Cultural advocate Kenny Adenugba has faulted the Alaafin of Oyo for extending his hand to greet the Olubadan of Ibadan while remaining seated during a public event, describing the gesture as disrespectful to Yoruba traditional protocol.
Speaking in an interview with TVC, Adenugba highlighted the Olubadan’s distinguished status beyond his royal position. “Olubadan, as it were, is not just a mere king. In Yoruba land, they call people like him—even before he became an ọba—a former senator. Mm-hmm. A former governor, who is also a successful businessman, a billionaire by whatever standard. But the reality is, he’s also an older person, somebody who is in his 80s. Even a 60-year-old man would defer to him, or a 70-year-old man would defer to him,” he said.
The cultural advocate illustrated his point by noting that wealthy individuals in their 70s and 80s commonly show deference to those only a few years their senior, demonstrating that age commands respect regardless of status or wealth.
Adenugba explained that reciprocal respect forms a fundamental principle in Yoruba culture, making the Alaafin’s seated greeting particularly problematic. He acknowledged that exceptions might exist for monarchs of equal rank with established informal greeting customs, but emphasized that even such situations have proper protocols.
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