Chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boa ...

Abiola Dosunmu (formerly Dosunmu-Elegbede-Fernandez, born 29 July 1947), is a Nigerian businesswoman,

socialite A socialite is a person from a wealthy and (possibly) aristocratic background, who is prominent in high society. A socialite generally spends a significant amount of time attending various fashionable social gatherings, instead of having traditio ...

and traditional aristocrat. In addition to a variety of other chieftaincy titles, she currently holds that of the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos.

Early life

Abiola Dosunmu was born in Kano on 29 July 1947, into the

royal family A royal family is the immediate family of kings/queens, emirs/emiras, sultans/ sultanas, or raja/ rani and sometimes their extended family. The term imperial family appropriately describes the family of an emperor or empress, and the term ...

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 The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba consti ...

and royal Bini origins. Her maternal grandmother was an Iyalode of the Owu Egba.

The Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos

Abiola Dosunmu was made the Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos by her relative Oba Adeyinka Oyekan of Lagos in 1980. 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.

Chiefly roles and responsibilities

In Lagos

The Erelu Kuti of Lagos' official duties include: * Being a close confidant of the traditional rulers of Lagos. * Being an adviser on all social matters, such as the conferment of traditional and honorary chieftaincy titles. * Being the traditional leader of the Lagos women's organisations (such as the market guilds). * Being a member of the kingmakers' council.

Elsewhere

* Being a member of the Ogboni in Egbaland

Competing claim to title

A woman with the same name as Dosunmu made claims to the Erelu Kuti's title. She died in 2019.

Business career

Dosunmu studied

business administration Business administration, also known as business management, is the administration of a commercial enterprise. It includes all aspects of overseeing and supervising the business operations of an organization. From the point of view of management ...

in London. She is also said to have "revolutionized the traditional Aso Oke business to become the multi-million dollar industry it is today". Abiola Dosunmu 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. She also opened a shop on

Bond Street Bond Street in the West End of London links Piccadilly in the south to Oxford Street in the north. Since the 18th century the street has housed many prestigious and upmarket fashion retailers. The southern section is Old Bond Street and the l ...

in London.

Influence

The ''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. Nigerian musician King Sunny Adé wrote a song honouring Dosunmu titled "Biibire Kose Fowora".

Honours and recognition

* National honour of the Royal Kingdom of Belgium. * Life achievement award by Vanguard newspaper * Honorary Doctorate Degree, D.Cul-Doctor of Culture at the 4th convocation ceremony of

Igbinedion University Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO) is a privately owned university in Nigeria (West Africa). It was founded and established on 10 May 1999, following the Certificate of approval by the Federal Government of Nigeria with the Certificate No. 001. ...

, Okada. * Pan African Exemplary Leadership 2016 Honour /Icon of True Silent Mega Philanthropist in Africa - In recognition and appreciation of her immense contribution to Nation building, massive job creation, consistent assistance to the less privileged, excellent mentorship towards youths, youth employment, public service delivery with integrity in her discharge of duty, Promotion and Preservation of African culture and values including her selfless service to God, Humanity, Nigeria and Africa. * The

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

Journalists Association Award. * Nigerian Institute of International Affairs Award. * West African Students Union Parliament Award for Exemplary Leadership.

Personal life

Dosunmu married Major Adekunle Elegbede and had two children, Kunle Elegbede and Adewunmi Elegbede. The marriage ended when Major Elegbede died in the early 1970s. 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. 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 Adekunle Shamusideen Lawal (8 February 1934 – 27 November 1980) was a Nigerian Naval Admiral who served as military Governor of Lagos State from 1975 to 1977 and military Governor of Imo State from 1977 to 1978. Early life and education Ade ...

. They had one child, a daughter named Antoinette Oyinkansola Fernandez, who is a London-based writer and filmmaker. In 2007, Dosunmu was publicly ordered by Fernandez to stop using his surname.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dosunmu, Abiola 1947 births Living people Nigerian women in business Nigerian traditional rulers Nigerian princesses Fernandez family (Lagos) Yoruba women in business Yoruba women in politics Women in Lagos politics People from Kano Yoruba princesses Ologun-Kutere family