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Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida Afunbiowo II: The 46th Deji of Akure Kingdom

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Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida, known by his regnal name Afunbiowo II, served as the 46th Deji of Akure Kingdom in present-day Ondo State, Nigeria. Although his reign lasted just over three years—from August 13, 2010, until his death on November 30, 2013—it remains memorable for rekindling the prestige of one of the most influential dynasties in Yorubaland and reaffirming Akure’s deep royal heritage.

Royal Lineage and Early Life

Born on September 5, 1950, Prince Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida was steeped in Akure’s royal tradition from birth. His father, Omoba Josiah Stanley Adegboye Adesida, was a respected prince though he never occupied the throne. More significantly, Adebiyi was the grandson of Oba Afunbiowo Adesida I (reigned 1897–1957), whose extraordinary 60-year reign stands among the longest in Yoruba history.

Choosing the regnal title “Afunbiowo II” paid direct homage to his grandfather’s legacy of wisdom, stability, and community development—linking his own brief reign to the golden era of Akure’s monarchy.

Path to the Throne

Following the traditional selection process by the royal families and kingmakers, Prince Adebiyi Adegboye emerged as the chosen candidate for the vacant stool of the Deji. He was formally crowned on August 13, 2010, and later presented with the staff of office on September 13, 2010 by the then Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.

His ascension restored the Adesida dynasty, which had dominated the Akure throne for most of the 20th century, after several decades of alternating royal lines. This return of his family to the palace reinforced the enduring political and cultural influence of the Adesidas in Akure’s history.

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Reign and Contributions

Despite a reign of just over three years, Afunbiowo II worked diligently to strengthen the cultural and political relevance of the Deji’s palace. Among his key contributions:

Promotion of Traditional Festivals: He gave new prominence to the Akure Festival and other cultural celebrations, emphasizing the preservation of Akure’s rich Yoruba traditions.

Unity Among Royal Houses: He sought to heal long-standing disputes among ruling families, fostering stability within the kingdom.

Bridge Between Tradition and Modern Governance: Afunbiowo II maintained close cooperation with the Ondo State government, advocating for development projects and ensuring that the traditional institution remained an integral voice in the state’s social and economic progress.

His reign coincided with a period of rapid urban and economic development in Ondo State, and he served as an important intermediary between the people of Akure and the state authorities.

Passing and Succession

Oba Adebiyi Adegboye Adesida Afunbiowo II died on November 30, 2013, reportedly after a brief illness, at the age of 63. His death was widely mourned in Akure and across Yorubaland.

Following a period of traditional rites and a short interregnum, the throne was eventually filled in 2015 by Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi (Odundun II), continuing the historic lineage of the Deji of Akure.

Legacy

Though his reign was brief, Afunbiowo II is remembered for revitalizing the legacy of his grandfather and for serving as a symbol of continuity in a modernizing Nigeria. His leadership reaffirmed the cultural identity of the Akure people and strengthened the role of traditional monarchy as a custodian of Yoruba heritage.

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Sources
The Nation (Nigeria), “Afunbiowo II joins ancestors,” December 2, 2013.

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Lifestyle

Women Who Love and Listen to Their Pastors More Than Their Husbands Should Be the Pastor’s Second Wife

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This statement may sound funny, provocative, or even offensive, but it raises an important question about priorities in marriage and religion.

A pastor is a spiritual leader, but he is not supposed to replace a woman’s husband. If a married woman consistently values her pastor’s opinions above her husband’s, obeys her pastor while dismissing her husband, or shows greater loyalty and admiration toward her pastor than toward her spouse, then something may be seriously wrong with the balance in that marriage.

Marriage requires communication, mutual respect, trust, and understanding. A pastor can provide spiritual guidance, but that guidance should not become a reason for a husband and wife to lose respect for each other.

At the same time, husbands should not expect their wives to obey them blindly. Both husband and wife should seek God’s wisdom, communicate openly, and make decisions with love and respect.

