Oba Akintunde Akinyemi is the king of Eselu of IseluLand, Yewa area in Ogun State. The king is known to be very stylish and fashionable. Last week, he celebrated his 12th year on the throne and also bestowed chieftaincy titles on six socialites in Ogun state and King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal K1 was on the band stand. The 2 Olooris of Oba Akinyemi: Oloori Funbi and Tewogbade live in London and America respectively. Both came home to celebrate with their husband. These two beautiful women who are also fashionable, spoke with BUNMI MUSTAPHA on how they met the king and also as Queens.
OLOORI FUNBI AKINYEMI
Can we meet you?
My name is Oloori Oluwafunmibi , Based in the UK, Scotland to be precise, I am a hair stylist, I have my salon in London, called Return to Glory Hair and Beauty Salon”.
How long have you been Oloori of Iselu kingdom?
I have been an Oloori for three years now,
Can you tell us how you met your husband?
I think I will leave that as a private discussion, but we definitely started as friends and one thing led to another and we decided to be together as husband and wife
How is life as a Queen?
It has been a wonderful experience, Kabiyesi is a very nice person, he is the type of man every woman will wish for. He supports me, and whatever I want if I ask him, he would support me to the end. He would always go out of his way to please anyone.
How often do you come home?
I come home frequently, I ensure I am not far away from my husband and the palace in other to perform my duty as a Queen , though it has not been easy but Kabiyesi understands and I don’t take the throne for granted that is why I make sure I come home at every opportunity I get, this is the second time I came to Nigeria this year.
What part of Nigeria are you from?
I am from Ondo and Ijebu, my dad is from Ondo and my mother is from Ijebu.
What message do you have for the people of Iselu this festive period?
I want to say a big thank you to them. They have been supportive, I have seen and my husband always tells me great things about them and I’m really happy, because we are not just celebrating my husband alone today, we are celebrating the whole Iselu kingdom. The people have been so good and kind to me, so I just want to wish them a happy celebration.
We all know Kabiyesi as a king, but who is Kabiyesi as a husband?
Oba Akinyemi is a very generous husband, easy going, friendly, honest, kind, words cannot describe him, he is just everything any woman will pray for in a man and I love him so much.
You are a very beautiful woman with a glowing skin, what is the secret behind your beauty and your kind of fashion?
I will say my husband, and style of course, God, speaking of fashion, as a Queen you have to be stylish in a way that will portray you as a Queen, and always try to be what tradition demands, that is why I am dressed in full Aso Oke regalia today.
OLOORI TEWOGBADE MODUPEFOLUWA AKINYEMI
I was based in America, I just relocated to Nigeria because of my husband. I’m a specialist analyst, although I will still be off and on Nigeria and America , but I will be here mostly because of my husband.
Can you tell us how you met your husband?
Well, we have been friends for a while, and as God wanted it, we finally tied the knot, not too long ago, about a year ago to be precise.
How is life as a Queen?
It’s been good, to God be the glory, and I thank God, it’s been good, it’s been a wonderful experience and I thank God because He has been helping me cope with the environment and am enjoying it.
Would you say it is a stressful compared to your normal routine?
Well, there is a casual life, at the same time. This is our tradition, and it is our heritage, so I don’t have a choice than to do what God has assigned me to do.
How will you describe Oba Akinyemi as a husband?
He is a loving husband, a caring man, he is friendly, he is like a father to me, I call him my daddy, and he is a generous person. He can go out of his way to help people, he has this humanitarian feelings in him, that has been something that is keeping the community going. You can see that the community is still undergoing development, but because of the kind of love he has for his people, he is trying his best to make the community better. He loves what he is doing and God has really created him to do that, he is meant for the throne .
Can you give us an insight into your educational background?
I attended Olalekan Nursery and Primary School in Nigeria here, I had a thing in computer science in Nigeria, my first degree was at Adeyemi College of Education, but when I got to America I had to start all over again, I had my high school at the University of Houston Texas , my second degree was at University of Maryland.
What inspires your fashion?
I have always been fashionable, because I am from a royal family. My great grandfather was a king, and also my mother side too is royal and that has been my way of life. Though I don’t really like going out like my husband, you can hardly see me at functions, but looking good is part of me.
What are your wishes for the people of Iselu?
I wish them all the best, I wish them prosperity and I’m looking forward to a great development in the community , so we can take the town to a new level. You know like we are looking forward to bringing investors into the community, so that we can engage our people in one of two profitable businesses and create job opportunities.
