Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi will today appear in public for the first time as the Ooni of Ife. To give room for this exercise, all major markets are closed today and vehicles are off the road leading to the palace, in line with the directive by the two local governments in the city – Ife East and Ife Central.
The Ooni will first visit the Giesi Ruling House where, according to tradition, he will be installed as the Sooko. He will thereafter leave for the Obalufe Palace to perform some rites at the Orunto River inside the palace. He will proceed from there for further rituals in a forest on Ilesa road.
After these, the new monarch will go into seclusion in Ilofi for a minimum of 21 days for series of rites and initiations. According to traditional sources “the rites could last 30 days in some circumstances but 21 days may be sufficient. And finally, he would meet an old woman in spirit to receive the power left by Oduduwa. The old woman will give him all the power over the Yoruba race. Then after all these, he will be installed as the Ooni.”