The Sacred Aare Crown is the only physical symbol of authority the Ooni of Ife inherited from his ancestors. It is believed to have been made from many items, such as cutlasses, hoes and 149 (One Hundred and Forty-Nine) other undisclosed objects that descended from heaven for the formation of the sacred Aare Crown.
The Ifa oral tradition reveals that the Aare crown is very heavy and it is believed that the Ooni of Ife is spiritually empowered to wear it during the Olojo festival; the crown is too heavy for him to bear on any other day. Historically it is known that there is a strong relationship between the sacred crown and Ogun deity; the pathfinder and deity of iron, due to the crown’s iron components. The crown must be brought before the Ogun deity at the Oke Mogun shrine during the annual Olojo Festival celebration in Ile-Ife.
According to Ifa oral tradition, the crown is believed to attract people and nature to itself when the Ooni wears it. During the Olojo Festival people often troop out to behold the crown and on sighting the crown, they offer prayers because the presence of the sacred crown symbolizes peace, unity, blessing and prosperity. Also, the nature around feels the presence of the sacred crown anytime it is out during Olojo Festival.
History dictates that the reigning Ooni must not look inside the crown because any attempt to do so, would result in him joining his ancestors. It is believed that when the Ooni wears the mysterious crown, He is instantly transfigured into His true nature, Orisa (Deity) whose visage has been said to become too dreadful to behold. The crown serves as a traditional legacy from one reigning king to another and this particular sacred Aare Crown was the inheritance of Ooni from his progenitor, Oduduwa. All other reigning kings in the Yorubaland have their distinctive crown assigned for social functions, but none of them possesses the powers of the Aare Crown. The Aare Crown is very unique and symbolic in the sense that its components are too spiritually inclined.
The sacred Aare crown is kept in a separate room in the palace under the watchful eyes of the Chief Priest and sacrifices to Olodumare are offered on a regular basis as tradition calls for it.
OGD & AMOSUN MEET AT PRIMATE OLORUNWO’S BURIAL
