Past and Present Ooni of Ile-ife, Osun State
Past and Present Ooni of Ile-ife, Osun State
By Tunde Eso
1. OLOFIN ODUDUWA:
THE PROGENITOR OF THE YORUBA RACE.
2. OBALUFON OGBOGBODINRIN -
He was son of osangangan obamakin. History tells us that he reigned for a long time.
3. OBALUFON ALAYEMORE -
He was not a descendant of ODUDUWA but was the son of Obalufon Ogbogbodinrin. He became the Ooni after his father's death. On the return of ORANMIYAN to Ile Ife, Ooni Obalufon Alayemore abdicated the throne and left Ife to found the town of Efon Alaaye in the present Ekitii State. He however returned to the throne after Oranmiyan's death.
4. ORANMIYAN:
Son of ODUDUWA. He was the only Ooni of Ife who had distinguished honour to approve the crowning of two of his sons, namely Eweka (Owomika) as the Oba of Benin and Ajaka as the Alaafin (Oloyo) of Oyo.
He founded Oyo katunga (Oyo Ile). He left Oyo Ile for Ajaka Dada (Ajuwon) , (Alaafin otherwise known as Oloyo) of Oyo Ile and returned home in Ile Ife to ascend the throne of Oduduwa
5 AWOROKOLOKIN
6. EFON AYIOYE - nicknamed Ogbolajure (Ogbo – ila - ko- ju - re)
7. AJIMUDA EKUN
8. LAAMORO OGIJAN - from the family of Molodo Compound in Ilode.
9. OSEGANDERUKU - (Eni to so egan di eruku)
10. OYE - nicknamed Okukuyewu in IIode
11. LAJAMISAN - modern Ife history began with his reign. He was the ancestor of Lajodoogun, Lafogido, Otujabiojo, Lafogun and
Owodo. LAJAMISAN descendants are streamlined into the four Ruling Houses of Ile Ife.
12. LAJODOOGUN - son of LAJAMISAN. He was from Igbodo in Okerewe area, Ile - Ife.
13. LAFOGUN - He was from Igbodo and descendant of Lajamisan.
14. LAFOGIDO - He was from Igbodo in Okerewre quarter and son of LAJAMISAN. Prominent among his descendants were: Otutu-bi-osun, Okiti, Olojo, Agbele, Adagba, Wunmonije (wunmonije s'ogun), Lugbade and Olumobi to mention just a few.
15. OTUJABIOJO – He was a son of Lajamisan.
16. LAROOKA- He was from Moore quarter, and an ancestor of Giesi. There is one common saying: *Larooka built the town wall and Giesi constructed a support for it at the bottom (Larooka mo odi, Giesi fi iregbe ti lese).*
17. OWODO - *He was a Descendant of LAJAMISAN from Okerewe quarter in Ile - Ife. He created new area called Ita - Ogi in Iremo, Ile - Ife. History tells us that he reigned for a short time.
18. ARIRERE OKINWE
19. LAPELEKE – nicknamed "oro-wuje-oluku-eti".
20. OTAATA - nicknamed Otaata - Kiran, Alade yo'kun s'aayo - lorun. He was the son of Owodo from Okerewe quarter of Lafogido Ruling House.
21. LUWOO GBAGIDA – Nicknamed "Ayare" Akosulogbe. She hailed from Owodo Compound of Lafogido ruling house. She was married to Chief Obaloran of llode and became the mother of Adekola Telu, the founder Iwo town, Osun State. She was the only female Ooni in history
22. OGBOORU - He was descendant of Lajodoogun. He founded Ife Odan town. He was the father of a female Princess MOROPO, who begat Giesi that later became Ooni of Ife.
23. OSINKOLA - He was descendant of Lajodoogun and *founder of Osinkola Ruling House.*
24. GIESI - He was the father of Ademilokun nicknamed
Agbedegbede, Moore quarter, Ile - Ife. He was the founder of Giesi Ruling House.
25. ADEJINLE: *He was the father of Ooni Sojuolu Ogbonsegbonde and the grandfather of Ooni Adegunle Abewela.* He hailed from Owodo Royal Compound of Lafogido ruling house
26. AROGANGAN LAGBO - He was from Akui Compound of Osinkola ruling house
27. ARIBIWOSO (real name Ademilu). Aribiwoso contracted from Aribiwosol'ode Akui. He was from Akui Compound of Osinkola ruling house.
28. SOJUOLU OGBONSEGBONDE (real name is Adebanle) – *He was the father of Ooni Adegunle alias Abewela.* He migrated from Owodo Royal compound (his father's compound) to found new compound known as Abewela Royal Compound (otherwise known as Ogbonse compound) of Lafogido Ruling house
29. AGBEDEGBEDE (real name is Ademilokun). He was a son of Giesi. He begat Adesunmakin, Gbegbaje, Ajila Orun and Sooko Ogbagodo.
