Biography
Her Imperial Majesty Queen Ashley Folasade Adeyeye-Ogunwusi, Ojaja II (Yeye Omi Oodua) is the Queen of the Yoruba and the wife of Oba Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi the 51st and current Ooni of Ife King in Nigeria.
She is a born Princess who comes from the esteemed Lafogido ruling house of Ile-Ife, which is one of the 4 ruling houses the in great Ife Kingdom, Nigeria, one of which her husband the Oonirisa is from (Giesi ruling house) and represents the Yoruba people of Nigeria.
Professional background:
H.I.M Queen Ashley AFolasade Adeyeye-Ogunwusi Ojaja II is a Chartered Certified Accountant in the United Kingdom, with a BSc in Accounting, Msc in Accounting and Finance from the University of Greenwich London United Kingdom, Queen Ashley holds an AAT and ACCA qualifications which makes her a Member and Fellow of the Association for Accounting Technician (AAT) and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) in the United Kingdom, and countless other certifications in Accounting. Queen Ashley is an entrepreneur who has various businesses in the United Kingdom.
She is the CEO of RISENCROWN Limited, RISENCROWN Property Limited, CROWNRISEN Limited company also a Director in a couple of her Retail Franchises she runs in the United Kingdom which has been a very successful business since 2003.
H.I.M Queen Ashley AFolasade is the Founder/CEO of Ashley Adegoke Foundation which is a charity organisation that was set up in memory of her late Father, Prince Jacob Adebiyi Adegoke who was a philanthropist before his demise to further his legacy, this charity is self funded by Queen Ashley as a way to give back and to impact in the lives of Orphans, Widows, single mothers and less privileged in Ile-Ife, Osun State and across Nigeria as a whole.
H.I.M Queen Ashley AFolasade Ogunwusi Ojaja II 's mission is to bring hope in a way to inspire and empower the less privileged children, to help lift their spirit and create a lasting solution to poverty, Hunger and social injustice. She has continued to help orphanage homes by providing a loving home and family for every child within its care by making accommodation habitable and disease free through funding of various orphanage homes. Her ongoing efforts have inspired long-life learning, promoted family relationships, and also impacted a spirit of responsibility, advanced knowledge, and strengthened every member of the orphanage homes and the community as a whole.
I am a very self-confident Queen who appreciates the way God has created me. I could describe myself as 5Bs: Black, Beautiful, Brainy, Bodily-set and Bold. I am very comfortable in my beautiful skin and my husband loves me that way.
Kingdom: Yoruba
Her Royal Majesty Queen Ashley AFolasade Ogunwusi Ojaja King Kufulula is the Queen of the Yoruba Tribe in West Africa also known as Ìran Yorùbá, Ọmọ Odùduwà or Ọmọ Káàárọ̀-oòjíire
The Yoruba constitute more than 50 million people in Africa, are over a million outside the continent, and bear further representation among members of the African diaspora. The vast majority of the Yoruba population is today within the country of Nigeria, where they make up 20.7% of the country's population according to House of African Royalty, making them one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. Most Yoruba people speak the Yoruba language, which is the Niger-Congolanguage with the largest number of native.
In Africa, the Yoruba are contiguous with the Yoruboid Itsekiri to the south-east in the northwest Niger Delta, Bariba to the northwest in Benin and Nigeria, the Nupe to the north, and the Ebira to the northeast in central Nigeria. To the east are the Edo, Ẹsan, and Afemai groups in mid-western Nigeria. To the northeast and adjacent to the Ebira and northern Edo, groups are the related Igalapeople on the left bank of the Niger River. To the south are the Gbe-speaking Mahi, Gun, Fon, and Ewe who border Yoruba communities in Benin and Togo, to the west they are bordered by the Kwa-speaking Akebu, Kposoof Togo, and to the northwest, by the Kwa-speaking Anii, and the Gur speaking Kabiye, Yom-Lokpa and Tem people of Togo.
Outside Africa, the Yoruba diaspora consists of two main groupings; the first being that of the Yorubas taken as slaves to the New World between the 16th to 19th centuries, notably to the Caribbean (especially in Cuba) and Brazil, and the second consisting of a wave of relatively recent migrants, the majority of whom began to migrate to the United Kingdom and the United States following some of the major economic and political changes encountered in Africa in the 1960s till date.
The Yoruba have been living in advanced urban kingdoms for more than 1,500 years. They created a strong economy through farming, trading, and art production. Their outstanding and unique artistic traditions include woodcarving, sculpture, metal work, textiles, and beadwork.
Heritage and Cultural Contributions:
Queen Ashley AFolasade is a staunch advocate for the preservation of Yoruba heritage and traditions. She actively promotes cultural exchange programs, educational initiatives, and arts and crafts exhibitions to showcase the rich cultural tapestry of the Yoruba people.
As the Yeye Omi Oodua for all Yoruba descendants by virtue of her Husband’s position as the progenitor of the culture and tradition for all Yoruba descendants, Olori Ashley AFolasade has a strong dispositions with the Olokun spirituality and she is known for her active roles at key festivals and traditional activities in the Ife Kingdom of Nigeria.
She revealed her connection with the Olokun while announcing the 2023 edition of the annual world Olokun festival.
Olokun is the Orisha of great wealth and the Orisha of the bottom of the sea. Olokun is revered as all bodies of water and for the authority over other water deities.
During the annual celebration of the Osara Festival, Queen Ashley AFolasade explained that the festival is laced with immeasurable spiritual components since time immemorial. She explained the historical background of Osara and why she should always be celebrated.
She pointed out that Osara, one of the wives of Oduduwa who happened to be a friend to Olokun, her co-wife. Queen Ashley Ogunwusi Ojaja II narrated the strong bond between Olokun and Osara, imploring Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of Unity for the greatness of Nigeria.
“Osara was one of the wives of Ooni Oduduwa. She was a close friend of Olokun who was also a wife of Oduduwa. She is the goddess of lagoon, while Olokun is the goddess of the sea.
“Osara is known for purity and loyalty and if people can just emulate the purity and the loyalty of Osara, the deity is still right there to give children to the barren, job to the job seekers, peace to the conflict region, strength to the weak and healing to the sick.” Queen Ashley AFolasade Ogunwusi Ojaja II said.
On Tuesday, 3rd of September, 2024, Olori Folashade at a London Hospital, gave birth to her first son the crown prince Ooni.
Interests:
With a diverse background in business finance, and education, Queen Queen Ashley AFolasade’s interests span a broad spectrum. She is passionate the economic empowerment of women, and the integration of traditional African wisdom with modern science to address contemporary challenges. Her efforts to promote environmental sustainability and her advocacy for education reflect her holistic approach to leadership.
Year Crowned: 2022
Title: Queen of Yoruba
Relationship Status: Married
Kids: 2
Date of Birth: April 19, 1984
Age: 40 years
Legacy:
The legacy of Queen Ashley AFolasade is one filled with meaningful progress, cultural reverence, and the empowerment of her people. Through her leadership, she aims to motivate future generations to uphold the values of unity, environmental respect, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge and understanding.
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