History was made on Saturday, August 22, 2026, in the ancient town of Araromi Ekiti, Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State, when the Oyinyo Saye of Araromi, Oba Gabriel Babatunde Adebomi Babalola, Odimulele IV, conferred the prestigious chieftaincy title of Aare Bashorun on an illustrious son of Aramoko Ekiti, Chief (Engr.) Ademola Adetifa.
The title, the first of its kind in Araromi, was conferred on the Canada-based businessman during the 2026 edition of the Kakaki Oba Festival.
According to Oba Babalola, the conferment was in recognition of Adetifa’s outstanding contributions to community development, philanthropy and mobilisation. He described the new Aare Bashorun as a foremost community leader whose developmental footprints extend beyond Aramoko Ekiti to other parts of Ekiti State.
Chief Adetifa, who currently holds the title of Mayegun of Aramoko Ekiti, has also attracted several traditional honours in other parts of Yorubaland, including Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba people, largely as a result of his philanthropic activities and commitment to community development.
The ceremony was a colourful blend of culture, tradition, celebration and expectations, as prominent sons and daughters of Ekiti converged on Araromi to honour a young man who has, in recent years, become synonymous with community development and philanthropy.
It was not the first time an Ekiti son or daughter would be honoured. Neither was it the first time Araromi would attract prominent Ekiti personalities from near and far, nor was it the first time the ancient town would celebrate its cultural festival.
But the installation of Mayegun Adetifa as Aare Bashorun brought to the fore the long-standing bond and cordial relationship between the people of Aramoko Ekiti and their neighbours in Ijero Local Government Area. That relationship, which has endured for generations, has often been cited as one of the foundations of the mutual love and cultural affinity between the people of the two communities.
The occasion was also remarkable for the unprecedented size of the delegation from Aramoko Ekiti. Led by the town’s Regent, Princess Kemi Owolabi, the delegation included the honouree’s elder brother, Mr. Gbenga Adetifa, as well as community leaders, youths, friends and associates.
When the delegation of about 300 people from Aramoko took the stage, the atmosphere changed dramatically. The crowd erupted in excitement.
As they arrived, youths and residents of Araromi lined the streets, singing solidarity songs and firing traditional gun salutes to welcome the new Aare Bashorun.
Speaking at the ceremony, Oba Babalola reeled out the qualities and achievements that informed the decision to honour Adetifa. He urged other Ekiti indigenes, both at home and in the Diaspora, to emulate the new chief by investing in the development of their communities.
‘Engr. Ademola Adetifa represents the present and the future of the Ekiti dream. His developmental footprints are felt across Ekiti, especially in Aramoko Ekiti, and we see the need to honour such a forward-looking man who is determined to join hands with government and other stakeholders to lift our communities.
‘Today, as I, Oba Gabriel Babatunde Adebomi Babalola, Odimulele IV, and the Oyinyo Saye of Araromi, confer on Engr. Ademola Adetifa the chieftaincy title of Aare Bashorun, I pray that this honour will bring greater growth, peace and development to Araromi Ekiti.’
Responding to the honour through his brother, Mr. Gbenga Adetifa, the new Aare Bashorun reflected on the historical ties between Aramoko and Araromi, describing the relationship as one built on generations of friendship, kinship and mutual respect.
He assured the monarch and the people of Araromi that Chief Adetifa would not relent in the discharge of his responsibilities as Aare Bashorun.
‘To the entire Adetifa family of Aramoko Ekiti, this is more than a chieftaincy title. It is a call to service, to bridge the gap and to lead with vision.’
The impact of the ceremony, as well as the generosity of the new Aare Bashorun, was immediately felt within the community.
According to one of the organisers, Mr. Williams Afolabi-Ojo, the scale of the attendance and the economic impact of the event were unprecedented.
‘Since the 1980s, when we started celebrating Araromi Day, there has never been a single year when an individual attracted such a crowd and donated as much as the new Chief did. Today, Aare Bashorun has done it,’ he said.
Beyond the pomp and pageantry of the ceremony, Chief Adetifa’s entourage also left a significant economic footprint in Araromi.
From pepper-soup joints to food vendors, drink sellers and other small businesses, traders experienced a remarkable surge in patronage. Many vendors reportedly sold out their goods, while market men and women went home with increased earnings.
For many residents, therefore, the celebration was not merely a traditional ceremony; it was also a day of economic activity and opportunity.
An illustrious son of Aramoko Ekiti and National Secretary-General of the Alumni Association of District Commercial Secondary School, Aramoko Ekiti (ADICO), Mr. Sulyman Akingbolu, captured the broader significance of the occasion.
‘That is the mark of a true son of the soil – one who honours his title not just with words, but with deeds that feed families and inspire communities. Mayegun Adetifa has continued to make Aramoko proud, especially those of us from the ADICO family.
‘May this new chapter bring greatness to both Araromi and Aramoko Ekiti.’ Akingbolu further added.
For the people of Araromi, the installation of Ademola Adetifa as Aare Bashorun may have been a traditional ceremony, but the symbolism went beyond the title.
It was a celebration of community, friendship, philanthropy and the enduring bond among Ekiti people.
And, for one remarkable Saturday in August, Araromi became the meeting point where tradition, development and communal solidarity converged.