Oba Sijuwade, the Ooni of Ife is buried today

A revered monarch in south-west Nigeria, the Ooni of Ife, has been buried after thousands attended his funeral.
Traditional rites to honour Oba Okunade Sijuwade
- a king of the Yoruba, Nigeria's second biggest ethnic group - are being held in the city of Ife.

Dignitaries, including Nigeria's Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, paid their respects before the private burial.
The 85-year-old sovereign was crowned in 1980 and was widely respected.

He died in London in July but his death was only announced on Wednesday.
Analysts say this was not surprising as the royal court first needed to have extensive consultations and begin the search for a successor before the announcement could be made.

He was considered the most influential monarch by most Yorubas, who number about 35 million, in south-west Nigeria, Togo and Benin.

Nigeria's many monarchs vary in hierarchy and importance and some like the Ooni of Ife rule and the northern emirs rule over large areas, while others are traditional rulers of a village or town.
'Invaluable contributions'

Abubakar Madagali, the leader of the Hausa ethnic group in Ife, told the BBC Hausa service that both Christian and Muslim leaders offered special prayers for the late king before he was buried.

Only those directly connected to the royal family attended the burial at the palace.

The Ooni of Ife's kingdom is in present-day Osun state in south-west Nigeria
The monarch should be a direct descendant of Oduduwa, who is a Yoruba god
The practice of burying someone alive with king has long been abolished

Nigeria's many monarchs
The ancient city of Ife is very quite and people are in mourning. Banks and businesses have shut, Mr Madagali said.

"We have been told to close to our businesses for seven days," he added.

Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari said the traditional ruler would be remembered for his "worthy service and invaluable contributions" to the sustenance of the cultural heritage of his people.

"Oba Sijuwade had lived a very fulfilled life, and has left worthy legacies for his successors to build upon," he said in a statement.

He was a successful businessman at the time he was crowned - making much of his money from importing vehicles.

A southern Christian, he was a close friend of one of Nigeria's most revered Muslims leaders from the north, the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero.

Lagos-based journalist Sola Odunfa says his relations with the Emir, who died last year, helped bring about peace and stability between the country's two main religious communities.