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Complexity And Origin Of Abobaku Explained - Culture - Nairaland

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Noise About Abobaku Online.....the Culture Has Been Abolished Years Ago. / (PHOTO) "The Abobaku Of Ooni Of Ife Found And Will Be Buried Alongside The King" / "Abobaku" Of Ife Kingdom Is Currently On The Run #lol (2) (3) (4)

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Complexity And Origin Of Abobaku Explained by bignoble05(m): 11:38am On Aug 15, 2015
When the Abobaku saga began as a slapstick, little
did we know it would spread like wildfire, I was so
certain someone was just being funny, for sure,
anybody with a passing knowledge on Yoruba history
would get the joke. However, some days later, the
story is still trending, now out of hands. The Yoruba
culture is being mocked by non Yoruba with even
some Yoruba people gullibly joining the farce. When
the populace is laced with quasi knowledge of
history, unfounded rumours and porous allegations
would be the order of the day. Who do we blame??
When we were young, we were not given the privilege
of studying our indigenous Ifa, the government
thought it was barbaric rather, we were drenched
with Bible knowledge and Islamic religion studies as
part of our curriculum. We had no idea what Yoruba
religion was. Thank God Yoruba history was
incorporated into History which was then part of the
curriculum. It was handy to some of us who enjoyed
Yoruba history from a young age and were inquisitive
enough to want to establish profound knowledge in
our past.
.
The Abobaku issue being peddled is out of sheer
ignorance. Abobaku meaning “He who dies with the
king” was exclusive to Old Oyo Empire! It was never
in practice at Ile-Ife. The concept of Abobaku was a
sort of insurance programme for Alaafin; Its sole aim
was to build a steadfast, long-lasting loyalty between
the King and his trusted general. In other words,
Abobaku would ensure the king lives by all means
otherwise he too would be buried alongside him.
This practice was for the ancient Oyo Empire, not in
practice in contemporary Oyo kingdom. The
predecessor of Olubuse II who died in 1980 had no
body buried with him. Ile-Ife and Ooni had peaceful
history with virtually no war fought except and
limited to Apomu fracas.
.
Ile-Ife was esteemed by Yoruba speaking towns with
full understanding of it being the spiritual home of
the progenitor of Yoruba people. Oonis were seen as
the custodian of Oduduwa interests in Yorubaland
therefore, no towns waged war at it. Whereas ancient
Alaafins of Oyo Empire were often notorious, known
for forcefully ruling over many towns. Oyo Empire
ruled supreme over many west African towns making
it vulnerable to incessant attacks from tributary
towns that wanted independence from Oyo hence,
the importance of Abobaku, giving its roots to
ensuring Alaafin was safe during those attacks.
Basically, Abobaku who is often a war general would
rather die than watch the demise of Alaafin.
.
History has it that when Alaafin Atiba transcended to
the great beyond,(Atiba was the first Alaafin when
Oyo relocated to the capital after the decline of Oyo
Empire, Oyo thrived under him due to comparative
peace inhabitants enjoyed) About 21 people were
buried alive alongside him. Students of history would
know that the practice of crown Prince of Oyo dying
with the Alaafin was the immediate cause of the
Yoruba war, which lasted a hundred years.
.
Abobaku is for Old Oyo Empire and has nothing
whatsoever to do with Ooni or Ile-Ife. Possibly there
are some rituals intertwined with the passage rites of
Ooni that aren’t apparent to us, fair enough but
certainly not Abobaku.



