Chanel Chin, the estranged wife of Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo, has stirred conversation after a wide-ranging interview in which she disclosed her experiences in the palace, which felt foreign and overwhelming to her.

“I didn’t know a king in Nigeria could have as many wives as he wants… When I caught him cheating, he told me, ‘I’m a king.’ And when I went to consult the Iyalajes and the other women, they said, ‘Oh Olori, just put it to God. In Yoruba land, you don’t leave your husband.’ My father is Jamaican, my mother British, and I was raised in Canada. I didn’t know anything about juju until I came to Iwo.”

Her revelations have triggered strong reactions on social media.

On X (formerly Twitter), user @frekyefzy commented: “She’s so right. The African culture is not woman-friendly. Most of these men are grand patrons of misogyny.” Another user, @Donmike_X, said: “Would you rather date a king or someone loyal? Let’s be honest.” These responses reflect a growing impatience with cultural norms that favour male privilege, even when they hurt women deeply.

Chin’s background gives her a different frame of reference. She says she had never encountered juju or many of the strict royal expectations until she moved into the palace.

Her revelations have sparked conversations beyond her personal experience, raising wider questions about culture, marriage, and the expectations placed on women in traditional settings. (The Guardian)