A List Of Obas (Kings) Traditional Titles In Yorubaland

Introduction

In Yoruba land, the Oba (king) is an unquestionable monarch. He is not primus inter parels (first among equals), he is revered and widely known as being second only to the gods- “Igbakeji Orisa”.

Yorubas are considered to be rich in terms of culture and tradition. The name Yoruba was applied to all linguistically and culturally related peoples. The Yoruba People, of whom there are more than thirty-five million according to CIA World Factbook of 2012, occupy the southwestern corner of Nigeria along the Dahomey border and extend into Dahomey itself.

To the east and north, the Yoruba culture reaches its approximate limits in the region of the Niger River. However ancestral cultures directly related to the Yoruba once flourished well north of the Niger. Portuguese explorers “discovered” the Yoruba cities and kingdoms in the fifteenth century, but cities such as Ife and Benin, among others, had been standing at their present sites for at least five hundred years before the European arrival.

Archeological evidence indicates that a technologically and artistically advanced. Yoruba were living somewhat north of the Niger in the first millennium B.C., and they were then already working with iron. Ifa theology states that the creation of humankind arose in the sacred city of Ile Ife where Oduduwa created dry land from water. Much later on an unknown number of Africans migrated from Mecca to Ile Ife.

Below is a list of Oba (kings) Traditional titles in Yorubaland

• Ooni of Ile-Ife
• Alaafin of Oyo
• Awujale of Ijebuland
• Alake of Egbaland
• Olowu of Owu
• Olubadan of Ibadan
• Soun of Ogbomoso
• Oba of Benin
• Owa Obokun of Ijesha
• Osemawe of Ondo
• Ebumawe of Ago Iwoye
• Ataoja of Osogbo
• Deji of Akure
• Timi of Ede
• Orangun of Ila

• Alapa of Okin-Apa
• Olofin of Ado-Odo (Oba of Ado)
• Eleko of Eko
• Aresa of Iresa (Aresapa of Iresa apa, Aresadu of Iresa Adu)
• Olugbon of Orile Igbon
• Onikoyi of Ikoyi
• Alaje of Ilu-Aje
• Okere of Saki
• Aseyin of Iseyin
• Onilala of Lanlate
• Eleruwa of Eruwa
• Alaketu of Ketu
• Alepata of Igboho
• Oluwo of Iwo

•••

• Olugbo of Ugbo
• Olowo of Owo
• Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti
• Alara of Aramoko-Ekiti
• Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti
• Ewi of Ado-Ekiti
• Ologotun of Ogotun-Ekiti
• Oloye of Oye-Ekiti
• Owa Ooye of Okemesi-Ekiti
• Olu of Itori
• Alaga of Aga-Olowo
• Olusi of Usi
• Olofa of Ofa
• ọwá of idanre

•••

• Akarigbo of Remo
• Olu of Mushin
• Alaperu of Iperu
• Onisaga of Isaga
• Olubara of Ibara
• Ogiyan of Ejigbo
• Lalupo of Gbagura
• Alaye of Aiyetoro
• Olota of Ota
• Olu of Ilaro
• Olufi of Gbongan
• Attah of Ayiede Ekiti
• Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye
• Onjo of Okeho
• Ayangburen of Ikorodu
• Ogoga of Ikere
• Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo
• Akaran of Badagry
• Akire of Ikire
• Osolo of Isolo

•••

• Oniwere of Iwere-Ile
• Apetu of Ipetumodu
• Olu of Mushin
• Alaye of Efon-Alaye
• Onisanbo of Ogboro
• Aare of Ago-Are
• Olojee of Oje-Owode
• Asawo of Ayete
• Onigbeti of Igbeti
• Olokaka of Okaka
• Onipopo of Popo
• Onitede of Tede
• Onisemi of Isemi
• Onipapo of Ipapo
• Alageere of Ofiki
• Ajoriwin of Irawo
• Onimia of Imia
• Onidere of Idere
• Obaro of Kabba
• Olore of Ore
• Onpetu of Ijeruland
• Osile of Oke-Ona egba
• Orimolusi of Ijebugbo
• Onido of Iddo
• Onigbaja of Igbaja
• Onibeju of Ibeju-Lekki

•••

• Oloja of Epe
• Alaawe of Awe
• Oba of Agboyi land
• Olugijo of Ogijoland
• Alabere of Abere Ede
• Ologobi of Ogobi Ede
• Olu of Sekona Ede
• Olu of Owode Ede
• Owa Ale of Ikare
• Omola of Imala
• Alara of Ilara-Mokin
• Akibio of Ilora
• Olofun of irele
• Jegun of Idepe
• Jegun of ile-Oluji
• Orungberuwa of Ode-Erinje
• Halu of Ode Aye
• Laragunsin of Iyasan
• Lapoki of Igbolako

