The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has commenced mobilisation of Yoruba communities in the Republic of Benin ahead of the forthcoming Oyo Empire Day celebration.

The monarch, as part of ongoing consultations and mobilisation for the celebration, which is aimed at promoting unity and commemorating the history, heritage and civilisation of the old Oyo Empire, sent a representative, Prince Sheriff Adebayo-Onisile, a Yoruba historian, on a three-day special mission to the neighbouring country.

A statement by the Alaafin’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, said the mission provided an opportunity for consultation, cultural diplomacy, reconciliation and mobilisation ahead of the celebration.

It added that the visit also reinforced the historical and cultural connections between the old Oyo Empire and Yoruba communities in the Republic of Benin.

During the mission, Prince Onisile visited Igolo, where he was received by the Aladjache of Adjache-Ile (Porto-Novo), Oba Dr Rafiu Atanda Adesakin, as well as other traditional and community leaders.

He also met prominent Yoruba elders, politicians, socio-cultural association leaders and traders in Porto-Novo, where discussions focused on Yoruba unity, preservation and promotion of Yoruba culture, the historical relationship between Dahomey and the old Oyo Empire, the proposed visit of the Alaafin to the Republic of Benin and preparations for the Oyo Empire Day celebration.

Speaking at the meeting, Onisile said the preservation of ancestral connections remained important in an era when migration and technology could weaken family and cultural ties.

He said deliberate remembrance of ancestral history could help restore a sense of belonging and continuity among Yoruba communities across national boundaries.

The Alaafin’s representative also met Chief Clement Kouchade, Minister for Secondary Education and Bashorun of Pobeland in Plateau Province, at his office at the Federal Secretariat in Cotonou.

The meeting centred on Oyo heritage in the Republic of Benin, the historical and cultural ties between Yoruba communities and Oyo, as well as concerns about unity and peaceful coexistence among Yoruba people in the country.

Kouchade expressed delight at the visit and conveyed his greetings to the Alaafin, whom he described as the “Titan of Yorubaland.”

He lauded the monarch’s efforts towards promoting unity, mutual understanding and cultural interaction among Yoruba and other ethnic communities in the Republic of Benin.

The minister also said the government and people of the Republic of Benin looked forward to receiving the Alaafin in the country.

Onisile met leaders of Ẹgbẹ Isokan Ọmọ Yoruba in the Republic of Benin, alongside representatives of the Agboluaje and Oníkòyí families.

Those present included the Aladjache of Adjache-Ile, Oba Rafiu Atanda Adesakin; Pa Oniloudé Éégoubiyi Macaire, former governor of Ouémé and Plateau Provinces; Prof Oyedekpo Mouftaou Laleye, former Beninese ambassador to Nigeria; Prof Aminu Taofiki Agboluaje, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abomey-Calavi; and other Yoruba community leaders.

Onisile delivered the Alaafin’s message of peace and unity and discussed the expected participation of Yoruba communities in the Republic of Benin in the Oyo Empire Day celebration.

In their response, the leadership of Ẹgbẹ Isokan Ọmọ Yoruba expressed appreciation for the Alaafin’s intervention in promoting peace, reconciliation and unity among Yoruba communities in Porto-Novo.

The group pledged to work towards reconciling factions within the Yoruba community and resolving their differences amicably.

According to the statement, Ẹgbẹ Isokan Ọmọ Yoruba serves as an umbrella body for indigenous Yoruba socio-cultural clubs and organisations in the Republic of Benin and is preparing for its annual anniversary ceremony scheduled for November 2026 in Ouidah.

The Alaafin’s representative also visited Ayogo-Ile, an ancient settlement said to have historical links with Oyo-Ile.

According to the traditional account presented during the visit, the ancestors of the Alayogo were linked to Ona-Efa, an emissary of the Alaafin who, together with his family, settled in the area to collect Isakole (tribute) on behalf of the Alaafin about four centuries ago.

The Alayogo is consequently regarded as the Arole Alaafin in Ayogo-Ile Kingdom.

The visit provided an opportunity to discuss the historical relationship between Ayogo-Ile and the Oyo Empire and explore prospects for strengthening cultural and traditional relations between the community and the Alaafin’s Palace.

The Alaafin’s media office said the mission represented another step towards strengthening ties between the Alaafin’s Palace, Yoruba traditional institutions and Yoruba communities across the Republic of Benin and the wider Yoruba cultural sphere.