The ancient town of Erin-Ile in Kwara State stepped into a new chapter over the weekend as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, presented a beaded crown to the newly installed Elerin, Oba Jimoh Adebowale Adesoye Adetona I. The ceremony, which drew traditional rulers, government officials and cultural custodians, marked a profound reaffirmation of Erin-Ile’s centuries-old ancestral connection to Ile-Ife and the House of Oduduwa.
Ooni Ogunwusi arrived in Ilorin from Abuja before heading straight to Erin-Ile, where he received a vibrant welcome from the monarch, his queen, royal households and a delegation of traditional rulers from Osun, Ekiti, Kogi and Kwara States. The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun Oyetunji, led the procession of kings who accompanied the Ooni to witness the historic moment.
As he placed the beaded crown on Oba Adesoye, the Ooni celebrated the people of Erin-Ile for preserving their identity and sustaining their lineage to Ile-Ife despite being geographically outside the South-West region. He praised the town for its unwavering pride in its Oduduwa heritage, noting that Erin-Ile remains “one of the few communities outside the South West that still demonstrate full-blooded Oduduwa traditions with pride.”
Read: TheGlobalPoet Wins De9jaSpirit Talent Hunt Season 4
Centuries of Heritage Honoured in Modern Times
The ceremony reflected Erin-Ile’s deep historical roots. According to oral and documented history, the town traces its ancestry to Prince Odumasa Apaayan, the grandson of Ooni Obalufon Ogbogbodirin of Ile-Ife. He founded Erin-Ile around 1225 AD, establishing a settlement that has preserved a strong cultural thread with Ife. The annual Obalufon Festival continues to celebrate these origins, reinforcing the community’s loyalty to its lineage.
In his acceptance speech, Oba Adesoye expressed gratitude to the Ooni for honoring Erin-Ile with the beaded crown and for championing unity among Oduduwa descendants across Nigeria and the diaspora. He described the moment as symbolic, especially coming from “the custodian of beaded crowns in Yorubaland.”
He also pledged to lead Erin-Ile with dignity, vision and inclusiveness. The new monarch highlighted his commitment to pushing the town toward greater development, peaceful coexistence and sustained cultural pride.
Government officials echoed these sentiments. The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, praised Erin-Ile for selecting a “widely travelled and experienced leader,” while the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq—represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Abubakar Abdullahi Bata—urged continued peacebuilding and dialogue under the new king’s leadership.
Read: Tacha Breaks Two Guinness World Records in Makeover Marathon
A New Dawn for Erin-Ile Under Oba Adesoye
The coronation signals renewed momentum for Erin-Ile, a culturally vibrant Yoruba town in Oyun LGA known for its expansive arable land, strong communal values and strategic historical position between Kwara and Osun States. With the Ooni’s ongoing mission to re-strengthen Yoruba identity across Kwara, the presentation of the crown to Erin-Ile’s new monarch stands as a major cultural milestone.As Oba Adesoye begins his reign as the 21st Elerin, the town looks ahead with optimism—rooted in history yet ready for modern growth.
Stay Updated with RefinedNG
For more uplifting stories about culture, history and influential African communities, follow RefinedNG across all platforms and subscribe to our weekly features.We tell the stories that shape Africa’s future.