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Abiola Dosunmu
Chief Abiola Dosunmu (formerly Dosunmu-Elegbede-Fernandez, born 29 July 1947), is a Nigerian businesswoman, socialite and traditional aristocrat. In addition to a variety of other chieftaincy titles, she currently holds that of the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos. Early lifeAbiola Dosunmu was born in Kano on 29 July 1947, into the royal family of Omoba Adewunmi and Olori Adejoke Dosunmu of Lagos Island. She is a direct descendant of Oba Dosunmu of Lagos, and is therefore of both royal Yoruba and royal Bini origins.[1][2] Her maternal grandmother was an Iyalode of the Owu Egba.[3] The Erelu Kuti IV of LagosAbiola Dosunmu was made the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos by her relative (Oba Adeyinka Oyekan of Lagos) in 1980.[4] In this capacity, she serves as the ceremonial queen mother, and reigns as regent of Lagos upon the death of an incumbent monarch, until a substantive successor is chosen by the college of kingmakers. She has since served as Erelu Kuti for most of her life, and holds a position that only princesses from the ruling houses can attain.[5] Chiefly roles and responsibilitiesIn LagosThe Erelu Kuti of Lagos' official duties include:
Elsewhere
Competing claim to titleA woman with the same name as Dosunmu made claims to the Erelu Kuti's title, but she died in 2019.[6] Business careerDosunmu studied business administration in London.[7] She is also said to have "revolutionized the traditional Aso Oke business to become the multi-million dollar industry it is today",[2] and she promoted the culture of the Yoruba people in Nigeria through the Aso Oke. She later served as the interior decorator of the Nigerian High Commission in London.[2] She also opened a shop on Bond Street in London.[2] InfluenceThe Erelu, a fashion trend consisting of a skirt and short agbada worn by women in the 80s and early 90s, is also credited to Abiola Dosunmu.[8] Nigerian musician King Sunny Adé wrote a song honouring Dosunmu titled "Biibire Kose Fowora".[9] Honours and recognition
Personal lifeDosunmu married Major Adekunle Elegbede and had two children, Kunle Elegbede and Adewunmi Elegbede. The marriage ended when Major Elegbede died in the early 1970s.[11] Dosunmu met Chief Antonio Deinde Fernandez, an Amaro member of the Olumegbon chieftaincy family of Lagos, in 1972. At the time, Fernandez was married to an American woman.[12] Dosunmu and Fernandez were married in Nigeria at the Palace of the Oba of Lagos in April 1973 in a ceremony attended by famous Nigerians including Admiral Adekunle Lawal.[13] They had one child, a daughter named Antoinette Fernandez, who is a London-based writer, filmmaker and Green Party (UK) activist.[14][15] In 2007, Dosunmu was publicly ordered by Fernandez to stop using his surname.[16] See alsoReferences
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