Reported by Simon Daniel Yusuph l Journalist at Weng Global
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has sent a special envoy to the Republic of Benin as part of consultations, cultural diplomacy and mobilisation ahead of the maiden Oyo Empire Day celebration scheduled for December.
The three-day mission, undertaken by Prince Sheriff Adebayo-Onisile, a Yoruba historian, focused on strengthening cultural and historical ties between the Alaafin’s Palace and Yoruba communities in the Republic of Benin.
The visit also sought to encourage greater participation by Yoruba communities in Benin in the forthcoming celebration, while promoting reconciliation and unity among Yoruba socio-cultural groups in the country.
According to a statement by the Alaafin’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, the mission formed part of broader efforts to reconnect communities associated with the old Oyo Empire across present-day national boundaries.
Three-Day Mission Focuses on Cultural Diplomacy
Prince Onisile’s three-day mission took him to several locations and brought him into contact with traditional rulers, government officials, Yoruba elders, community leaders, politicians, socio-cultural organisations and traders.
In Igolo, the envoy was received by the Aladjache of Adjache-Ile in Porto-Novo, Oba Dr Rafiu Atanda Adesakin, alongside other traditional and community leaders.
Discussions during the engagement covered Yoruba unity, cultural preservation, the historical relationship between the old Oyo Empire and the communities that are now part of the Republic of Benin, as well as the proposed visit of the Alaafin to the country.
The discussions also examined preparations for Oyo Empire Day and how Yoruba communities in Benin could participate in the event.
The mission therefore extended beyond preparations for a cultural celebration. It was also presented as an opportunity for the Alaafin’s Palace to deepen relationships with traditional institutions and Yoruba organisations outside Nigeria.
Alaafin’s Representative Meets Benin Government Official
As part of the mission, Onisile met Chief Clement Kouchade, the Minister for Secondary Education and Bashorun of Pobeland in Plateau Province, at his office at the Federal Secretariat in Cotonou.
The meeting centred on Oyo heritage in the Republic of Benin, the historical connections between Yoruba communities on both sides of the Nigeria-Benin border, and the importance of unity and peaceful coexistence.
Kouchade reportedly welcomed the visit and conveyed greetings to the Alaafin.
He also expressed the expectation that the Alaafin would visit the Republic of Benin, while commending the monarch’s efforts to encourage cultural interaction and unity among Yoruba communities.
The engagement reflects the wider cross-border dimension of the Oyo Empire Day initiative, which organisers have described as an effort to reconnect people linked by the history and legacy of the old empire regardless of present-day political boundaries.
Push for Yoruba Unity in Porto-Novo
The envoy also met the leadership of Ẹgbẹ Isokan Ọmọ Yoruba in the Republic of Benin, together with representatives of the Agboluaje and Oníkòyí families.
Among those involved in the engagements were traditional leaders, former public officials, academics and prominent members of the Yoruba community.
The Alaafin’s message during the meetings was centred on peace, unity and reconciliation.
According to the statement from the monarch’s media office, the leadership of Ẹgbẹ Isokan Ọmọ Yoruba expressed appreciation for the Alaafin’s intervention and pledged to work towards reconciling factions within the Yoruba community in Porto-Novo.
The organisation serves as an umbrella body for indigenous Yoruba socio-cultural clubs and organisations in the Republic of Benin.
It is also preparing for its annual anniversary ceremony scheduled for November 2026 in Ouidah.
The reconciliation aspect of the mission is significant because the Alaafin’s Palace is seeking to build the Oyo Empire Day celebration around a broader idea of cultural unity rather than a single community or locality.
The celebration was earlier described by the Alaafin as a platform intended to bring together people of Oyo ancestry, traditional institutions, scholars, cultural practitioners, young people and communities in Nigeria, the Republic of Benin and the wider diaspora.
Visit to Ayogo-Ile Highlights Historical Links
Another important part of the envoy’s mission was a visit to Ayogo-Ile, an ancient settlement said to have historical links with Oyo-Ile.
During the visit, the delegation discussed the traditional relationship between Ayogo-Ile and the Alaafin’s Palace and explored ways of strengthening cultural and traditional relations.
A traditional account presented during the visit links the ancestors of the Alayogo to Ona-Efa, described as an emissary of the Alaafin who, together with his family, settled in the area to collect Isakole, or tribute, on behalf of the Alaafin about four centuries ago.
On the basis of that tradition, the Alayogo is regarded as the Arole Alaafin in Ayogo-Ile Kingdom.
Such oral and traditional accounts form part of the historical material that organisers of Oyo Empire Day are seeking to preserve and further document.
