Princess Folasade Adeyemi, eldest daughter of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, has disclosed she decided to remain single and not married by choice.
She revealed this in a recent interview with The Nation.
The princess, who has won several cultural awards both locally an internationally, said that she does not intend to marry anytime soon but explained that “it is not difficult for me to say a capital ‘no’ with respect to men that approach me for a date.”
According to the princess, who once contested the House of Representatives and Assembly seat, she will say yes when the right man eventually surfaces. “But certainly,when the right choice comes, I will not hesitate to give a positive answer. My ideal man will have to be very intelligent, bold, with good principles .he will be the type that allows me to be who I am and will be ready to add great value to my life. I guess that is as simple as ABC.”
Would she like her suitor to come from Oyo? she answered: “one should not have a soulmate based on what states they come from. A soulmate I believe is more about how one feels about that person, not about where he or she comes from.”
Explaining how she feels being a daughter of the Alaafin, she quipped: “I have been living in America for years. It was a great privilege to travel to America at the age of 13. For that, I’m very grateful. So I can say that right now, it is very comfortable to be the daughter of Alaafin of Oyo. But about 10 years ago, when I just came back from the United States, it was not that easy and comfortable for me. Thank God, I have branded myself and people now appreciate me and know my worth.”
Speaking on why the Alaafin does not make it compulsory for his children to follow a particular religion, she noted: “the palace is a traditional institution. We grew up with Ifa, Sango, Obatala and Ogun, while the royal family’ religion is Islam. But as we grew older, Alaafin’s children grew in all other aspects of development too. Some of us listen to inner call and choose preferred religion.”
“We still have strong, influential female characters in the palace today; most of the senior Oloris of Baba Alaafin are influential. And I will also include myself (laughs),” she revealed when asked if there are still influential female characters in the palace, like in the past.
She added: “I am not my father’s PA but I am more like a consultant and I do represent him at any forum on cultural events if there is need to do so.
“Growing in the palace was like a town itself with very strict discipline, full of cultural events and uncountable visitor. We, the princesses, always have to be good looking in order to receive visitors and prepare them to meet Baba Alaafin. I remember that we the children were not going out to see friends or go to our friend’s houses. We were nnot used to going to parties too or to anywhere on our own. However, we used to attend events with our dad or with the Oloris,” she narrated.
She disclosed that drums attract her most. “When I hear the good sound of a drum, I immediately get dancing feet. I am a good dancer, whenever Baba dances, I always challenge him (laughs); that is how good I am.”
Packaging cultural event is her passion. And she has received commendations for that within and outside the country.As her passion for culture grew, she created Arewa House of Culture. ” I took over Oyo Alaafin cultural events by repackaging the ancient festivals such as Sango, Egungun, Agidan Ifa, Isese Day and Oranyan festivals. I was very proud of myself when I created the maiden edition of National Isese day celebration festival in Trinidad in 2014.”