By: Bola Olalekan
CC: Proudly Yoruba
Re: Complexity And Origin Of Abobaku Explained by iamsodium(m): 11:39am On Aug 15, 2015
K
Re: Complexity And Origin Of Abobaku Explained by Iddiot(m): 11:44am On Aug 15, 2015
old story
Re: Complexity And Origin Of Abobaku Explained by Jerrylolo(m): 11:51am On Aug 15, 2015
old,long,boring story....i'll read it later n see if i'll modify ma comment ;Dold,long,boring story....i'll read it later n see if i'll modify ma comment
Re: Complexity And Origin Of Abobaku Explained by Khutie: 11:53am On Aug 15, 2015
undecided k
Re: Complexity And Origin Of Abobaku Explained by Holyfield1(m): 11:58am On Aug 15, 2015
Today is my birthday...Nairalanders show some love
A thousand likes is just enough to make me happy
Re: Complexity And Origin Of Abobaku Explained by Emilokoiyawon: 5:53pm On Aug 15, 2015
bignoble05:
When the Abobaku saga began as a slapstick, little
did we know it would spread like wildfire, I was so
certain someone was just being funny, for sure,
anybody with a passing knowledge on Yoruba history
would get the joke. However, some days later, the
story is still trending, now out of hands. The Yoruba
culture is being mocked by non Yoruba with even
some Yoruba people gullibly joining the farce. When
the populace is laced with quasi knowledge of
history, unfounded rumours and porous allegations
would be the order of the day. Who do we blame??
When we were young, we were not given the privilege
of studying our indigenous Ifa, the government
thought it was barbaric rather, we were drenched
with Bible knowledge and Islamic religion studies as
part of our curriculum. We had no idea what Yoruba
religion was. Thank God Yoruba history was
incorporated into History which was then part of the
curriculum. It was handy to some of us who enjoyed
Yoruba history from a young age and were inquisitive
enough to want to establish profound knowledge in
our past.
.
The Abobaku issue being peddled is out of sheer
ignorance. Abobaku meaning “He who dies with the
king” was exclusive to Old Oyo Empire! It was never
in practice at Ile-Ife. The concept of Abobaku was a
sort of insurance programme for Alaafin; Its sole aim
was to build a steadfast, long-lasting loyalty between
the King and his trusted general. In other words,
Abobaku would ensure the king lives by all means
otherwise he too would be buried alongside him.
This practice was for the ancient Oyo Empire, not in
practice in contemporary Oyo kingdom. The
predecessor of Olubuse II who died in 1980 had no
body buried with him. Ile-Ife and Ooni had peaceful
history with virtually no war fought except and
limited to Apomu fracas.
.
Ile-Ife was esteemed by Yoruba speaking towns with
full understanding of it being the spiritual home of
the progenitor of Yoruba people. Oonis were seen as
the custodian of Oduduwa interests in Yorubaland
therefore, no towns waged war at it. Whereas ancient
Alaafins of Oyo Empire were often notorious, known
for forcefully ruling over many towns. Oyo Empire
ruled supreme over many west African towns making
it vulnerable to incessant attacks from tributary
towns that wanted independence from Oyo hence,
the importance of Abobaku, giving its roots to
ensuring Alaafin was safe during those attacks.
Basically, Abobaku who is often a war general would
rather die than watch the demise of Alaafin.
.
History has it that when Alaafin Atiba transcended to
the great beyond,(Atiba was the first Alaafin when
Oyo relocated to the capital after the decline of Oyo
Empire, Oyo thrived under him due to comparative
peace inhabitants enjoyed) About 21 people were
buried alive alongside him. Students of history would
know that the practice of crown Prince of Oyo dying
with the Alaafin was the immediate cause of the
Yoruba war, which lasted a hundred years.
.
Abobaku is for Old Oyo Empire and has nothing
whatsoever to do with Ooni or Ile-Ife. Possibly there
are some rituals intertwined with the passage rites of
Ooni that aren’t apparent to us, fair enough but
certainly not Abobaku.



By: Bola Olalekan
CC: Proudly Yoruba

Mr. Bola: while I agree with you that the whole saga is borne out of ignorance there is little doubt about the source of the lie (Biafra facebook) and the intent of those who perpetuated it. However, as a propaganda it failed since its intent was to tarnish the image of the Yorubas but ended up confirming what we already know about those people who push fake drugs and products. Alas, the also push fake news. This is the take-away. A bunch of bigots exposing their bigotry and weak sense of esteem for the world to see.

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