It was once said, “In the end, we won’t remember the most beautiful face and body. We’ll remember the most beautiful heart and soul”.
The above quote could best describe the love story between the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi and his first wife, Ayaba Abibat Adeyemi. They were together as husband and wife for over 60 years.
It is not a secret that Alaafin had not just many wives, but also loved them young and light-skinned. However, a lot of people do not really know about his first wife, Ayaba Abibat Nihinlola Adeyemi.
Fondly called Iya Adodo, Ayaba Abibat Niyinlola Adeyemi, is not just a wife but the pillar behind Alaafin Adeyemi. As the first wife, she has many traditional roles she plays in the palace.
Ayaba Abibat has been described by many as a woman with a large heart and quality characters. She is loving, warm and accommodating.
So enormous are her responsibilities as the first wife, that Ayaba Abibat was said to have encouraged Alaafin to marry another wife, and today Alaafin had about 18 wives.
It was gathered that Alaafin, met and married Ayaba Abibat when she was in secondary school, at the age of 17. Their meeting was said to be orchestrated through Alaafin’s late younger sister, who was attending the same school with Ayaba sometimes in 1956, before Alaafin ascended the throne of his forefathers in 1970.
She was later said to have followed Alaafin to Lagos, where he was working with an insurance company. Ayaba Abibat thereafter learnt the trade of sewing and became a trained tailor.
They both lived in Lagos and in fact had three children with the first child being 61-year-old Pastor Israel Adeyemi and the third being Princess Folashade Adeyemi. The first three children were birthed before Oba Adeyemi ascended the throne.
They thereafter had two additional children, to make the number of children produced in the marriage five — three girls and two boys.
Today, all of these children are grown and highly successful. They are also blessed with many grandchildren.
Add Comment