Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, was buried in line with Islamic rites, bypassing traditional customs. The Osugbo society and indigenes say the land wasn’t told — and the consequences could be spiritual.
Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland, finally joined his ancestors — but not in the way the ancestors would’ve expected.
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On July 14, 2025, the monarch who sat on the throne for over six decades was laid to rest beside his mother at his private home.
The burial was carried out quietly and strictly in line with Islamic rites.
Dignitaries gathered. Prayers filled the air in Ijebu-Ode.
Yet, something was missing — the sound of tradition, the voice of the land.
Members of the Osugbo society, custodians of ancient burial rites for Yoruba kings, arrived to perform what their fathers and forefathers had always done.
This time, however, they were stopped. Security officers, armed and firm, denied them entry.
No access to the palace. No ancestral chants.
No pathway to Igbo Odu, the sacred grove where kings of Ijebu are meant to begin their final journey.
To many, this wasn’t just strange. It was shocking.
In Yoruba culture, a king doesn’t merely rule. He becomes a spirit, a living bridge between the people and their ancestors.
His burial is not about personal preference. It is a sacred rite, a return, a handing over, a final seal of peace between the living and the spiritual realm.
This time, that chain was broken. The land waited, but no message came.
A group of indigenes, under the name Concerned Sons and Daughters of Ijebuland, raised their voices.
They described the act as a betrayal of tradition and warned that neglecting ancestral rites could carry spiritual consequences.
According to reports, the late monarch had requested a Muslim burial. And under the Ogun State Chiefs Law, amended in 2022, his request was honoured.
Still, questions remain. Can a king crowned through traditional rites be buried without them?
Can culture be picked and dropped based on preference?
Now that the burial is complete, and Igbo Odu remains untouched, Ijebuland stands at a crossroads.
The legacy of Oba Adetona — his name, reign, and contributions — is firmly secured.
But something else has shifted.
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The rhythm of tradition was skipped. The land was not carried along.
And though the king may now rest, it feels as though the land still waits for closure.
Oreoluwa is an accountant and a brand writer with a flair for journalism.
