Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi bans alcoholic drinks from Iwo palace

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, announced via a video on his Facebook page that Hennessy and other alcoholic beverages are no longer welcome in his palace. He said the drinks pose serious health risks to elders and warned that offering them is an attempt to harm the king. The monarch urged visitors to present alternative gifts instead of alcohol, arguing that alcohol is not part of Yoruba ancestral tradition.

Akanbi also condemned violent masquerade practices that beat people during festivals and questioned restrictions on movement, especially for women, during events such as the Oro festival, calling them unconstitutional.