•••

• Alara of Igbokoda
• Lumure of Ayeka
• Sabiganna of Igana
• Afonja of Ilorin
• Owa of igbajo
• Onijaye of Ijaye
• Oloro Of Oro
• elesa Of Oke Ode
• Ogunsua of Modakeke
• Oluressi of lressi
• Olojudo of Ido-Ekiti
• Owa-Oye of Oke-Imesi
• Olokuku of Okuku
• Olunisa of Inisa
• Oloyan of Oyan
• Onijabe of Ijabe
• Onigbaye of Igbaye
• Afaji of Faji
• Akosin of Ekosin

•••

• Olokua of Oku
• Alagbeye of Agbeye
• Onila-odo of Ila-odo
• Atapara of Iyeku
• Elekusa of Ekusa
• Olojudo of Ido Faboro Ekiti
• Alase of Ilasa Ekiti
• Sano of kogga
• Alasaba of Asaba
• Alasi of Asi
• Olopete of Opete
• Olopanda of Oponda
• Aromolaran of ijesaland
• Olu ifon of ifon
• Odemo of Isara
• Aringbajo of Igbajo Ijesa

•••

• Alamodu of Ago-Amodu
• Onigbope of Igbope
• Obalufon of Sepeteri
• Alagbole of Agbonle
• Olowu of Telemu
• Odemo of Ishara remo
• Olaogboru Adimula of Ifeodan
• Aragbiji of Iragbiji
• Olororuwo of Ororuwo
• Olona of Ada
• Alaagba of Aagba
• Are of Ire

•••

• Alageere of Ago Are,
• Oloto of Are
• Oloba of Oba Osin
• Oloru of Oru Ijebu
• Olu of Ile-Ogbo
• Olokuku of Okuku
• Oluressi of lressi
• Ajalorun of ijebu ife
• Oloko of ijebu imushin
• Elese of ilese ijebu
• Moyegeso of ijebu itele
• Owa-akinfin of ikinfin
• Oloko of oko
• Oloba of oba-oke
• Oniluju of Iluju
• Onifaji  Of faji
• Akosin  Of ekosin

•••

• onigbaye  Of igbaye
• olokuku  Of okuku
• olunisa  Of inisa
• Owa Oroo of Agbado Ekiti
• Aree of ireeland
• Owa of Otan Ayegbaju
• Aragberi of Iragberi
• Alayegun of Ode-Omu
• Owatapa of Itapa Ekiti
• Oloro of Oro
• Eleju of Sanmora
• Onikoko of Koko
• Oniganmo of Ganmo
• Olupo of Ajassepo
• Elesie of Esie
• Elese of Igbaja
• Aala of Ilala
• Oloyopo of Eggi-Oyoipo
• Oludopo of Okeyapo
• Aboro of ibese land

•••

• Olu of sawonjo
• Eleyinpo of Ipapo
• Onisemi of Isemi-Ile
• Oluigbo of Igbojaye
• Awaraja of Iwaraja
• Alana of Oke-ana
• Alatori of Atorin Ilesha
• Alada of Ada
• alaigbajo of arigbajo
• onifo of ifo
• Olorile of orile Ifoland
• Oni ilepa of ilepa ilepa
• Edemorun of kajola

•••

• Olomu of omu aran
• Aloffa of ilofa
• Olosi of Osi
• Elepe of epe
• Ekesin of ora igbomina
• Olobaagun of Obaagun
• Olugunwa of Oke Amu
• Ololo of Oolo
• Onimaya of maya
• Onidada of dada
• onidiemin of idi-emin
• Onipara of Ipara
• Olokua of Okua
• Alaaye of  Oke-Ayedun
• Oniroko of Iroko land
• Owatapa of Itapa Kingdom

•••

• Olowu of Owu-Kuta
• Elese of Igbaja
• Oree of moba land
• Oree of otun
• Ẹbùrù of ibà.
• Agbolu of Agbaje
• Olu of Afowowa Sogaade
• Oloto of Ofiki
• Aare of Sando Ofiki
• Oloba of oba
• Alakola  of Akola
• Olora of Ora-Ekiti
• Olopete of Opete
• Alakanran of Araromi
• Alararomi of Araromi Aperin
• Oniye of Iye-Ekiti
• Olowu of owu-isin
• olusin of isanlu-isin
• olusin of ijara-isin
• olusin of iji-irin
• oniwo of oke-aba
• oniwo of odu-ore
• oloba of oba-isin
• elekuu of odo eku-isin

•••

• alala of ala-isin
• eledidi of edidi
• onigbin of oke-onigbin
• onigbesi of igbesi
• Onikole of ikole kingdom
• Elegboro of Ijebu-Ijesha
• Abodi of ikale land
• Olokaka of okaka
• Akinyinwa of ikinyinwa
• Oluaso of iberekodo land
• Oniwere of iwere ile
• Salu of Edunabon
• Olubaka of Oka land

