Meghan Markle Pens Letter to Oluwo of Iwo for Hospitality During Nigeria Visit

Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex and wife of Prince Harry, has written an appreciation letter to the Osun State monarch, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, Oluwo of Iwo, expressing gratitude for the warm hospitality she received during her recent visit to Nigeria.

According to a statement by the monarch’s Press Secretary, Alli Ibrahim, on Saturday, June 1, 2024, Markle’s letter acknowledged the Yoruba name, Adetokunbo, which was bestowed upon her during the trip.

In mid-May, the royal couple embarked on a three-day working visit to Nigeria to support wounded veterans and engage with key stakeholders. “Oluwo was invited as the only Yoruba Oba to give her a royal reception at Delborough Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos. Therein, Oba Akanbi bestowed on her a Yoruba name and presented gifts of Ofi and royal beads,” Ibrahim said.

Following a genealogy test in 2022, Markle discovered that she is 43% Nigerian. During her visit, she expressed her appreciation for the new cultural connection. “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 to the Oluwo.

She further emphasized the significance of the visit in her letter, stating, “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.”