The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, has categorically stated that idol worship is not a part of Yoruba culture.
In a sermon delivered on Friday, July 19, 2024, at the Jamaat Taawunil Muslimeen Central Mosque in Iwo, the monarch asserted that the practice was a foreign import.
Oba Akanbi criticised the worship of Yoruba deities, claiming they were ordinary humans with origins outside Yorubaland.
He specifically mentioned Ogun, Sango, and Orunmila, asserting that their reverence as gods is unfounded and detrimental to the progress of individuals and the kingdom.
The Oluwo called on his subjects to reject idol worship entirely, emphasising its negative impact on personal and societal development.