By Leke Adeseri, South-West Regional Editor
Among Yoruba people of South West Nigeria, even those in diaspora,  kings don’t die, they  join their ancestors.

You cant even announce their departure until certain traditional rites have been performed. That is why there has been much controversy over whether or not Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse 11, had truly died, days after the  media was awash about his demise.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse 11 reportedly died in a London Hospital after a brief illness on the evening of Tuesday July 28th 2015.

His reported death brought to the fore a certain conflict between tradition and modern technology.

Ooni of Ife: Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse 11

Since the death of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II was reported and subsequent dismissal of such by the Royal Traditional Council of Ife led by Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola, Ile Oodua, as Ooni Palace is called, has been receiving numerous visitors, from far and near.

Oba Sijuade, who ascended the throne, succeeding former governor of defunct Western Region, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, in 1980, was probably one Nigerian whose death has been announced many times over.

He had repeatedly read his obituary and consequent upon this, any time the news of Oba Sijuade’s demise graces the newspapers; it is often disregarded. As stated by the Secretary, Royal Traditional Council of Ife, High Chief Odesola, Ooni Sijuade was first declared dead in 1984 and in year 2000, the story of his death also made the rounds  again about the ill- health of Oba Sijuade and his reported death, only for the monarch, like the proverbial cat with nine lives, to bounce back stronger.

The question on the lips of Yoruba people worldwide and their admirers is ” When will the Arole Oodua, as the Ooni is known return to his palace, the Ile Oodua?”

The List Of All 50 Oonis of Ife till date

1ST ODUDUWA
2ND OSANGANGAN OBAMAKIN
3RD OGUN
4TH OBALUFON OGBOGBODIRIN
5TH OBALUFON ALAYEMORE
6TH ORANMIYAN
7TH AYETISE
8TH LAJAMISAN
9TH LAJODOOGUN
10TH LAFOGIDO
11TH ODIDIMODE ROGBEESIN
12TH AWOROKOLOKIN
13TH EKUN
14TH AJIMUDA
15TH GBOONIJIO
16TH OKANLAJOSIN
17TH ADEGBALU
18TH OSINKOLA
19TH OGBORUU
20TH GIESI
21ST LUWOO (FEMALE)
22ND LUMOBI
23RD AGBEDEGBEDE
24TH OJELOKUNBIRIN
25TH LAGUNJA
26TH LARUNNKA
27TH ADEMILU
28TH OMOGBOGBO
29TH AJILA-OORUN
30TH ADEJINLE
31ST OLOJO
32ND OKITI
33RD LUGBADE
34TH ARIBIWOSO
35TH OSINLADE
36TH ADAGBA
37TH OJIGIDIRI
38TH AKINMOYERO 1770-1800
39TH GBANLARE 1800-1823
40TH GBEGBAAJE 1823-1835
41ST WUNMONIJE 1835-1839
42ND ADEGUNLE ADEWELA 1839-1849
43RD DEGBINSOKUN 1849-1878
44TH ORARIGBA 1878-1880
45TH DERIN OLOGBENLA- He was a powerful warrior! 1880-1894
46TH ADELEKAN (OLUBUSE I)- He was the first Ooni to travel outside Ile-Ife to Lagos in 1903 when he was invited by the then Governor General to settle the“dispute involving Elepe of Epe.
Olubuse was nicknamed ‘ERIOGUN’; Akitikori; Ebitikimopiri. 1894-1910
47TH ADEKOLA 1910-1910
48TH ADEMILUYI (AJAGUN) – He also was reputed to be a powerful Monarch. 1910-1930
49TH ADESOJI ADEREMI- Very intelligent with good foresight, he was invited to be“minister without portfolio when he ruled from 1951 to 1955. He was the first“indigenous governor of Western Nigeria. One of his most laudable achievements“was the establishment of the GREAT University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) at Ile-Ife. 1930-1980
50TH OKUNADE SIJUWADE- He is the grandson of Olubuse l (The 46th Ooni) from Ogboru Ruling Family.