Rojugbuwa: Tradition Going To Extinction As Aunt, Niece Reject Title 

Rojugbuwa, a traditional chieftaincy title in Iperu Remo, Ikenne local government of Ogun State, is gradually becoming a casualty of civilization and religion.

An ancient title, Rojugbuwa is a feminine traditional chieftaincy title, given to a woman of 40 and above years of age.

Among other duties, a Rojugbuwa is in charge of offering rituals to some deities/gods, calling meetings of women in various occultic groups and running traditional errands for the Alaperu of Iperu Remo. 

Currently, there is no Rojugbuwa of Iperu Remo, owing to the fact that the carried of the title, Chief Mrs Shomide Idowu, joined her ancestors on January 12, 2008. She was 121 years old.

Ever since her departure, the Imobido family which is supposed to present candidate for the new Rojugbuwa is at war with itself. 

CityMirrorNews gathered that the family is finding it difficult to present a new Rojugbuwa because the two females in the family have rejected the title. 

Findings revealed that the first female of the Imobido family, Mrs Iyabo Titilayo, who originally supposed to accept the title, rejected it and instead nominated her niece, Mrs Adeola Adeyemi. 

According to sources, Mrs Adeyemi, who is a devout Christian, also rejected the title on the ground that she didn’t want to participate in any tradition that involves rituals. 

Fourteen years after her death, the final burial has not been held for the late Rojugbuwa, Chief Mrs Shomide Idowu. It is believed that the traditional dictates a new Rojugbuwa must be in place before the final burial is held. 

However, Mrs Titilayo has allegedly conspired with the traditionalists in Iperu Remo to mount pressure on Mrs Adeyemi to accept the title. 

Sources at Imobido family confided in CityMirrorNews that Mrs Adeyemi was under pressure, which included harassment and intimidation from the traditionalists, to accept the title. 

But the woman, who could not be reached on phone as of the time of filing this report, has reportedly insisted that she would not have anything to do with the traditional chieftaincy. 

CityMirrorNews noted that religion and civilization are threatening Yoruba culture and tradition. 

The Rojugbuwa chieftaincy is a title that women lobbied to have in the olden days, but the traditional title may go into extinction with the way religion and civilization are eroding the culture and tradition.