Cultures and TraditionsYoruba

Titles of Traditional Rulers in Yorubaland

Alaafin of Oyo - Titles of Traditional Rulers in Yorubaland
Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III


In Yoruba land, apart from Oba which is the general name for a king, each king or traditional ruler has his own royal title which distinguishes him from other kings. Below are some titles of traditional rulers in Yorubaland.

Titles of traditional rulers in Yorubaland.

  • Ooni of Ife
  • Alake of Egba
  • Awujale of Ijebu-Ode
  • Alaketu of Ketu
  • Olowu of Owu
  • Orangun of Ila
  • Olupopo of Popo
  • Eleko of Eko
  • Deji of Akure
  • Eleruwa of Eruwa
  • Olu of Itori
  • Alaga of Aga-Olowo
  • Olusi of Usi
  • Olofa of Ofa
  • Timi of Ede
  • Onidanre of Idanre
  • Soun of Ogbomosho
  • Akarigbo of Remo
  • Olu of Mushin
  • Alaperu of Iperu
  • Emir of Ilorin
  • Onisaga of Isaga
  • Onikoyi of Ikoyi
  • Olubara of Ibara
  • Onisabe of Isabe
  • Elejigbo of Ejigbo
  • Lalupo of Gbagura
  • Oluyewa of Aiyetoro
  • Olota of Ota
  • Olu of Ilaro
  • Olufi of Gbogan
  • Okere of Saki
  • Ataoja of Osogbo
  • Olowo of Owo
  • Attah of Ayiede Ekiti
  • Osemawe of Ondo
  • Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye
  • Owa Obokun of Ijesa
  • Onjo of Okeho
  • Ayangburen of Ikorodu
  • Ajero of Ijero
  • Ogoga of Ikere
  • Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo
  • Eleruwa of Eruwa
  • Akaran of Badagry
  • Onikire of Ikire
  • Osolo of Isolo
  • Olota of Ota
  • Olu of Ilaro
  • Onikoyi of Ikoyi
  • Apetu of Ipetumodu
  • Olu of Mushin
  • Alaye of Efon Alaaye
  • Ewi of Ado-Ekiti
  • Ojon of Ejigbo and Ijanland, Lagos State
  • Onikoyi of Ikoyi Ile, Oyo State
  • Aseyin of Iseyin
  • Onipopo of Popo
  • Onisabe of Sabe
  • Onilado of Ilado
  • Onilogbo of Ilogbo
  • Atawa of Latawa Remo Land
  • Elepe of Epe Remo Land
  • Odofin of Sonyindo Remo
  • Onijagba of Ijagba Remo
  • Ewusi of Makun
  • Olukoro of Ikoro-Ekiti
  • Arinjale of Ise-Ekiti
  • Onitaji of itaji-Ekiti
  • Onire of Ire-Ekiti
  • Onikotun of Ikotun
  • Onijegun of Ijegun
  • Onigando of Igando
  • Ologudu of Ogudu
  • Olubeshe of Ibeshe,
  • Ranadu of Imota
  • Obateru of Egbin
  • Alajede of Ijede
  • Arigbamu of Agbamu
  • Oniror of Tore
  • Olojoku of Ojoku
  • Onira of Ira
  • Olomu of Omuaran
  • Onimore of Imore
  • Onipe of Ipee
  • Oloje of Oje-owode
  • Aragbiji of Iragbiji
  • Onigbeti of Igbeti
  • Aseyin of Iseyin
  • Olokuku of Okuku
  • Akirun of Ikirun
  • Iba of Kisi
  • Obalufon of Sepeteri
  • Alamodu of Ago-amodu
  • Owa of Igbajo
  • Aseyin of Iseyin
  • Alado of Ado-awaye
  • Abodi of Ikaleland
  • Rebuja of Osooroland
  • Egun of Idepe/Okitipupa
  • Olu of Igodan-Lisa/Okunmo Kingdom
  • Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom
  • Olugbo of Ugboland
  • Halu of Ode Aye
  • Lumure of Ayeka
  • Owa of Ogbagi
  • Adepe of Oyan
  • Olowode of Irawo Owode
  • Elemure of Emure
  • Ologotun of Ogotun
  • Arinjale of Ise

Thanks for reading, OldNaija.com


If you know some other titles of traditional rulers in Yorubaland not listed above, kindly add it in the comment box and we will update this list as soon as possible.

