Ife Tradition Forbids Ooni's Wives From Re-marrying

An inside source to the palace of the Ooni revealed that the wives of the the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II, have not rights whatsoever to re-marry after the death of the Ooni.

According to the palace chief the Ife tradition proscribes any of the wives from having any marital affairs outside the palace and states that the wives can only be inherited by the new Ooni. This order was prescribed by the Ife tradition since the Ooni is not considered dead but to have transited to a higher realm.

 “The rule is general and applies to all Ooni that has passed on and not peculiar to the wives of Oba Sijuwade, the immediate past Ooni. There may not be a clearly defined repercussion against the tradition but it is advisable that the order is obeyed at all times and for all generations. The best that can happen to the Oloris left behind by any late Ooni is for them to remain single or be inherited by the reigning Ooni. Whether the wives are young or old does not matter, what matters is that the tradition must be sustained in the overall interest of the society.” the source said


Ooni of Ife, Oba Sijuwade, Olori,