Chief Priest Reveals How New Ooni of Ife Will be Chosen

Chief Priest of Ile Ife, Olajide Farotimi Faloba, has explained to Vanguard how the next paramount traditional ruler of the ancient Ile-ife would be chosen. According to him, the four ruling houses will choose the person who could be crowned Ooni after the chief priest might have referred the Ifa oracle.

Faloba while disclosing that he will name the next Ooni said: “I am the Chief priest and the king-maker to the Ooni stool because I am the mouthpiece of the gods. So, if there should be coronation, I will be the one that will pronounce it.”

“There are 401 Yoruba deities and temples scattered worldwide, 201 of them are in Ife. Among these deities, the only speaking one is the legendary living Ooni. If it happens that an Ooni dies, there are sacrifices and signs that will be performed. Part of them is the closing of the palace main gate.

“Also, the messenger will go around the town with a gong to announce the demise, while the trees in the ancient town will be cut down, markets will remain shut to customers and the entire Ife city will be thrown into mourning.“

“There will not be any form of ceremony of burial while other traditional rites and rituals will take place as the oracle reveals.

”Also, if an Ooni dies, the 201 deities temples will be duly informed.”

He further spoke on the selection process: “The chief priest said the kingmakers would pick one person from all Ife Princes that show interest in the stool and Ifa oracle would be consulted on the choice before the final ratification by the chief priest. It was gathered that there are four ruling houses that could be enthroned as the Ooni of Ife and they are: Osinkola, Ogboru, Lafogido and Giesi.”

Faloba added that before presenting to the public, the new Ooni may have to spend some days in Ile Oduduwa where the first Ooni lived and other past Ooni with the priests when other rituals would be performed.

“When ever there is a demise of Ooni, the kingmaker and the Ifa Oracle will pick the next Ooni. 10 or 20 princes may contest after they might have been presented by their families, but the Ifa priest will consult the oracle that will choose while myself as the kingmaker will perform the necessary rituals that will certify him to mount the throne of Ooni; without this rituals, such potential monarch would not be Ooni,” the priest added.

“Yoruba has a rich tradition. The age-long culture gives form, content and predictability to the beliefs of its people. The custom has been inherited from generation to generation. The symbol of the unity of the race is kingship. Its cradle is Ile-Ife, the cherished sacred abode of its progenitor, Oduduwa.”

After determining that the Ooni has died, the palace chiefs are expected to inform the other Oduduwa children.