Aderonke and Olori Temitope Adesegun, as well as Olufunso Amosun, wife of former Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun. Family members, security personnel and photographers also filled the palace grounds for the occasion. Friday’s event was a public homecoming for the twins, whose formal naming rites had earlier been conducted at the palace on May 31 in an elaborate ceremony attended by royal fathers, government officials and family members. At the May ceremony, an elder announced the twins’ full names after traditional items, including kola nut, bitter kola, banana, sugarcane, gin and dried fish, were offered in prayer for the children, in line with age-long Yoruba naming customs. Federal Character Commission must ensure fairness, merit in FG job recruitment — Ex-lawmaker Adeleke to convene security council meeting over worship centres terror threat 2027: Stabilise party in Oyo, Osun, Yoruba group urges SW APC govs The first twin was named Taiwo, while his brother was named Kehinde, with both princes also bearing a string of traditional oriki reflecting their royal lineage. The Ooni had, in May, announced the birth of the twins and thanked God for their safe arrival. He said, “To God be all the glory. Both mother and children are in good health.” A statement by the Senior Media Officer of the Ooni’s palace, Sodiq Lawal, on behalf of the Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, explained that Yoruba tradition requires the Ooni to observe prescribed rites before setting his eyes on a newborn royal child. The palace described the custom as part of the sacred practices surrounding royal births in Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race. The monarch, who ascended the throne in 2015, had in August welcomed another child, a baby girl, with his wife, Olori Oluwatosin, while he and Olori Tobiloba Phillips also welcomed twins in March 2024. Kindly share this story:
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