30. OLOJO - hailed from Olojo compound of Lafogido ruling house. He begat Princess Yeyelueko. Yeyelueko begat Yannigan for a Prince of Offa town, Kwara state.
*Prince Adeniregun (alias Agbele) founded Ifewara town in Osun State.*
*Ooni OLOJO AND Prince Adeniregun a.k a *Agbele w'oju Oorun*
calling on Ife Historians to please correct the fallacy concerning Olojo and Agbele. Some historians usually mix the name together. Olojo was not alias Agbele. Olojo and Agbele were brothers from same father of Lafogido ruling house. Both vied for the throne of Ooni when the throne was vacant . Olojo was favoured by Ifa and the king makers. These didn't please Agbele who was more popular than Olojo. Instead of causing internecine war with his brother, Agbele left Ile - Ife with his friends and his teaming supporters to settle by Iwara river in Ijesa community and found Ifewara. Some historians said Olojo founded Ife-wara. No reigning Ooni founded any town.
Derin ologbenla founded oke - igbo before he was chose as Ooni designate & he was never crowned.
Prince Adeniregun a.k a *Agbele w'oju Oorun* failed twice in his attempt to become Ooni of Ife.
31. OSINILADE (otutu-bi-osun). He was a descendant of Lafogido. He begat Ooni Akinmoyero alias odunle, and Ademakin Obitola, father of Ooni Ademiluyi.
32. AJIFADESERE (real name is Lugbade). He hailed from Lugbade compound of Lafogido ruling house.
33. OTUKO
34. ODIDIMODE ROGBESIN (real name Adeyinkaye). He was an ancestor of Molodo, Awura and Lami.
35. AJILA-OORUN - He was a son of Ooni Ademilokun alias agbedegbede. He was Agbedegbede compound, Moore quarter of Giesi ruling house.
36. ABIGBOOLA.
37. OJIGIDIRI – nicknamed Lambua. He was a descendant of Osinkola.
38. AKINMOYERO nicknamed Odunle (1770 – 1800). He was son of Otutubiosin and descendant of Lafogido.
It is noteworthy to state that war refugees (later known as Modakeke) from various Yoruba towns arrived in Ile-Ife during his reign.
*He was assassinated by Ife Chiefs under *Conspiratorial Killing* *(Osiris/Agan) as a result of his sympathy towards the migrant war refugees renamed Modakeke and other disagreements.*
39. GBANLARE: 1800 - 1823. He was a descendant of Ogboru from Ilare quarter.
*He was assassinated by Ife Chiefs under *Conspiratorial Killing* *(Osiris/Agan) as a result of his sympathy towards the migrant refugees renamed modakeke and other disagreements.*
40. GBEGBAAJE: 1823 - 1835 - He was a son of Ooni Ademilokun alias Agbedegbede of Giesi ruling house.
41. WUNMONIJE: 1835 - 1839. He was a descendant of Lafogido.
*He was assassinated by Ife Chiefs under *Conspiratorial Killing* *(Osiris/Agan) as a result of his sympathy towards the migrant war refugees renamed Modakeke and other disagreements.*
42. ADEGUNLE alias ABEWELA : 1839 – 1849.* To ascend the throne, he sought assurance of the Kingmakers against Conspiratorial Killing (Osiris/Agan) as was done against some of his predecessors. The Kingmaker agreed on counter conditions that he, Abewela provided a number of animals, farm produce and food items etc, which he did. But a section of the Kingmakers later betrayed and breached the Agreement.
*He was a grandson of Ooni Adejinle and a son of Ooni Adebanle Sojuolu (alias Ogbonse-gbonde). He hailed from Abewela Royal compound of Lafogido Ruling House. He put a final stop to Conspiratorial Killings (Osiri or Agan) of the reigning Oonis, by Ife Chiefs, as was the case in the past. Hence, he was praised as "Ot'enu Osiris Bo'le l'atiba" (One who defeated the Conspiratorial Murderers at a point in Atiba). He was also reputed for stoppage of Human Sacrifice in Ife and Yoruba land.*
On his ascension to the throne of Ooni in 1839, Abewela met the Oyos refugees (now called Modakekes). It is pertinent to note that it was during the reign of OONI AKINMOYERO, alias Odunle bi Ojo (1770 - 1800) that war refugees arrived in Ile - Ife from various troubled and war torn Yoruba towns.
