The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has opened up about the public scrutiny he faced before marrying his wives.
Speaking at the launch of his Ojaja University in Osun State, the monarch recalled how people often questioned why he remained single, urging him to find a queen.
Ooni of Ife reflects on past criticism before marriage
He recounted that even after marrying, he faced criticism over the attention given to his first queen.
“Some of them used to make fun of me that, ‘Kabiyesi, why are you single? What is your problem? Go and look for a queen now,’” he said.
He explained that the first queen eventually left him, but by God’s grace, he was later blessed with seven more wives.
“Eventually I got another queen by force by fire. Then they said, ‘You are always going around with this queen. The queen left me. To the glory of God, God blessed me with seven more. Did I not try?”
Celebrating his coronation and family
The remarks were made during the 10th coronation anniversary celebrations of the monarch, where he inaugurated Ojaja University.
Three of his current wives, Olori Folasade, Olori Ronde, and Olori Temitope, attended the event, responding with laughter and applause as the Ooni spoke.
Oba Ogunwusi also reflected on his 2018 marriage to Queen Silekunola Naomi, a union that drew attention for combining traditional royalty with Christian spirituality.
The marriage ended in 2021 when Queen Naomi publicly announced the separation, highlighting the challenges the monarch has faced in balancing public expectations with personal life.
The Ooni’s candid remarks underscore his journey from public criticism to establishing a large royal family while marking a decade on the throne.