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)

Summary

Article Name

LIST OF OONI’S OF ILE-IFE IN HISTORY

Description

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.

Author

Johnson Okunade

Publisher Name

My Woven Words

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