This is the Palace of the Ile Ife Kingdom, where His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi and his new Olori Wuraola Otiti Zynab Obanor reside.
The Ooni’s palace has been in existence for centuries, as far back as 500 BC and is located at the centre of a city called Enuwa in Ile-Ife.
The palace is home to not only the Ooni but also to his Oloris (wives) and his children. Besides being the abode of members of the royal family, it is also the location of a meeting hall for the high chiefs of Ile-Ife.
Until a few decades ago, the Ooni’s palace was constructed with a mud wall but since the demolition of those buildings, modern buildings built with cement have been erected. The palace is a well-landscaped home of treasures.
The five main sections of Ile Ife flow from three major roads that meet at an orita (intersection) called Enu Owa (meaning “mouth of the king”, and from which Enuwa is derived).
In Yoruba traditional belief, an orita is a place where three roads meet. A visit to Ile-Ife is not complete without checking out the magnificent palace of the Ooni of Ife otherwise known as Ile Oduduwa, named after the first king of the Yoruba race.
The palace is a perfect symbol of power, authority and pride for all who trace their heritage to Ile-Ife. Even with the modernization of the palace, traditional and cultural part of it is still preserved.
The palace is a sacred place where you do not just indiscriminately wander. You can pay homage to the king and will be warmly welcomed.
Ile Ife is an evolving city and the presence of the Ooni’s Palace has made many business minded persons to troop to the flourishing town. In this Palace everything is brand new.
No comments:
Post a Comment