Cite this article as: Teslim Omipidan. (April 23, 2019). Titles of Traditional Rulers in Yorubaland. OldNaija. Retrieved from https://oldnaija.com/2019/04/23/titles-of-traditional-rulers-in-yoruba-land/

278 Comments

  1. Ovori of Ibeshe,
    Alabirun of Ikare
    Alahun of Imore
    Alado of Abuleado
    Agbojojoye of Ibasa-Ijegun egba
    Onirede of Irede and Igbanko
    Olojo of Ojoland
    Oniba of Ibaland

    1. Ojon of Ejigbo and Ijanland, Lagos State
      Onikoyi of Ikoyi Ile, Oyo State.
      Orangun of Oke Ila.
      Aseyin of Iseyin
      Onipopo of Popo
      Onisabe of Sabe.
      Onilado of Ilado.
      Onilogbo of Ilogbo.

  2. olosi osi ekiti, oore of otun ekiti, alara of aramoko ekiti, ajero of ijero ekiti, alawe of ilawe ekiti

  3. oba Abodi of ikaleland, Haul of aye kingdom, Rebuja of osoroland, Jegun of idepe -okitipupa, oba olugbo of ugboland

  4. Atawa of Latawa Remo Land
    Elepe of Epe Remo Land
    Odofin of Sonyindo Remo
    Onijagba of Ijagba Remo
    Ewusi of Makun

    1. Olujumu of Ijumu Kingdom, Ijumu is in kogi state sharing boundary with ondo start and partially with Edo people. The stool is first class stool which rule 20 villages and town in IJumu

  5. For you to list all yorubas Obas without Alara of Aramoko kingdom, that means your list is not completed. Alara of Aramoko is one of the seven paramount rulers in Yoruba land.

  6. For you to list all yorubas Obas without Alara of Aramoko kingdom and Ajero of Ijero kingdom, that means your list is not completed. Alara of Aramoko and Ajero of Ijero is one of the seven paramount rulers in Yoruba land.

  7. Lanuwa of Ode Omi the first OBA In ijebu Land senior to Awujale of ijebu land. Onise of ise lekki lagos

  8. i appreciate this site he will help dos people that not know their Obas title. thanks

  9. Obaro of Kabba, Olu of Oiworo kingdom, Oluapata of Apata, Ologidi of Ogidi, Elegbe of Egbe, Bajana of Obajana, Olujumu of Ijumu kingdom, Olugbede of Gbede land, Alayere of Ayere, Elejiba of Ejiba, Elejuku of Ejuku, Owa of Jege, Obaro of Esi land, Ologbom of Ogbom, Ologbe of Ogbe, etc. all these from yoruba part of kogi state

    1. Not Completely. ….. ..
      without Agbana Of Isanlu.
      Agbana of Isanlu Land is one of Frist Class Oba.. in Yagba Land, since when they are in Old Kwara State.

  10. onikotun of ikotun,onijegun of ijegun,onigando of igando,ologudu of ogudu.Frm ayoola opeyemi frm ikotun.

