we have 32 Courtyards

 HIGH CHIEF OLANIRAN ADEWALE  OSUPORU

THE OSUPORU OF OWO KINGDOM 

        

                      .......... 32 Courtyards in Osuporu's compound

                        .......We have a  forbidden room for women

             .........I'm grateful to Olowo of Owo &Osuporu family 

            ......I was in  spiritual incubation for nine days

1.  .   

               CULTURE
       From his neck up to the  face are  covered with coral beads,  only his eyes  are  visible. Attached on his royal cap and  Orunfanran traditional clothe  are   different types of  carvings of  artworks made from ivory. His dressing exhibits his unique and class of the  traditional tittle he holds.

    Aside from his dressing , the royal house of the traditional tittle holder sends the message to passers- bye that the house is house of culture as  the  front view of  the Osuporu royal  house is designed with historical  art works .The  courtyard is  adorned with  different types and sizes  of ancient historical statues  with stories  woven around them . The building  has  become  Historical House where students , Historians and Curators visit for more  research and knowledge .

                  HOW I BECAME A CHIEF

The soft spoken High Chief said ''after  the demise of the late Osuporu, the Olowo of Owo who is the HIM Oba (Dr) David Victor Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi III asked the Osuporu  family to present  a suitable candidate for the esteemed position , and the family  unanimously picked me  and I  was presented to the royal father as the new Chief .No complain, no threat, no criticism and no  rancour .I was presented to the Olowo of Owo as the  sole candidate by the family  and was accepted ''.

                        I PERFORMED MY RITES
 The Chief who is a staunch Christian  affirmed that he performed all the necessary rites according to Owo  tradition and custom. He  said '' I observed all the necessary rites before I  assumed the full authority of the exalted  position'' , he explained further  ,"I was immediately restricted  to the official  royal family house. I wore  my traditional white dress and proceeded to Irogho Olisagho in continuation of the rites''.
Other rites he performed according to him  are :   he was in spiritual incubation for nine days and observed the normal  rites in accordance to tradition and follow  his forefather's footsteps. When asked how, he responded   "I was in  the house for nine days , herein I abstained from eating leftover soup  and had to eat fresh soup  daily, not only this, I was also warned   to abstain from women, as part of the compulsory rites'' .
 On what he was eating at that time, the Chief  said, he was eating food but must not partake in leftover food, he said '' my favorite food was pounded yam''.

                         MY POSITION IN  OWO
   Asked  the position of the  Osuporu family  in Owo, the High Chief with total humility  said “I know my position is among the 10 positions of the High Chiefs in Owo'', was simply his response. and he added ''I was installed on the 16th of February 2017 by the glory of God'



                            COSTUMES
        Osuporu's  mode of dressing is one of the most unique  and incomparable in the ancient town as he is the only Chief that has the authority to put it on .He wore a beaded cap, covering his face  and his neck too with  expensive coral beads,  he said " this type of bead is worn only  by the  Osuporu tittle holder  in Owo Kingdom and nobody wears  it in the whole Yorubaland'', adding  ''the  clothe I am wearing is called Orunfanran, which is associated with the title'' .                       .

     Asked to talk about the  carvings and other artworks in the royal house , the Master degree holder in Sociology defended it and said '' statues  here are  associated with what we have in the ancient houses , you  can  find these in some   houses in Owo , as it is not peculiar to this place alone'.

     RELIGION
 The man who is a staunch Christian and  a traditionalist with roles to play in Owo Cultural activities  said the two roles are very important and  does  not mean contradiction , being a traditional tittle holder and practitioner of Culture does not contradict my belief, he said '' I am a Christian , and we all worship the same God , its your faith that matters'', he counseled. 

                   THE   MEANING  OF  OSUPORU    
Meaning of Osuporu
He said , the meaning is that the month was derived from the story. It was said that there was famine in Owo land, and it was only Osuporu that made food available for the  entire Owo people. Osu  means 'month', he however promised to speak more on it later.
        Courtyards
   Osuporu royal house is one of the most beautiful royal houses in Owo , with the new Chief , the building is being repaired and reconstructed daily with new designs to befit the tittle and of course for the lovers of arts  and researchers to visit which they believe is an archive for Historians . Looking at the building one could see the beautiful  art works of different types welcoming visitors. The High Chief without mincing words declared ''We have 32 courtyards in this compound  and there is a forbidden room  a woman should not enter , and if she defiles it then ...'' asked what would happen to the woman ,the  man answered '' no woman has ever  entered or defied the rule so I  don't know what would happen''.