Ooni Adegunle alias Abewela together with Ife Chiefs used their conflict management knowledge and experience to quell the age long frictions and animosity by sending these wandering refugees to Iraye quarter - the domain of Obalaaye (king) of Iraye,*
*We must also note that, at that time, Obalaaye, erstwhile King of Ipole-Aaye and his people at Iraye, Ile - Ife were also refugees from Ipole-Aaye town. King Obalaaye and his people migrated to their ancestral land in Iraye, Ile - Ife as a result of destruction of their town (Ipole - Aaye) by Owu warriors during the Yoruba internecine wars. They were earlier settled at Iraye by Ooni Akinmoyero (1770 – 1800) whose reign also witnessed migration of the refugees from various towns to Ile-Ife in search of a refuge.*
*In order to stem the tide of eventual violent conflicts, Abewela and Ife High Chiefs implored Obalaaye to grant war refugees (who initially scattered in every nook and cranny of Ife and against whom some chiefs were complaining) a portion of land at Iraye to build some temporary tents (Ago) till such a time when inter tribal wars would have subsided and they would be required to go back to their various towns.*
43. DEGBIN KUMBUSU: 1849 - 1878. He was a son of Adesunmakin. Ooni Giesi begat Ademilokun alias Agbedegbede . Ademilokun begat Adesunmakin, Ooni Gbegbaje , ooni Ajila and sooko ogbagodo. He was from Giesi ruling house. *The first fall of Ile - Ife occurred during his reign in 1849. The town was rebuilt in 1859.* 44. ORAYIGBA, OJAJA I: 1878 - 1880* (nicknamed Ayi-kiti-ninu –aran). He was a son of Kumbusu and descendant of Agbedegbede in Moore quarter of Giesi ruling house. 45. ADERIN OLOGBENLA: 1880 - 1894. He was a son of Adesunmakin. It pertinent to note that Ooni Giesi begat Ademilokun alias Agbedegbede. Adesunmakin begat kumbusu and Aderin alias Ologbenla.
He was a descendant of Agbedegbede in Giesi ruling house. *A powerful warrior who,though was ruling from Oke Igbo but never came to be crowned in Ile-Ife before he died at Okeigbo. The second fall of Ile-Ife occurred during his reign in 1882. He was the founder of Okeigbo in Ondo State. 46. ADELEKAN, OLUBUSE I: 1894 - 1910. He was a descendant of Ogboru in Ilare quarter. *He was popularly called Ebiti-kimo-piri. The first Ooni (king) to reign in Ile-Ife after Ifes have returned from their exile in 1894. It was during his reign that the Modakekes were evacuated / dispersed from Ife in 1909. This evacuation led to the founding of Odeomu and re-settlement of the Modakeke people in the towns of Gbongan, Tonkere, Akinlalu, Asipa, origbo towns to mention just a few.*
51. ADEYEYE ENITAN OGUNWUSI (Ojaja II) *He mounted the throne in December, 7 2015. He is a descendant of Orayigba, Ojaja I from Giesi Royal Compound in Moore.* It is the prayer of all and sundry that he reigns for a long time.
*Olubuse on invitation went to Lagos to see Sir William MacGregor of Lagos who had just returned from the United Kingdom.*
47. KOLA – He was from Akui compound & a descendant of Osinkola. *A King (Ooni) elect for only two months, June to July of 1910. He died at Ilofi before officially mounting the throne of Ooni.*
48. ADEMILUYI AJAGUN: 1910 -1930. He was the son of Ademakin obitola and grandson of Otutubiosun of Lafogido Ruling House. *He was popularly called Ajagun Lawarikan, Agbeja-nla-bofa. It was during his reign that the Modakekes returned to Ile - Ife in 1922.*
*It important to note that, during the reign of Ooni Ademiluyi alias Ajagun of 1910 - 1930, who succeeded Ooni Adelekan Olubuse I, the colonial government had introduced Native Authority System with traditional rulers as the Sole Native Authority. Under the traditional rulers, a local tax system was implemented within which remuneration for the king is derived from the sum / total earned in taxes within the domain. The Ooni Ademiluyi at the time was earning way below the Alaafin and Apetu of Ipetumodu, both rulings much more Oyo populated domains. With these factors in place and the various attempts made by the Modakeke people to negotiate their return to Ile-Ife, Ooni Ademiluyi who wanted a monthly pay befitting of his position as a foremost king in Yorubaland, readily acceded to the request of the Modakeke people to return to Ife and he further pursued the realisation of this request through his applications to the colonial authorities at the moment who allowed the Modakeke people to move back to Ile-Ife in 1921. This is in spite of the dissenting opinions from his subjects and chiefs, particularly Balogun Ojuade who was murdered under mysterious circumstances for his stern opposition to the Ooni's preference.*
49. ADESOJI ADEREMI: 1930-1980. He was popularly called Atobatele, Ayinla Omo Adekunbi Ipetu. He was a descendant of Ojigidiri Lambua from Akui Compound of Osinkola ruling house .*He was the only Ooni to combine the throne with the Governor of Western Region at the same time.*
50. OKUNADE SIJUWADE, Olubuse II (1980 – 2015). *He was a descendant of Adelekan Olubuse I from Ogboru Royal Compound in Ila.*
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