Trouble still looms for the former queen of Oluwo of Iwo kingdom, Ms Chanel Chin.
Formerly married to the Oluwo of Iwo kingdom, Oba Abdurrosheed Adewale Akanbi Telu 1, she was officially declared an ex queen by the monarch on Sunday December 15, 2019.
This declaration by the monarch has elicited reactions from Nigerians especially culture enthusiasts.
When the Ooni of Ife’s former queen, Olori Wuraola divorced the king in 2017, a popular Ifa traditionalist, playwright, actor and author, Yemi Elebuibon disclosed in an interview that there are consequences trailing any queen who divorces a king.
The Ifa priest, however, warned that any queen in such a situation must undergo appropriate traditional cleansing processes to enable her regain normal life.
While noting that some Obas have been separated from their wives even in ancient times, Elebuibon stressed that marriage breakup is not very common among Yoruba Obas.
He said, “The wife of the Oba will be asked to consult Ifa(deity) and Ifa will give directions on how she will make the necessary atonement for her cleansing. In Yoruba tradition, a woman who has been married to a king cannot lay with any other man even if the marriage breaks up. But when the right atonements have been made, there won’t be problem.”
On the kind of problems which an Oba’s ex-wife might encounter if she refuses to undergo the traditional cleansing rites, Elebuibon said: “For the woman, she might not really have a problem but for any man who sleeps with a queen or marries an ex-queen without the appropriate cleansing, the man may die prematurely, he may be struck with sickness or there might be retrogression in his life.”
He explained that if an ex-queen wants to remarry, she will have to do the cleansing with her new husband. Both of them have to take part in the atonement procedures so that they won’t have any future problem.
“Any marriage she would be going into must not be elaborate. They should go far away and avoid any flamboyant wedding,” Elebuibon warned.
Born in Canada but raised by a British mum and a Canadian father, Ms Chanel Chin, who also is a culture enthusiast, has packed out of the palace.
Will she appease the gods to be free from this tragedy looming over any man she dates and sleeps with after this divorce?
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Oluwo Palace, Alli Ibraheem, the Oluwo of Iwo said Chanel has ceased to be his queen due to an irreconcilable difference.
The statement reads:
“This is to inform the general public most especially friends and associates of the Oluwo of Iwoland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, Telu I, that Ms Chanel Chin is an ex-queen of his majesty.
“This information is necessary for the attention of the general public to avoid representation on proxy or accordance of respect attached to the sacred stool of Oluwo to her.
For personal irreconcilable differences, Chanel Chin ceased to be his Majesty’s queen. We equally enjoin the public to disregard any business transaction or request with her using the office of his majesty.”