So perhaps the real question is not whether such a woman should become the pastor’s “second wife,” but why has the pastor become more important in her marriage than her own husband?

Put God first. Respect your spouse. And never allow a spiritual leader to become a substitute for your marriage partner.

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Why is it only in Africa that we hear so much about “generational curses”?

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This is a question worth asking—not to insult African traditions or dismiss anyone’s beliefs, but to encourage honest reflection.

Across Africa, it is common to hear people explain repeated family problems as a “generational curse.” When poverty, broken relationships, addiction, failure, sickness, family conflict or misfortune appears to repeat from one generation to another, some people immediately conclude that an ancestor, spiritual force or past wrongdoing is responsible.

But is every repeated family problem truly a curse?

If a child grows up in poverty, has limited access to quality education, receives little financial support and then struggles as an adult, is that necessarily a spiritual curse—or could it be the result of circumstances that have been passed from one generation to another?

If children grow up watching violence, substance abuse, unhealthy relationships or constant conflict, they may unknowingly repeat those patterns. That does not necessarily mean they are cursed. Sometimes behaviour is inherited through environment, not through supernatural forces.

And Africa is certainly not the only place where people believe in supernatural explanations for suffering or misfortune. Different societies around the world have their own concepts of inherited wrongdoing, family misfortune, ancestral consequences, fate and spiritual punishment.

So perhaps the more important question is not:

“Who cursed my family?”

But:

“What pattern has been passed down to me, and what can I do to stop passing it to the next generation?”

We should be careful not to use the idea of a curse to discourage people from taking action. A family facing poverty may need education, opportunity and financial planning. A family experiencing repeated conflict may need healthier communication. A person struggling with addiction may need professional support and a strong recovery environment. Communities facing injustice may need better institutions, accountability and opportunity.

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Faith and spirituality are deeply meaningful to many people, and everyone has the right to hold their beliefs. But faith should not prevent us from examining the practical causes of our problems.

We cannot change the past, but we can change what we pass forward.

Instead of teaching our children that they are victims of an unavoidable family curse, let us also teach them knowledge, discipline, emotional strength, financial responsibility, education, healthy relationships and the courage to break destructive patterns.

Maybe the greatest “curse” is not something mysterious placed upon a family.

Maybe sometimes it is simply a problem that nobody stopped long enough to understand and change.

And the greatest inheritance we can give the next generation is not fear of a curse—but the knowledge and courage to build a better future.

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You are very proud to speak big English, but yet you cannot speak your own language?

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There is nothing wrong with speaking English fluently. In fact, being able to communicate confidently in different languages is a valuable skill. But we should ask ourselves a deeper question: while learning to speak the language of another culture, are we slowly losing the language that connects us to our own roots?

Your mother tongue is more than just words. It carries the stories of your ancestors, the wisdom of your grandparents, the jokes that only your people understand, the traditional greetings, the names, the songs, the history and the identity of your community.

Imagine being able to speak perfect English, but struggling to have a simple conversation with your own grandmother because you do not understand the language she grew up speaking. Imagine your children knowing foreign languages but being unable to understand the language of their own heritage.

That should make us pause.

Speaking English does not make you more intelligent, and speaking your indigenous language does not make you less educated. One is a communication skill; the other can be a connection to your heritage. We should not have to choose between being educated and preserving our identity.

Learn English. Speak it confidently. Learn French, Dutch, Spanish or any other language that opens doors for you.

But don’t let the pursuit of foreign languages close the door to your own.

Teach your children your language. Speak it at home. Ask your parents and grandparents to teach you the words you never learned. If you have forgotten it, it is never too late to start again.

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Because when a language disappears from a family, something precious disappears with it.

Be proud of your education. Be proud of your ability to speak English. But also be proud of where you come from.

Your language is not something to be ashamed of. It is a part of your story. Preserve it before the next generation only knows it as something their ancestors once spoke.

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