  11. WE ALSO HAVE (1) OWA OF IGBAJO (2) ONIRUN OF OKE IRUN (3) ELEJIGBO Or OGIYAN OF EJIGBO (All In Osun State) .4 AJORI’WIN OF IRAWO (5). ONJO OKE’HO ( Not Oba Of Oke’ho (6) SABIGANNA OF IGANNA, (7) OLU OF IGBO ORA (OLOKA OF OKAAKA (All In Oke Ogun Area Of Oyo State

  12. Point Of Correction Akran Is Not Title Of Oba Of Badagry Akran Is A Name Of One Of Past Badagry Kings ” OBA SIDI AKRAN ” Title Of Oba Of Badagry Is ” MENUTOYI OF BADAGRY “

  13. Point of correction ONIRUN OF IRUN, IRUN-AKOKO ONDO STATE. In addition ONIKARE OF IKARE,OLOWO OF OWO, ALARA OF ARAMOKO, ONIGEDE OF IGEDE

    1. Ilorin is part of Yoruba land.It was Afonja a representative of Alafin that teamed up with his Fulani spiritual agents to fight Alafin.Afonja was eventually murdered by the Fulanis Every act perfidy has a price either now or later.

      1. Actually AFONJA ended up not physically warring against AOLE AROGANGAN (the briefly reigned ALAAFIN during Afonja days)…Afonja was actually loyal to Oyo but was betrayed by Aole not once but twice. Fulani betrayed Afonja because Afonja allowed them free reign not factoring how backstabbing the Fulani can be.

    1. I think we need to be a bit careful about some towns where there is controversy about their oba. Towns like IKere in Ekiti state and Ikare in Ondo state. There is an official recognition by the government in these towns. Like in Ikere-Ekiti where we have Ogoga of Ikere and Onikere of Ikere the government recognizes Onikere of Ikere and in Ikare Akoko the government recognizes Olukare of Ikare and not Owa-Ale of Ikare

  14. Alepata Of Igboho, Onigboho Of Igboho, Ona Onibode Of Igboho, Onigbope Of Igbope, Iba Bonni Of Igboho All In Oorelope L.G.A Of Oyo State

  15. salu of Edunabon, akirun of Ikirun, aragbiji of irsgbiji, oloba of OBA Oke, olumoro of Moro, ooni of IFE, oloogi of ogi, alayegun of odeomu, ogunsua of modakeke, apetu of ipetumodu, owaoye of imesiile, adimula of ifewara, olufon of ifon, owa of otanayegbaju, olona of ada, owaloko of ilokojesa, owa ooye of imesi ile, oragun of Oke Ila, owamiran of esaoke, agbowu of ogbaagba, owaloko of iloko ijesa, alawo of awo, obasgun of obaagun, aree of ire, oluresi of iresi, olunisa of inisa, elende of ekoende, onijabe of ijabe, alapomu of apomu, eburu of iba, oloyan of oyan, owalare of ilare, awara of iwara, oloore of ore, olola of ola, olobu of ilobu, elerin of erinosun, olu of ileogbo, akeji of ikejile, elegboro of ijebujesa, alademure of ibokun,

  16. This is very enlightening. Kindly help me with the titles of these kings – Ilora and Iseyin. Thank you

  17. Onikoyi of Ikoyi-Ekiti, Asaba of Isaba-Ekiti,Olorin of Orin -Odo ekiti, Alasin of Asin-Ekiti, Elekole of Ikole Ekiti They are all in Ikole LG areaFROM FAGG

  18. Olu of Oworo kingdom, Olu of Apata-Oworo, Obaro of Jakura-Oworo, Bajana of Obajana-Oworo, Maasi of Agbaja-Oworo (kogi state)

      1. Olukare of Ikare Akoko, Olumo Of Imo Arigidi Akoko, Zaki Of Arigidi Akoko,Onirun of Irun Akoko.

  19. Onipe of Ipee LAND, Kwara State ( This is a very important Oba in Yoruba Land. He was the pleader(onipe) of the old Alafin of Oyo in the old Oyo Empire before migrating to his present land.

