A heated debate has erupted over the burial traditions of Yoruba monarchs, with prominent Christian and Islamic leaders calling for an end to practices they describe as “barbaric, fetish and shrouded in secrecy,” while a renowned Ifa priest insists such customs are misunderstood and integral to preserving Yoruba heritage.
The fiery exchange played out during the 34th edition of Boiling Point Arena, a monthly current affairs discourse hosted by media professional, Dr. Ayo Arowojolu, and chaired by the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba Prof. Saka Matemilola.
Speaking in unison despite religious differences, Pastor Femi Emmanuel, Presiding Pastor of Living Spring Church International, and Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Ahmad, Chief Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, urged traditional rulers to abandon secretive and ritual-based practices that conflict with modern values and human decency.
Pastor Emmanuel warned that Yoruba culture was at risk of extinction unless regularly reviewed and adapted to changing realities.
“Culture gives identity to a people, but it must be subject to review, documentation and improvement.
Many aspects of our traditions, particularly around Obaship, are shrouded in secrecy and superstition. If it offends conscience and faith, it must go,” he said.
Sheikh Ahmad echoed the call, stressing that Islam is not anti-culture but demands that traditions align with justice and common sense.
“Yoruba culture is dynamic. Any culture that refuses to evolve will expire. In this modern era, you cannot impose curfews or restrict movement because of rituals.
“That’s not good for diversity or peaceful coexistence,” he said, adding that kings should be buried according to their personal faith without societal interference.
‘Fetish’ Label is Misleading — Ifa Priest
However, Dr. Obafemi Jegede, an Ifa priest and Associate Professor of African Indigenous Knowledge at the University of Ibadan, dismissed what he called “cooked-up stories” designed to malign Yoruba traditions.
“There’s no heaven better than this earth. Our forebears designed these rites for peace and order. They are not fetish but the wisdom of our ancestors,” he argued.
The programme, aired live on Zoom, was simulcast on six radio stations — WASH FM, Sweet FM, Roots FM, Eri-Nbe FM, Women Radio FM, and Kruzz FM — as well as NSTV on GoTV channel 316.
With monarchs’ burial rites now squarely in public focus, the clash between religious modernists and cultural purists appears far from over.
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