With the demise of Oba Samuel Afolabi, the Onilua of Ilua in Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State recently at the age of 141, the interest of The Culture Newspaper was kindled to take a look at oldest reigning monarchs in the world as custodians of culture and tradition and filed in this report.
Queen Elizabeth II -94 Years
At 94 years of age, Queen Elizabeth II is the oldest verified reigning monarch in the world today. Born on the 21st of April 1926, she ascended the throne in 1952.
Apart from being the oldest monarch, she has also surpassed 19th century Emperor of Austria Franz Joseph I as the monarch with the longest reign having been on the throne for over 68 years. She is second only to Louis XIV of France who reigned for 72 years and 110-days.
Louis XIV of France is known as Louis the Great, the French monarch became King at the age of four following the death of his father Louis XIII, and ruled from 14 May 1643 to 1 September 1715.
In third place is Johann II of Liechtenstein, who ruled from 1858 and 1929, followed by Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.
King Bhumibol reigned from 1946 until his death in October 2016 and was the world’s longest-living reigning monarch before the Queen.
As the custodian of the British culture, Her Majesty continues to carry out a full program of engagements, from visits to charities and schools to hosting visiting Heads of State, to leading the nation in Remembrance and celebratory events – all supported by other members of the Royal Family.
Oba Saliu Adetunji – 92
Saliu Adetunji, born August 26, 1928 is a Nigerian monarch who currently sits as the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan following his coronation on March 4, 2016.
The Olubadan was born as the first of 17 children of Raji Olayiwola and Suwebat Amope Adetunji on August 26, 1928 in Ibadan, Oyo State. He grew up learning vocational jobs until he took up fashion designing as a means of living after moving to Lagos. While working as a fashion designer, Saliu delved into musical record marketing until 1960 when he founded his first of three record label imprints called Baba Laje Records which housed notable fuji music acts including Dauda Epo-Akara and Wasiu Ayinde Marshall.
Before his coronation as the Olubadan of Ibadan, Saliu Adetunji was the Balogun of Ibadan land. Despite being in his 90s, he is in his 5th years as the Olubadan.
Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah- 91 Years
In third place is His Highness, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the 15th Ruler of Kuwait, and the 5th Emir of the State of Kuwait.
He is currently 91 years of age having been born on the 16th of June 1929. He received primary education at Al Mubarakya School during the 1930s and then completed his education under tutors. He is the half-brother of the previous Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, who appointed Sabah as Prime Minister in July 2003, replacing the Crown Prince of Kuwait, Sheikh Saad Al-Salim Al-Sabah.
Before becoming the Emir of Kuwait, Sabah was the Foreign Minister of Kuwait between 1963 and 2003. During his time as Foreign Minister, Sabah restored Kuwaiti international relations after the first Gulf War. He was also First Deputy Prime Minister while serving as Foreign Minister.
On 15th January 2006, the Emir, Sheikh Jaber, died, making Sheikh Saad, Crown Prince of Kuwait, the new Emir. He ascended the throne on the 29th of January 2006.
Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi III- 89 Years
Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi III was born in 1931 and he is the current ruler of the emirate of Ajman and a member of the UAE Supreme Council of the Union. He is the 10th ruler of Ajman. Humaid bin Rashid succeeded his late father Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi III on September 6, 1981. He previously served as deputy ruler since 1960. Under his reign, the state has seen rapid changes from a small fishing town at the time of independence to a modern emirate.
He received his early education in Dubai in the 1940s and 1950s and later went to Cairo for further studies. In the early 1970s he became active in the affairs of state, as Ajman joined the United Arab Emirates in December 1971 and he was required to act as the deputy ruler. He belongs to the Al Na’im tribe.
Sikiru Kayode Adetona – 86
Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, born 10 May 1934 is the current Awujale of the Ijebu Kingdom, a traditional state in Nigeria. He was installed as the king in 1960, making him one of the longest-reigning monarchs in Nigeria.
His father was Prince Rufai Adeto and mother, Alhaja Ajibabi Adetona (née Onashile). As king, he represents the Anikilaya ruling family.
As a young Prince, Adetona variously attended Baptist School, Ereko, Ijebu Ode; Ogbere United Primary School, Oke Agbo, Ijebu Igbo; and Ansar-Ud-Deen School, Ijebu Ode between 1943 and 1950. For his secondary education, he attended Olu-Iwa (now Adeola Odutola) College, Ijebu Ode from 1951 to 1956.