  20. Further history on Onipee of Ipee:
    As a rule distinguished members of the old oyo Royal Family do not reside in the metroplolis. A great number of them was found scattered in all over the province. Onipe was thus elevated to the rank of METROPOLITAN KING just like Atiba, son of Abiodun was at Ago.
    Onipe’s record of service was meritorious as he was very honest in the discharge of all duties assigned to him. He was also the conduit pipe that connected all the administrative agencies which assisted the Alaafin in the ruling of Oyo metropolis. The excellent performance of Onipe prompted the Alaafin to give him two options as follows:
    1) To become an ONAMODAKE, full fledged member of Oyomesi and still remain in the service of the Alaafin, or.
    2) To become an ESO and move out to establish his own town.
    The Onipe chose to go on adventure and explore the empire with a view to establishing his own town. When Onipe was about to leave Oyo town, the Alaafin decorated him with OPAGA (which qualifies him to keep Ilaris), EJIGBA and other royal insignias.
    AROLU, One of onipee son founded Iree in osun state. Onipee of Ipee in Kwara State, till today remains the father of oniree of Iree land of Osun State.

  21. Not oba of okeho but its Onjo of Okeho
    Onigboho of Igboho
    Oloje of Oje-owode
    Aragbiji of Iragbiji
    Onigbeti of Igbeti
    Aseyin of Iseyin
    Olokuku of Okuku
    Akirun of Ikirun
    Iba of Kisi
    Obalufon of Sepeteri
    Alamodu of Ago-amodu
    Owa of Igbajo
    Osemawe of Ondo.

  22. Onigboho of Igboho(Oorelope lg),Oloje of Oje-owode(saki-east lg)oyo state0,Aragbiji of Iragbiji(Boripe lg),Olokuku of Okuku(Odo-otin lg),Akirun of Ikirun(Ifelodun lg),Aree of Iree(Boripe lg),Owa of Igbajo.osun state.

  23. NOTE: OKEHO is ONJO OF OKEHO and not Oba of Okeho. the leading first class Oba in Oke-Ogun is ASEYIN OF ISEYIN LAND (OYO STATE) which is missing in this list.

  24. Ondo state
    Abodi of Ikaleland
    Rebuja of Osooroland
    Jegun of Idepe/Okitipupa
    Olu of Igodan-Lisa/Okunmo Kingdom
    Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom
    Olugbo of Ugboland
    Halu of Ode Aye
    Lumure of Ayeka

  25. We equally have the Oniwo of Iwo, Olowu of Owu-Isin, Olusin of Isanlu-Isin, Olusin of Ijara-Isin, Olusin of Iji-Isin, Oloba of Oba, Olu of Pamo, Olu of Kudu-Owode, Eledidi of Edidi, Olola of Ola, Eleku of Odo-Eku, all in Isin L.G.A. of Kwara State.

  26. The first class oba in oke-ogun is ALADO OF ADO-AWAYE not aseyin because the first alado was crownded on 1521

  27. Aare of Ofiki,onitede of tede, Amuni of Ijio,Sabigana of iganan,Alepata of Igboho Eleyinpo of Ipapo etc

  28. This is highly educative and very important. Thanks so much for this good work. Also appreciation goes to all the contributors for their effort.
    Thank you all.

  29. The list can be seen as incomplete base on the list released in 1931 and republished in 1987 by Tribune newspaper. Some crown wear Oba were !missed. They are:

    ALAWE OF ILAWE
    ALARA OF ARAMOKO
    ONITAJI OF ITAJI
    OLOJUDO OF IDO
    ONIRE OF IRE
    OORE OF OTUN
    ELEMURE OF EMURE
    OLOGOTUN OF OGOTUN
    ARINJALE OF ISE
    ELEKOLE OF IKOLE

  30. Olojoku of Ojokuland (Kwara)
    Onirore of Roreland, (Kwara)
    Arigbamu of Agbamuland (Kwara)
    Onijagbo of Ijagboland (Kwara)

  31. Olosi of Osi Ekiti, a firtst class oba in Ido-Osi local government of Ekiti state is missing in the list . Please insert. Thanks

  32. The Title of Oba of ÀDÁNLÁ-ÌRÈSÉ in Ifelodun LGA, Kwara State is ẸLẸ́RÍN OF ÀDÁNLÁ-ÌRÈSÉ

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