Adegbolu Abiogemo Adefunmi, also known as Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II, the leader of Oyotunji African Village in Beaufort County, South Carolina, USA, was tragically stabbed to death, allegedly by his sister, following a heated argument.
The incident occurred on Monday, July 29, 2024, around 2:45 p.m., as reported by local authorities. The 47-year-old Adefunmi was rushed to a nearby hospital but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.
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The suspect, 53-year-old Akiba Kasale Meredith, fled the scene but was apprehended shortly after by the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office. She has been charged with murder and is being held at the Beaufort County Detention Center, with her bond deferred.
Adefunmi, who had led the Oyotunji African Village since 2005, was widely respected in the local community. A spokesperson for the village has declined media interviews due to ongoing cultural ceremonies, which are expected to last several days.
Adefunmi’s passing marks a significant loss for the community, as he was seen as a modernizer of the traditional Yoruba village founded by his father, Oba Efuntola Oseijeman Adelabu Adefunmi I, in 1970.
The case remains under investigation.