The Alaafin had previously urged scholars involved in the celebration to approach the history of the Oyo Empire with research, documentation and intellectual accuracy, stressing the importance of ensuring that the history is properly recorded for future generations.
Oyo Empire Day Scheduled for December
The maiden Oyo Empire Day celebration is scheduled to take place from December 17 to 19, 2026.
The Alaafin announced the event in August and subsequently constituted a broad-based planning committee involving traditional rulers, academics, professionals, business leaders, cultural advocates, youth and women representatives, media practitioners and members of the diaspora.
The celebration is being organised under the theme, “Celebrating Our Heritage, Preserving Our Legacy, Building Our Future.”
According to the Alaafin, the event is intended to strengthen cultural consciousness, promote historical research and documentation, stimulate tourism and economic partnerships, encourage collaboration among Oyo communities and inspire younger generations to understand and preserve the legacy of the Oyo civilisation.
The monarch has also stressed that the celebration is not intended to focus exclusively on Oyo town or Oyo Atiba. Rather, it is designed to provide a platform for communities connected to the history and legacy of the old Oyo Empire.
Communities identified as having links to the initiative include settlements in present-day Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Kwara and Ondo states, as well as Oyo-linked communities in the Republic of Benin.
Historical Context of the Oyo-Benin Connection
The Alaafin’s latest mission to the Republic of Benin also draws attention to the historical relationships that existed across the region before the emergence of modern African national borders.
The old Oyo Empire was a major political and cultural power in West Africa, and its historical interactions extended across territories that are today divided between Nigeria and neighbouring countries.
The modern boundary between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin therefore does not erase the older networks of migration, trade, political interaction, family connections and cultural exchange that developed across the region.
For the organisers of Oyo Empire Day, this historical background provides a basis for engaging communities in the Republic of Benin as part of a wider cultural programme.
The current initiative, however, is taking place within the framework of modern states and communities, making consultation with traditional institutions, community organisations and relevant authorities an important part of the process.
Why the Mission Matters
The envoy’s mission demonstrates that preparations for Oyo Empire Day are extending beyond event planning in Oyo town.
The Alaafin’s Palace is using the period ahead of the celebration to engage communities that have historical or cultural connections with the old Oyo Empire.
The emphasis on consultation and mobilisation in the Republic of Benin also gives the forthcoming celebration a cross-border character.
For Yoruba communities in Benin, the initiative provides an opportunity to participate in an event focused on shared heritage and historical identity. For the Alaafin’s Palace, the engagement provides an avenue to strengthen relationships with traditional institutions and community organisations beyond Nigeria.
It also places cultural preservation within a wider regional context, where historical communities are separated by modern political borders but continue to maintain elements of shared language, traditions, ancestry and cultural memory.
Reactions and Community Response
The response reported during the mission was broadly supportive.
Traditional leaders and community representatives received the envoy and participated in discussions around cultural preservation, unity and the proposed participation of Yoruba communities in Oyo Empire Day.
Ẹgbẹ Isokan Ọmọ Yoruba also pledged to support reconciliation efforts within the Yoruba community in Porto-Novo.
Meanwhile, the reported welcome from Chief Clement Kouchade and other traditional and community leaders indicates an interest in continued engagement with the Alaafin’s Palace ahead of the planned celebration.
These engagements will be important as preparations move towards December, particularly if the event is to achieve its stated objective of bringing together communities associated with the historical Oyo heritage.
What Happens Next
The Alaafin’s Palace is expected to continue consultations with traditional institutions, community organisations and other stakeholders in Nigeria, the Republic of Benin and the wider diaspora ahead of the December celebration.
The proposed visit of the Alaafin to the Republic of Benin is also expected to form part of the continuing engagement between the Palace and Yoruba communities in the country.
Beyond the 2026 celebration, the organisers have indicated that Oyo Empire Day is intended to become an annual platform rather than a one-off event.
The broader objective is to establish a sustained programme of historical research, cultural preservation, tourism, youth engagement and collaboration among communities connected to Oyo heritage.
The latest mission to the Republic of Benin therefore represents an early step in that longer-term effort.
For the Alaafin’s Palace, the challenge will be to translate the growing consultations and mobilisation into meaningful participation while ensuring that historical claims and traditions associated with the Oyo Empire are carefully researched, documented and presented.
As preparations continue, the December celebration is expected to bring together traditional rulers, historians, academics, cultural practitioners, government representatives, communities and members of the Oyo diaspora around the shared objective of preserving and promoting the heritage of the old Oyo civilisation.
Weng Global – stories beyond borders
Sources
- The Guardian Nigeria
- Western Post
- Nigerian Tribune
- New Telegraph
- Corenews
- Statement from the Alaafin of Oyo’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye
