FULL LIST: Committee unveils two-week programmes for Alaafin’s coronation

Abiola DennisMarch 24, 2025

3 minutes read

Screenshot 2025 01 13 163556 e1736817686910

The Alaafin Abimbola Owoade Local Organising Committee has released the full schedule of events for the pre-coronation, coronation, and post-coronation ceremonies of Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade II, the 46th Alaafin of Oyo.

The celebrations, which reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Oyo Kingdom, are set to begin on Monday, March 31, 2025, and run through Saturday, April 12, 2025.

PUNCH Online reports from a flyer that detailed timeline of events over the two weeks on Monday.

The main coronation, slated for Saturday, April 5, 2025, will formally usher in a new chapter in the Oyo Kingdom’s history, marking the culmination of traditional rites that the Alaafin recently completed to solidify his royal ascendancy.

Pre-Coronation Events

The festivities will kick off with a Cultural Carnival Parade on March 31, a vibrant display of Yoruba art, music, and dance aimed at uniting the people of Oyo and setting the stage for the ceremonies ahead.

The parade will be followed by an opening ceremony, presided over by cultural and state dignitaries, and exhibitions that will run until April 4.

Throughout the week, the committee has lined up activities emphasizing culture, education, and environmental consciousness.

These include a three-phase tree-planting campaign starting April 1, a public lecture and colloquium featuring renowned scholars, and a coronation quiz competition designed to engage the youth in learning about Oyo’s rich history.

On April 3, the coronation football competition will conclude, followed by the inauguration of development projects initiated by Prince Akeem in honour of Oba Abimbola Owoade II.

Coronation Day

The highlight of the schedule, the Grand Coronation, will take place on Saturday, April 5, 2025.

The event will be held across multiple venues in Oyo to accommodate the expected influx of guests, including high-ranking government officials, traditional rulers, and dignitaries from across Nigeria and the diaspora.

Traditional rites, which Oba Owoade recently completed, will be publicly celebrated on this day, blending royal customs with modern festivities.

Exclusive receptions for VIPs and cultural performances will add grandeur to the occasion.

Post-Coronation Activities

The celebrations will continue with a series of thanksgiving services tailored to the diverse religious identities of the Oyo people.

A Christian thanksgiving service is scheduled for April 6 at the Michael Anglican Cathedral, followed by a Jumat prayer at the Central Mosque, Oja, on April 11.

Traditional worshippers will hold their thanksgiving on April 12 at the Isese Compound in Oyo.

To mark the coronation’s impact on the community, a free eye test campaign and distribution of eyeglasses will take place on April 7, symbolising the Alaafin’s commitment to social welfare and inclusive leadership.

Alaafin Owoade’s Journey to the Throne

The Alaafin stool had remained vacant since the passing of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III in April 2022, leaving the Oyo Kingdom in anticipation of a new leader.

Oba Abimbola Owoade was selected after extensive consultations among the Oyomesi and other kingmakers, and he received his staff of office from Governor Seyi Makinde on January 13, 2025.

Oba Owoade’s installation followed all requisite traditional rites, which underscored the spiritual and cultural sanctity of the Alaafin’s position.

The Alaafin recently announced his official title, signaling his readiness to uphold the customs of the throne while steering the Oyo Kingdom toward progress and unity.

The Local Organising Committee has called on Oyo residents, Yoruba descendants worldwide, and well-wishers to participate actively in the historic celebrations.

“This coronation is not just for the Alaafin; it is for the entire Oyo Kingdom and the Yoruba race,” a committee spokesperson stated in an earlier report.

Here’s a timeline of the coronation activities for Alaafin Abimbola Owoade as presented in the schedule: