The excerpts of her Interview is a must read
I had a very privileged background as one of the children of Prince Adebolu Ademiluyi. I have three brothers, and I’m the only girl. I was born in London, precisely the Paddington Hospital where the royals in the UK are born as well. I lived in Sussex Garden while growing up before we moved back to Nigeria. I did a bit of my schooling in Nigeria; my primary school was Adrao International School and then my mum, who is from Akure, and they decided that we should go over there to also learn from her people. So I was in boarding School at Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, Akure. I went back to London for my A’Levels; later, I went to London University where I studied Law, despite always wanting to spend all my life in fashion and textiles.
How did you marry the Kabiyesi and what is the attraction?
I can tell you I fell in love with him because of our culture, for the upliftment of our culture.
In a royal setting in Africa, king usually has many wives and Kabiyesi exercised this recently by marrying you and five other wives, how do you cope?
First and foremost, I must say polygamy is part of the African culture. If you look at all the Oonis, from Ooni Oduduwa, they all had many wives, even my great grandfather, Ooni Ademiluyi had 47 wives. It comes with the throne and its part of the throne, polygamy is an African culture and part of the throne of Ile-Ife. My husband’s predecessor, Ooni Olubuse had 11 wives, that›s the culture.
What’s the usual life in a Palace for an Olori?
My great grandfather was Ooni Ajagun Ademiluyi, he was the 48th Ooni of Ife, so I’ve always been used to royalty, and I’m a blue-blood. I’ve always known everything about the palace and royalty. Now that I’m married to the 51st Ooni of Ife, for me it’s just normal because it’s something I’ve always been used to. Waking up with duties, doing my work as well, doing my cultural duties, bringing everything together is just something I do effortlessly, because I’ve been used to it from a tender age. When His Majesty ascended the throne in 2015 I had that opportunity to be a part of the whole thing, so I’m kind of grown with him and he is being someone like a mentor, he mentors me a lot.
There is a change in your dressing, as a Queen, are there some clothes you are forbidden to wear?
My position comes with my appearance as the wife of a king; you can be called at any time to do anything, so you must keep up that appearance because you are representing your husband wherever you are. If you are dressed in jeans or not dressed in a proper way it would have an adverse effect, people will start talking. People would feel that being a princess, I’m supposed to know better.
Fashion has given me a lot. I showcased about 2,000 designers from about 26 African countries and I have been the success story of the most emerging and successful African designers. For me I’m happy, I’m fulfilled when I listen to testimonies of what others have been able to gain from what I started. Fashion has given me fulfilment and it will continue giving me.
The Ooni of Ifes wife,Olori Ronke Ademiluyi was born into royalty, her great-grandfather was Ooni Ademiluyi, so finding herself in the palace as a wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye-Ogunwusi is back to base. In this interview with Tribune, the soft spoken beauty who studied Law but chose fashion discussed her role in the palace, polygamy and how she became a wife to the Ooni of Ife. Excerpts:
What was your childhood like?
I had a very privileged background as one of the children of Prince Adebolu Ademiluyi. I have three brothers, and I’m the only girl. I was born in London, precisely the Paddington Hospital where the royals in the UK are born as well. I lived in Sussex Garden while growing up before we moved back to Nigeria. I did a bit of my schooling in Nigeria; my primary school was Adrao International School and then my mum, who is from Akure, and they decided that we should go over there to also learn from her people. So I was in boarding School at Fiwasaye Girls Grammar School, Akure. I went back to London for my A’Levels; later, I went to London University where I studied Law, despite always wanting to spend all my life in fashion and textiles.
How did you marry the Kabiyesi and what is the attraction?
I can tell you I fell in love with him because of our culture, for the upliftment of our culture.
In a royal setting in Africa, king usually has many wives and Kabiyesi exercised this recently by marrying you and five other wives, how do you cope?
First and foremost, I must say polygamy is part of the African culture. If you look at all the Oonis, from Ooni Oduduwa, they all had many wives, even my great grandfather, Ooni Ademiluyi had 47 wives. It comes with the throne and its part of the throne, polygamy is an African culture and part of the throne of Ile-Ife. My husband’s predecessor, Ooni Olubuse had 11 wives, that›s the culture.
What’s the usual life in a Palace for an Olori?
My great grandfather was Ooni Ajagun Ademiluyi, he was the 48th Ooni of Ife, so I’ve always been used to royalty, and I’m a blue-blood. I’ve always known everything about the palace and royalty. Now that I’m married to the 51st Ooni of Ife, for me it’s just normal because it’s something I’ve always been used to. Waking up with duties, doing my work as well, doing my cultural duties, bringing everything together is just something I do effortlessly, because I’ve been used to it from a tender age. When His Majesty ascended the throne in 2015 I had that opportunity to be a part of the whole thing, so I’m kind of grown with him and he is being someone like a mentor, he mentors me a lot.
There is a change in your dressing, as a Queen, are there some clothes you are forbidden to wear?
My position comes with my appearance as the wife of a king; you can be called at any time to do anything, so you must keep up that appearance because you are representing your husband wherever you are. If you are dressed in jeans or not dressed in a proper way it would have an adverse effect, people will start talking. People would feel that being a princess, I’m supposed to know better.
How did you adjust to life in Ile-Ife compared to city life in Lagos? Did you miss anything?
To be honest, I don’t really miss anything because I don’t like the traffic in Lagos. We all know how hectic Lagos can be. Living here is more like an escape from the Lagos life. I have my work that I do here as well, His Majesty established an adire factory for me where we make adire and train people. We work with students from the universities. For me it’s another life aside from the one in Lagos.
For someone who had given a lot to fashion, what has fashion given back to you?
Fashion has given me a lot. I showcased about 2,000 designers from about 26 African countries and I have been the success story of the most emerging and successful African designers. For me I’m happy, I’m fulfilled when I listen to testimonies of what others have been able to gain from what I started. Fashion has given me fulfilment and it will continue giving me.
We hear her but for someone who has been with Ooni before he becomes the King, still wonder why OONI didn't marry her before Zainab and Naomi? He would have saved himself from the scandal of it all
ReplyDeleteZainab contributed a lot of money to ooni. Naomi was good for public approval
DeleteMaybe because she was married before and had a child. Happy he finally married her. She’s been sleeping with him for about 20 years.
DeleteLong live the king and his queens
ReplyDelete