The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has criticised the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for allegedly misrepresenting Yoruba history in a recent documentary.
In a statement on Monday, the monarch accused BBC Yoruba of distorting facts about Iya Luwo Gbagida, the only known female ruler of Ile-Ife.
“It is important to correct the historical inaccuracies before they mislead the younger generation,” Oba Akanbi said.
He clarified that her correct name is Luwo Gbagida, not Luwo Gbagidi, as reported by the BBC. He also stated that she never bore the title of Ooni but was addressed as Alaafin, which was translated as Olofin in Ile-Ife.
According to him, Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race, used the title of Alaafin after conquering Ife, while the title of Ooni was first adopted by Obamakin Osangangan, the second ruler of Ife.
Oba Akanbi further noted that historian Samuel Johnson, an Oyo descendant, popularised the use of “Ooni” for all Ife kings to avoid rivalry with the Alaafin of Oyo. He insisted that Luwo Gbagida was the 16th Alaafin of Ife, not the 21st as stated in the BBC report.
The monarch also disputed claims about the first Oluwo of Iwo, stating that Olumade Paarin, not Adekola Telu, was the first to hold the title. He added that Luwo instructed Olumade Paarin not to wear the crown unless he found a place where parrots were hatching.
Oba Akanbi urged historians and media organisations to ensure accuracy in documenting Yoruba heritage to prevent misinformation.
