Ooni of Ife, Olori Mariam Reveal Faces of Royal Twin Princes After Traditional Rites

ILE-IFE, OSUN STATE -The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, and his wife, Olori Mariam Anako Ogunwusi, have formally unveiled the faces of their newborn twin princes following the completion of the traditional rites associated with royal births in Ile-Ife.

The historic unveiling took place on Friday at the Ile Oodua Palace in Ile-Ife, drawing members of the royal family, traditional rulers, government officials, dignitaries, friends and well-wishers who gathered to celebrate the arrival of the royal heirs.

The ceremony represented a significant moment in the ancient traditions of Ile-Ife, as the Ooni formally welcomed and saw his twin sons for the first time after the prescribed traditional processes surrounding their birth had been completed.

According to the customs of Ile-Ife, regarded as the ancestral source of the Yoruba race, certain traditional rites are observed following the birth of a royal child. The practices are deeply rooted in the spiritual and cultural traditions associated with the Ooni’s throne.

With the completion of the rites, the monarch was able to formally receive his sons at the palace. The Ooni and Olori Mariam subsequently presented the twin princes to members of the royal household and invited guests during an elaborate ceremony characterised by prayers, thanksgiving, cultural displays and celebrations.

The palace was filled with excitement as traditional rulers, dignitaries and members of the royal family joined the Ooni and Olori Mariam in celebrating what was described as a significant blessing to the House of Oduduwa.

The birth of the twins was first announced by the Ooni on May 15, 2026, when he described their arrival with Olori Mariam as a blessing to the Royal House of Oduduwa.

Their names were subsequently made public on May 24 following their naming ceremony.

The first of the twins, Taiwo, was named Adelowo, Adelanaire, Adejare, Adedunmininu, Ademola, Taiwo, Omo Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

The second twin, Kehinde, bears the names Adelẹye, Adelanaola, Adejuwon, Adedoyin, Adebola, Kehinde, Omo Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

Friday’s ceremony therefore marked another important stage in the royal family’s celebration of the birth of the twin princes, allowing invited guests and members of the public to formally see the faces of the royal children after the completion of the traditional rites.

Several prominent personalities attended the ceremony, including former Minister of State for Water Resources, Engr. Bashir Isola Awotorebo, and the Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade.

Traditional rulers who attended included the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Alhaji Dr Ahmed Tijani Muhammed Anaje; the Alayemore of Ido-Osun, Oba Olayinka Jokotola; and the Owa Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Joseph Adebayo, among others.

The royal celebration also attracted wives of prominent Nigerian dignitaries, including the First Lady of Jigawa State, Hajiya Amina Umar Namadi; Chief Mrs Olufunso Amosun, wife of former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun; Mrs Lilian Oghogho Musa, wife of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa; Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, wife of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service; and Mrs Catherine Ojo-Adekimi, wife of the Kwara State Commissioner of Police.

The unveiling further underscored the enduring importance of traditional customs in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, while providing an opportunity for the royal household and guests to celebrate the newest members of the House of Oduduwa.

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