The news of Queen Mariam’s childbirth filtered into town on Thursday evening and there has been celebration ever since at the ancient palace in Ile Ife. For the Ooni of Ife, this is his second set of twins and this calls for celebration
It’s celebration galore in Ile Ife as Queen Mariam, the first wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, welcomed a set of twin boys on Thursday.
The royal twins were birthed in a private hospital in Canada, where the queen is surrounded by family members and close friends.
Queen Mariam, who married the Ooni of Ife in October of 2022, is the first of the six women wedded to the monarch after Queen Silekunola Naomi divorced him via an Instagram post in 2021.
The twin princes are Mariam’s firstborn.
The elated dad took to Instagram and wrote, “To God be all the glory and adoration for His wondrous works and abundant blessings once again!
Warmest congratulations to the entire House of Oduduwa and to Olori Mariam Ajibola on the joyous arrival of a prince and a prince to the royal throne of Oduduwa today.
We give thanks to Almighty God as both mother and children are in good health.”
Recall the wives of the Ooni, Tobi and Ashley, gave birth in 2024 and 2025 respectively. Tobi, who gave birth to a set of twins—a boy and a girl—is called Iya Ibeji and would always appear at many occasions in the palace in Ile Ife with her twins.
For Queen Ashely, her handsome son, Prince Ademakinwa, was dedicated in 2025 amidst pomp. She caused tongues to wag during the ceremony when she allowed Queen Mariam to carry Prince Ademakinwa all through the event.