Between 1957 and 1958 he took up an appointment with the then Audit Department of the Western Region, Ibadan. The prince resigned his appointment in 1958 to pursue further studies in accountancy in the United Kingdom, which was the colonial ruler of Nigeria at the time.
By a letter dated January 4, 1960, referenced CB. 4 1/333, the Permanent Secretary in the Western Region Ministry of Local Government conveyed to the Local Government Adviser in Ijebu Ode approval of the Western Region Governor in Council, the appointment of Prince Sikiru Kayode Adetona as king, and his confirmation as the new Awujale of Ijebuland with effect from that date (January 4, 1960).
On January 18, 1960, the Head of the Ijebu Ode Regency Council, the Ogbeni-Oja, Chief Timothy Adeola Odutola formally presented the new traditional ruler to the whole world. This presentation, which was a novelty, signaled the commencement of the installation ceremonies of the king-elect.
Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud – 85 Years
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was born on the 31st of December 1935 and has been the King of Saudi Arabia and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques since 23 January 2015.
He was the deputy governor of Riyadh and later the governor of Riyadh for 48 years from 1963 to 2011. He was then appointed Minister of Defense. He was also named the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in 2012 following the death of his brother Nayef bin Abdulaziz. Salman became King in 2015 following the death of his half-brother, King Abdullah. He is the oldest surviving son of Ibn Saud.
His major initiatives as the King include the Saudi intervention in the Yemeni Civil War, Saudi Vision 2030, and a 2017 decree allowing Saudi women to drive cars.
Harald V of Norway- 83 Years
Harald V was born on the 21st of February 1937 and is the current King of Norway, having ascended the throne upon the death of his father King Olav V on 17 January 1991.
Harald was the third child and only son of King Olav V and Princess Märtha of Sweden. He was second in the line of succession at the time of his birth, behind his father.
In 1940, as a result of the German occupation during World War II, the royal family went into exile. Harald spent part of his childhood in Sweden and the United States. He returned to Norway in 1945 and subsequently studied for periods at the University of Oslo, the Norwegian Military Academy and Balliol College, Oxford.
In 1957, following the death of his grandfather Haakon VII, Harald became crown prince as his father became king. A keen sportsman, he represented Norway in sailing in 1964, 1968, and 1972 Olympic Games, and later became a patron of World Sailing. Harald married Sonja Haraldsen in 1968, their relationship having initially being controversial due to her status as a commoner. The couple had two children, Märtha Louise and Haakon. Harald succeeded his father as king in 1991, with Haakon becoming his heir apparent.
Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III- 82 Years
Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III was born on the 15th of October 1938. He is the Alaafin, or traditional ruler, of the Yoruba town of Oyo.
Lamidi Adeyemi succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in 1970, during the governorship of Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, after the end of the Nigerian Civil War.
In 1975 the head of state General Murtala Ramat Mohammed included Oba Adeyemi in his entourage to the hajj. He was chancellor of Uthman dan Fodiyo University in Sokoto from 1980 to 1992.
In 1990 President Ibrahim Babangida appointed him Amir-ul-Hajj in recognition of his commitment to the consolidation of Islam in Nigeria. He is a lover of boxing, as he was a boxer before ascending the throne of his Fathers.
Margrethe II- 80 Years
She was born Margrethe Alexandrine Þórhildur Ingrid; on the 16th of April 1940 and is the current Queen of Denmark, the supreme authority of the Church of Denmark and the commander-in-chief of the Danish Defence.
She was born into the House of Glücksburg, a royal house with origins in northern Germany, she was the eldest child of Frederick IX of Denmark and Ingrid of Sweden. A child of destiny, she became heir presumptive to her father in 1953 when a constitutional amendment allowed women to inherit the throne.
Upon her father’s death in 1972, Margrethe succeeded her father. On her accession, she became the first female monarch of Denmark since Margrethe I, ruler of the Scandinavian kingdoms in 1375–1412 during the Kalmar Union.
In 1967, she married Henri de Laborde de Monpezat, with whom she had two sons: Crown Prince Frederik and Prince Joachim.
She is also one of the longest-reigning monarchs in the world having been on the throne for close to 50 years.
NB: The list is limited to Monarchs who are 80 years and above.
