The Ooni’s of Ile-Ife (Ọọ̀ni of Ilè-Ifẹ̀) is the traditional ruler of Ile-Ife. This Nigerian town is seen as the cradle of the Yoruba people. The Ooni dynasties go back hundreds of years. Because the oral tradition was only recently transcribed, there are several detailed lists that contradict each other.
Nevertheless, some key figures are common to all of them. All the Ooni are traced down to Oduduwa, who is seen as the ancestral father of all the Yoruba people. Ooni Oranmiyan, who is said to have lived between 1200 and 1300 A.D, became legendary for his role in creating many new towns. One of his sons, Eweka, became the first Oba of Benin. Another son, Ajaka, became the first Alaafin of Oyo. Another, Osile, of Oke-Ona Egba. Ooni Lajamisan, another descendant of Oranmiyan is often said to have opened the modern Ife history. The four actual Ruling Houses are named from Ooni Lafogido, Ooni Osinkola, Ooni Ogboru and Ooni Giesi. The first three were sons of Ooni Lajodogun, and the later a maternal grandson of Ogboru.
1ST – ODUDUWA
2ND – OSANGANGAN OBAMAKIN
3RD – OGUN
4TH – OBALUFONO GBOGBODIRIN
5TH – OBALUFON ALAYEMORE
6TH – ORANMIYAN
7TH – AYETISE
8TH – LAJAMISAN
9TH – LAJODOOGUN
10TH – LAFOGIDO
11TH – ODIDIMODE ROGBEESIN
12TH – AWOROKOLOKIN
13TH – EKUN
14TH – AJIMUDA
15TH – GBOONIJIO
16TH – OKANLAJOSIN
17TH – ADEGBALU
18TH – OSINKOLA
19TH – OGBORUU
20TH – GIESI
21ST – LUWOO GBAGIDA (FEMALE)
22ND – LUMOBI
23RD – AGBEDEGBEDE
24TH – OJELOKUNBIRIN
25TH – LAGUNJA
26TH – LARUNNKA
27TH – ADEMILU
28TH – OMOGBOGBO
29TH – AJILA-OORUN
30TH – ADEJINLE
31ST – OLOJO
32ND – OKITI
33RD – LUGBADE
34TH – ARIBIWOSO
35TH – OSINLADE
36TH – ADAGBA
37TH – OJIGIDIRI
38TH – AKINMOYERO (1770-1800)
39TH – GBANLARE (1800-1823)
40TH – GBEGBAAJE (1823-1835)
41ST – WUNMONIJE (1835-1839)
42ND – ADEGUNLE ADEWELA (1839-1849)
43RD – DEGBINSOKUN (1849-1878)
44TH – ORARIGBA (1878-1880)
45TH – DERIN OLOGBENLA- He was a powerful warrior! (1880-1894)
46TH – ADELEKAN (OLUBUSE I)- (1894-1910)
47TH – ADEKOLA (1910-1910)
48TH – ADEMILUYI (AJAGUN) . 1910-1930
49TH – ADESOJI ADEREMI- (1930-1980) Minister without portfolio when he ruled from 1951 to 1955. He was the first indigenous governor of Western Nigeria.
50TH – OKUNADE SIJUWADE- (1980-2015)
51ST – ENITAN ADEYEYE OGUNWUSI, (OJAJA II) – (2015 – till date)
Kabiyesi ooo
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