I became Alaafin’s tailor after his previous tailor said it was not proper for him to be prostrating to his olori

Since the transition of our beloved king, Alaafin Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, on Saturday, 23 April, I have received condolence calls from many of his brother Obas whom he had introduced me to as his tailor and had, over time, become my patrons too.

My name is Alhaji Rafiu Iyanda Adekunle, and I am from Ojongbodu Compound in Oyo. Just for a little history, Ojongbodu was a warrior during the reign of Oba Ladigbolu.

I was born in 1953 in Ekewa, in Jobele, which is in the Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State.

For elementary schooling, I attended St Peter’s Anglican Primary School, Jobele and for secondary schooling, I attended Fiditi Grammar School; both are in Afijio LGA.

Being the only male child of my father, he feared that if I went beyond secondary school, and I probably became a white-collar worker, I could be transferred to a far place where when he needed emergency help, I would be nowhere to be found.

So, he handed me over to a popular tailor, Alhaji Lasisi, in Oke-Afin in Atiba LGA, who trained me for three years in the making of native wears with traditional motifs and embellishments. Today, six of my children are involved in the making of clothes, both native and Western. Four of them, including my first son, are operating out of Nnewi in Anambra State, and they are well-established there. Two are operating from Oyo and they support me when I have large orders which happens often.

I established on my own in 1974.

Now, let me talk about how I became the tailor to our father, Alaafin.

As you may already know, he was coronated on the 14th of January 1971.

The person who was making his clothes was Alhaji Wahab Olawuwo and he was senior to him. He did that for good four years after Oba Olayiwola Adeyemi III ascended the throne.

It came to a point that Alhaji Olawuwo said that it was not appropriate for him to be prostrating for the Alaafin’s Ayaba, because he was senior in age, and he would have to be coming to the palace, now and then, and that the monarch should look for a new tailor.

It was then that Iya Lekoto, Oba Adeyemi III’s most senior Ayaba, came with the one we all called Baba n’ Jos, but whose name was Yakubu, to fetch me from our family compound. Apparently, when Oba Adeyemi III, went for his installation as the chancellor of Uthman dan Fodiyo, in Sokoto, one of the persons who had performed a cultural dance there was Baba n’ Jos and it was the dandogo I made for him that attracted the Alaafin.

That was how it was to our compound that Baba n’ Jos brought Iya Lekoto, and from there I became Alaafin’s sole tailor.

I never had to put a measuring tape on his body. When I became his tailor, I was handed some of his favourite wears and asked to take my cue from there. Perhaps, modern traditional rulers allow tailors to measure them, but I never measured the Alaafin. In fact, when he wanted to present gifts of clothes to some of his notable visitors, including state governors and other obas, he would invite me to the palace to brief me and I would take my measurements of whomsoever simply by sighting them. I think that a good tailor should be able to measure by sight.

There was never anytime that the Alaafin reported any flaw in the clothes I made for him. Never. Instead he was proud to recommend me to everyone as his tailor.

I cannot count those he also introduced me to and even those who have seen what I have made for him who asked him who his tailor was. Believe me, I cannot count them.

When former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun in July 2017 gave out his daughter in marriage, I made all the native wears for him, his friends, and his associates and well-wishers. The Alaafin had recommended me to him. Obviously, he had gone to invite the Alaafin to the wedding and had told him about the making of clothes for him. The Alaafin told him that no one else made his clothes except me. That was how I went to meet Gov Amosun at Alaafin’s office in Ibadan. He wanted me to go and join his tailor in Lagos to work on the clothes, but I politely declined, telling him it would amount to me going to teach them their work.

I told him that the Alaafin had provided workshops for us in Oyo where we made his clothes and that is where we operate from. He eventually agreed, gave me the fabrics for his own clothes, President Olusegun Obasanjo’s, the Alaafin’s and his older brother’s. He took me to meet President Obasanjo and told him I was Alaafin’s tailor, and I would be making his clothes for the daughter’s wedding. Guess what Baba Obasanjo said? That he had been in search of Alaafin’s tailor long before then. Baba allowed me to measure him. Gov Amosun paid me in advance. I left Abeokuta late that Saturday night, accompanied by some of his security personnel. Three days later, they brought more fabrics for other prominent people who were going to be his guests. I finished everything on time, and they found them lovely. In fact, his wife was so impressed with my craft and she said it openly.

I thank the Almighty for showing me the direction and giving me the enablement to perform outstandingly.

We are still trying to come to terms with Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III’s passing. I have already made the clothes and abeti aja for his Eid al-Fitr outing (points to them).  He always prayed for me whenever I delivered his clothes to him.

I have duly earned the title of Atobase of Alaafin that Baba gave me. Yes, I am the one who made the Alaafin turn out adorably.

My main workshop is at Gidado Complex, opposite Akesan market and my phone numbers are 08134654140 08087103844 (WhatsApp). We shall be glad to make your native wears to the adoration of others. No matter the quantity, I can raise a team to work on them. 

Appreciation to Lanre Adebisi of Old Oyo National Park and Nurudeen Ayoola, an aide to Ayaba Abibat (Iya Lekoto) for the local facilitations in Oyo.