Oba Anselm Adeloro Obaitan, Ichama II, Begins the Final Journey Home to the Land of the Ancestors by Albert Afeso Akanbi.
The final funeral ceremony for the late King of Ososo kingdom, Oba Anselm Adeloro Obaitan (JP), Ichama II of Ososo land, officially kicked off today the 27th of April, 2023.
There had been the outing of various masquerades who are said to be the guardians of the highway of the dead yesterday, the 26th, and expected to last for several more days.
Today’s traditional activities marking the commencement of the official final burial ceremony of an Ososo king kick-started with events that featured the ritual pouring of palm oil and salt, in libation at the entrance of the palace. On hand to witness this were the Chiefs of the five quarters of the town, members of the royal family led by Hon. Dele Obaitan, Edo State Commissioner for Tourism, indigenes of Ososo both at home and in the diaspora, and friends of Ososo alike, who have all come to pay their final respects to the late king.
The libation pouring ceremony, which appeared to be the crux of today’s event, consisted of prayers said to ward off evil and evildoers from the event, with cooking ingredients like palm oil and salt. Kola nuts were also offered in supplication at the ceremony.
The traditional rites began with the “Usomomokuro” group sounding the burial gong and announcing the king’s burial around all the corners of the town.
A traditional wake keep for the late king will come up later tonight, starting 10pm and lasting till dawn.
