The story of the longest Ooni to have reigned, Obalufon Ogbogbodirin, he allegedly lived for over 400 years

The seat of the Ooni of Ife is a highly revered one as it is said to be the same occupied by the progenitor of the Yoruba kingdom, Oduduwa, thus anyone that attain the position is regarded as father of the Yoruba people.

In the history of all 50 Ooni that have reigned in Ile Ife before the present king Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, Obalufon Ogbogbodirin is said to have lived longest, thus the Ogbogbodirin sobriquet after his name which literary means one who lived for a very long time.

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Ooni Obalufon Ogbogbodirin is said to be the fourth king of Ile Ife. He is said to have reigned for centuries and later transfigured into a metal figurine as he aged and eventually become a deity.

But there is more to Obalufon even in death. He has become a prayer point for every Ooni that have reigned after him. The present Ooni once revealed that “Obalufon Ogbogbodirin holds the spiritual classified codes for Ooni‘s long reign.”

Legit.ng gathered that every Ooni that has reigned after Obalufon Ogbogbodirin have gone to where his figurine his, knelt before it and prayed to live as long as he had lived before they are crowned. It was learnt that Obalufon shrine till date plays an important role in the installation of every Ooni after him as Aare crown is always blessed in his shrine before it will be placed on the head of the new Ooni.

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Though Obalufon has a groove where he is being worshipped, Ooni Ogunwusi brought him closer to the people when he ordered that an image of him be erected in the Enuwa palace where he lives.

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Source: Legit.ng