Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, has expressed her gratitude to Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo, for his warm hospitality during her recent visit to Nigeria with her husband, Prince Harry. The couple was on a three-day working visit to support wounded veterans and engage with key stakeholders in the country.
In a statement issued by the monarch’s Press Secretary, Alli Ibrahim, on Saturday, June 1, 2024, Oba Akanbi shared that Markle had penned a letter of appreciation, acknowledging the Yoruba name "Adetokunbo" bestowed upon her by the monarch.
During their mid-May visit, the royal couple was honored by Oba Akanbi at Delborough Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos, where he presented Markle with traditional gifts of Ofi and royal beads, and conferred upon her the Yoruba name. The Oluwo was the only Yoruba king invited to give the Duchess a royal reception.
Markle's connection to Nigeria is personal; after taking a genealogy test in 2022, she discovered that she is 43% Nigerian. In her letter, Markle emphasized the significance of her new name and the deeper understanding of her heritage gained through the visit.
"Thank you for your warm welcome to Nigeria. I’m deeply humbled by your blessing of the traditional Yoruba name, Adetokunbo. I treasure the name and appreciate your trust in me to carry it with grace and dignity," Markle wrote. She added, "Our visit to Nigeria was important for many reasons, but not least because it gave us an opportunity to explore and understand my heritage, which extends to our children. We look forward to coming back home one day soon."
The visit by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has not only highlighted their commitment to charitable causes but also reinforced cultural and ancestral connections, fostering goodwill between Nigeria and the British royal family.
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