Jagun Olubadan Abiola Iyiola’s Elegance on Stallion…

One doesn’t have to have physically met the freshly minted Jagun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oloye Suraj Abiola Iyiola, before one will catch the bug of his infectious passion for everything Yoruba in terms of culture, traditions and Omoluabi ethos. If you have been his friend in virtual social media spaces, you ought to have been proselytised by his unceasing exhibitions of what’s cultural and traditional to Yoruba.

Oloye Abiola Iyiola is a ‘glocal’ personality who combines international cosmopolitanism with dynamism that’s both local and traditional. He’s unarguably the most fervent global brand ambassador of the most populous, sought-after local delicacy, Amala and Gbegiri. One is not gainsaying to aver that one of the reasons he frequents Ibadan from his base in Houston Texas is to savour Amala and Gbegiri in its raw, local preparation. Jagun Olubadan’s cult loyalty to his cultural delicacy is not in doubt.

Not one to pay lip service to anything cultural and traditional in Yoruba, Oloye Abiola Iyiola showed cultural class at his installation as Jagun Olubadan recently. He appeared at the palace of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Dr Olalekan Balogun, Alli-Okunmade II, at Alli-Iwo, resplendently dressed in blue locally woven Aso Oke sown in Kenbe, Dansiki and Agbada with Abetiaja cap to match. Out of all the chiefs elevated to various chieftaincy steps, Oloye Abiola Iyiola was the only one who adorned Yoruba cultural dresses for chieftaincy. Others were decked in foreign fabrics like Lace, Guinea, Cashmere materials, etc made into local outfits of Agbada, Kenbe and Dansiki. Jagun Olubadan looked the most regal and royal on the celebratory day.

After the rites stamping his elevation to Jagun Olubadan step as performed by Olubadan Olalekan Balogun and his council, Oloye Abiola Iyiola reenacted a cultural act reminiscence of the good ancient days of colourful chieftaincy celebrations in Ibadan. For this writer, it was the climax of the grand installation event. It was the day Oloye temporarily abandoned the allure and opulence that classy automobiles like Range Rover and Mercedes Benz could offer. For almost an hour, Jagun Olubadan preferred the convoy of embroidered manual-mobile horses to the convoy of his classy automobiles as he rode regally on a decorated horse flanked by a convoy of two other embroidered horses through Alli-Iwo to Isale-jebu, a journey of 3 kilometers or thereabouts. It was a spectacular spectacle as Oloye Abiola Iyiola received cheers and accolades from market men and women at Oje and Oja-Iba while he waved in endless ecstasy. The chieftaincy train paused at the statues of Ogunmola and Oderinlo at Bere and Mapo roundabouts respectively as Jagun Olubadan threw royal salutes at the statues of two of the bravest warriors that Ibadan produced.

Jagun Olubadan Abiola Iyiola arrived Isale-jebu to a tumultuous welcome from families, friends, well-wishers, and members of neighbouring compounds. In recent years, Ibadan hadn’t witnessed such glorious riding on horses during chieftaincy celebrations and it was with nostalgia that the people savoured the reenactment of the ancient royal entourage.

Ibadan is on her way to a more befitting status with Jagun Olubadan Abiola Iyiola on the chieftaincy ladder. His international exposure and deep affinity to his Yoruba roots will help uplift Ibadan to a height never envisaged as he is always ready, as a team player, to work with his colleague-chiefs to bring more betterments to Ibadan. It’s to the credit of the Olubadan Olalekan Balogun and his council that they found an international personality and true-to-Yoruba-culture person like Oloye Abiola Iyiola worthy of being elevated from Mogaji to Jagun Olubadan. Events in the future will prove the Olubadan and his council right that they have made a right choice for the sake of Ibadan.

May Jagun Olubadan live long in excellent health to ascend Olubadan throne.

Maroof Asudemade wrote from Ibadan.