•••

• Onikereku of ikereku
• Olukoro of Ikoro Ekiti
• Onidofin of idofin
• Obawara of iwara-ife
• Awara of iwara-ijesa
• awara of iwara- Iwo
• ogogo of ifewara
• Olu of Okeamu
• Onigbope of Igbope
• Asigangan of Igangan
• Olusin of Isanlu Isin
• Alaremo of Aremo
• Olubosin of ifetedo
• Asaooni of Ora Igbomina

•••

• Olosan  of  Osan Ekiti
• Elerin of Erinmope
• Ajalorun of ife ijebu
• Aale of Okelerin
• Alabudo of abudo
• Onigbamila of gbamila
• Alaaye of aye
• Olokusa of okusa
• Onilai of ilai
• Gbelepa of gbelepa
• Alaboto of aboto
• Onidigba of idigba
• Agura of gbagura
• Oshinle of okeona
• Oloyan of Oyan
• Olubaka of Oka land
• Aboro of Ibooro land
• Olojoku of Ojoku
• Onika of Ika
• Olomun of omuaran
• Onilogbo of Ilogbo
• Olumoro of Moro land
• Onimeko of Imeko land

•••

• Oloola of Ilara
• Onidofa of Idofa
• Ooye of Iwoye
• Obaladi of Afon
• Olu of Imasayi
• Oluresi of lresi
• Obaro of Kabba
• alado of ado awaye
• alawaye of awaye
• Onisan of isan Ekiti
• Elero of ilero
• Olomu of omupo
• Alaran of aran orin
• Oluware of iware land
• Aganmo of ganmo
• Oloola of Ilara-Yewa
• Onidofa of Idofa
• Ooye of Iwoye
• Onipara of Ipara – Remo
• Odemo of Isara – Remo
• Alakaka of Akaka – Remo
• Alara of Ilara – Remo

•••

• Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa
• Owa of Igbajo
• Elerin of Erin Ile
• Onibereko of Ibereko
• Oore of moba land
• Oloba of obaile
• Onirun of irun Akoko
• Ologbagi of Ogbagi Akoko
• Oni lrun of lrun Akoko
• Elese of Ese Akoko
• Deji of Arigidi Akoko
• Ologbagi of Ogbagi Akoko
• Oni Irun of Irun Akoko
• Elese of Ese Akoko
• Eleyinpo of Ipapo
• Onidofian of idofian
• Alamonyo of amonyo
• Onijoun of ijoun
• Alagutan of Abegunrin land
• Onífẹ̀dẹ̀gbó of Fẹ̀dẹ̀gbóland

• Aláyégún of Ayégún
• Alie of Ilie
• Onitabo of Itabo
• Alado of Ado-Awaye
• Asu of Fiditi
• Olupako of Shaare
• Alapomu of Apomu
• Alakire of Ikire
• Oliyere of Iyere
• Oniro of Komu
• Akirun of Ikirun
• Onidere of Idere
• Alajinapa of Ajinapa
• Onitewure of Tewure
• Arinjale of Ise Ekiti
• Olute of Ute

Conclusion

Culture is germane regarding the identification of people and so is the oba system. It is the major attribute resulting in the behavioural characteristic of different groups. It is consequently exhibited by the different members of the group. The language (particularly the dialect), dress, food, hairstyle, music, and aspect of culture which is group-specific shows diversity.

The Yoruba cultural values, ethics, and norms have been bastardized in the name of civilization and western education. The belief in the phenomenon of “Omoluabi” has nose-dived like a meteor in the night sky and the younger ones find it difficult to respect their elders. The neglect of Yoruba cultural values and good attitudes is a thing of concern to the wise in the land of “Olofin Oodua, Onipopo of Popo, Oranmiyan, Orangun ile-ila, Elejelumope, and onitagi olele.

The departed Yoruba legends and titans are weeping in their graves, on account of the stupendously shrinking space available to traditional Yoruba values and ethics. The understanding of Yoruba culture begins with the core interest and understanding of our Language. The richness of our culture, tradition, wisdom, witticism and varied expressions lies in our language.

The concept of Omoluwabi should be replaced with its esteemed position in Yoruba societies. Modernization is good, but its replacement with our shared culture and tradition is dangerous. The Yoruba Language should not be relegated totally. Young lads should be taught the language right from the stage when they start talking, in primary schools, junior and senior secondary school.

Many of our core values from the culture are already abolished particularly among the elite. Below are a few of these values already relegated include: substitution of Suku for fixing of weave-on, Iyan for poundo, Apala for Hip Hop, Aran for Jeans, etc. hence there is a need for change in appreciating Yoruba Culture because the failure of this can be dangerous to the unborn generations.