Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu: 63 Years of Meritorious Service to Fatherland (1)

Bode Durojaiye/

‘The Alaafin throne holds so much historical significance for Yoruba people such that anyone who seeks it must be one who can carry the role with character, dignity, passion and uncommon integrity.‘

Archbishop Emeritus Lawrence Ayo Ladigbolu has an interesting life which mostly revolves around tradition and culture of Yoruba on one hand, and modernity on the other hand.

He was born into a typical traditional Yoruba setting where culture and tradition were taught at the very beginning of an individual’s life.

He grew up in that traditional society and this predisposed his interest and understanding of culture, most especially Yoruba culture. Indeed, man is a product of his environment.

Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu had been involving himself in the promotion and preservation of Yoruba culture long before he finally retired from Methodist Church, Nigeria,

However, his retirement in 2005 from the Methodist Church of Nigeria was a defining moment in the sense that he could now have all the time he needed in his quest to preserve, promote and modernize Yoruba culture and tradition.

In all honesty, his cultural background and his exposure to modernity through education and travelling across borders prepared him for a new task and in the process of implementing the new task, three options were open to him.

One, to dedicate his life to culture and tradition, two, to abandon culture and tradition for modernity, and three, to establish a synergy or a compromise between culture and tradition on the one hand, and modernity on the other hand.

Interestingly, he chose the last option which is to encourage a compromise between culture and tradition and modernity. In all fairness, culture and tradition and modernity are not against each other they are complementing each other because while culture and tradition have to do with the legacy of the originators or ancestors of a particular society, modernity provides a progressive way of mobilizing culture and tradition for the development of the society.

This is slightly similar to Leopold Senghor’s negritude which is the combination of indigenous tradition and western ideas.

Archbishop Emeritus Ladigbolu’s versatility is unequaled. A Poet, Journalist, Orator, Cultural icon, and a redoubtable Clergy among others.

For sixty three years, Archbishop Emeritus Lawrence Ayo Ladigbolu, a Prince of Oyo dynasty has devoted his entire life to the service of the people through philanthropy, charity, community development and ministering to the needy.

His influence and reach transcend the entire South West and beyond.

He was among the founding fathers of Yoruba Parapo, a socio-cultural organization which had Awujale, Alaafin and Ooni as its Patrons.

Also, the Yoruba Unity Forum, which Archbishop Ladigbolu is the Chairman, is also part of the Southern Nigerians’ People Assembly, an organization that comprises the South-South, South-East and South Western States of Nigeria.

The Yoruba Unity Forum remains autonomous within the Southern Nigerians’ People Assembly.

On his desire to become the next Alaafin of Oyo, amidst misconceptions over his age and Christian background.

Archbishop Emeritus Ladigbolu, replied the neophytes that he joined the race for the throne following countless appeals and pleas from far and near.

Said he, “especially those who are knowledgeable about my devotion to, and undying commitments to the greater progress and prosperity of Oyo town, and my undeniable records of current contributions to uplifting the Yoruba culture as well as the honour, glory and splendour of the Alaafin both here at home and in the global community.”

He added that his age is the greatest asset which has helped his current contributions to the development of the community.

“Most importantly, age has never been a negative factor in the selection of an Alaafin,” he retorted.

“All previous Alaafins in New Oyo except one have had the advantage of age and maturity from which both Oyo and Yoruba Nation have benefited. The only odd single circumstance came about due to exigencies known to historians and most adult members of the public in the 1970s.

“What is more, People assume that if a younger person ascends the throne, the person has a chance of living longer and reigning longer. Apart from that, what other attribute of youthfulness do you think qualifies a younger person better than an aged and experienced person from assuming the throne. I am not desperate to be the next Alaafin”.

For whatever his participation may be worth, Archbishop Emeritus Ladigbolu has certainly upped the ante for other lineages to put forward the best among their own princes.

He asserted thus, “the Alaafin throne holds so much historical significance for Yoruba people such that anyone who seeks it must be one who can carry the role with character, dignity, passion and uncommon integrity”.

In continuation of his quest to modernize the culture and tradition of Yorubaland, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu constituted a team of educated elders and they embarked on collecting an oral history of all the compounds in the Oyo Kingdom.

He believes that every compound history is to be documented because it is in the understanding of one’s history that one can understand him or herself.

The collection of oral history is challenging but it is still ongoing. In addition, he is always available to help the Yoruba in the diaspora to trace their history back to their ancestral home in Yoruba land, Nigeria.

He had assisted not fewer than four families to trace their history to their ancestral home in the Oyo Kingdom.

Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu has established himself as a modern man who is well-rooted in culture and tradition.

To be continued……

*Durojaiye is Director of Communication,
Alaafin of Oyo Palace.

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