List of rulers of Ife


The Ooni of Ile-Ife is the traditional ruler of Ile-Ife. This Nigerian city 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. The current Ooni is Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II.

Various authors have various lists

The primary sources for the history of the Yoruba are from oral tradition. Since there were not ceremonial recitations of the list of the Oonis, there are in fact several oral traditions, that have generated an unusual number of different written transcriptions. In what follows, #nn is the index of the Ooni in the A list.

Books and research papers

  1. Ojo Bada 1954 quotes 15 names for the Oduduwa to Lajamisan period. See column 5.
  2. Chief Fabunmi 1975 quotes 7 names for the same period. See column 6. Chief Fabunmi is known for his Historical notes.
  3. :
  4. Chief Fasogbon 1976 quotes 12 names for this period. See column 7.
  5. Chief Awosemo 1985 quotes 22 names from Oduduwa to Giesi. See column 8.
  6. Eluyemi 1986 quotes 41 names from Oduduwa to nowadays. See column 9.
  7. :
Sources for the 50 items A list
  1. Awoyinfa, Dele, 1992 pages 30–35.
  2. Prince L. A. Adetunji 1999, pages 70–77. The prince, from the Giesi family, was one of the contenders for the 2015 designation. See column LA.
  3. :
Sources for the 50 items B list
  1. Ologundu 2008, pages 58–59. Lists 48 names, that are the B list, except from Obalufon Alayemore and Aworokolokin. Moreover, Osinkola is at #25
Araba Adedayo Ologundu was a native of Ile-Ife, Nigeria. See column Og.
  1. Lawal 2000, page 21. See column LB.

    Web sources

  2. Source 2015.
  3. Leadership.ng 2015., 2015. No references are given. One typo: Ademiluyi Ajagun.
  4. Ooni Ojaja II web site, 2016 quotes 51 names. Same as list B, differs only by the diacritics. No references are given. This list was already in use before 2015.

    Influence on king making

The filling of the stool of a deceased Ooni of Ife is not a simple local affair as it may seem but has national ramifications. Since Ife is regarded as the cradle of the Yoruba, this town has always been the leading religious center of the Yoruba people. But other roles are also involved. Especially, the Ooni of Ife is often presented as the highest ranked Oba or, even more, as the natural chairman of the Council of Yoruban Chiefs.
The rules to fill a vacant stool are the Chiefs Law Cap 25 Laws of Osun State. And the Declaration made in 1980 by the traditional Chiefs under Section 4 of this Chief Law. In 1957, the former Declaration recognised four ruling houses and established the following order of rotation:
  1. The Oshinkola House, Iremo
  2. The Giesi House, More
  3. The Ogboru House, Ilare
  4. The Lafogido House, Okerewe
In 1977, references to locations in Ife were suppressed. And the January 1980 Declaration confirmed everything just before the death of Adesoji Aderemi. These families are tagged in column desc, as sourced from Vanguard for Lafog, Osink, Ogbor, Giesi. And Newz for the rest..
In 2015, it was the turn of the Giesi Family, as confirmed by the Ife kingmakers. Nevertheless:
Finally, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, from the Giesi house, was elected October 26, 2015.

Avoiding original research when consolidating the various lists

Consolidation at the price of the diacritics

The Yoruba language is written nowadays with an alphabet that uses many diacritic signs. But this alphabet was not strictly codified before being integrated as one of the components of the modern Pan-Nigerian alphabet. Like for the McCune–Reischauer system for Korean, many authors of the West have used this alphabet with some laziness, omitting many of the diacritics for various reasons, or even ignoring all of them. But, while poor romanizations of Korean can be fixed by comparing with the hangul/hanja original text, this cannot be done with the Yoruba oral sources of the past. The romanizations of the proper nouns became dependent the pronunciation of a specific speaker and the skill of a specific transcriber, leading to large variations in spelling. Some examples are :
OjajiiLBEluyemi
Osangangan ObamakinOsanganga ObamakinOsanganga Obamakin
Odidimode RogbeesinOdidimode Rogbesin
GboonijioGbodo-NijioGbodo-Nijio
OkanlajosinOkunlajosin-
AdegbaluAdegboluAdegbolu
LuwooLuwo Luwo
OjelokunbirinOje LokunsinrinOjee Lokunsinrin
LarunnkaLarinkaLarinka
Adegunle AdewelaAdegunle AbeweelaAbewela
DegbinsokunDegbin KumbusuDegbinna-okun
OrarigbaOrayigba OjajaOrayigbi

Also note that, in the aggregated table, differences that clearly come only from pronunciation have been ignored.

Consolidation at the price of the obvious discrepancies

  1. Dele Awoyinfa numbers again Obalufon Alayemore when he comes back after the death of Oranmiyan. And all the list becomes shifted. Since no one else proceeds that way, this has been shifted back. To keep a track, the second reign of Obalufon Alayemore is tagged #4.5 in the LA column.
  2. Usurper Lajuwa/Lajua/Lejua is named but not numbered in the list A, but is taken into account in three other lists. Tagged as # 5.5.
  3. Some sources are naming Osinkola the #47 Ooni, elected for two months in 1910. In any case, the identification is clear, while Osinkola is the Ruling House name. Replaced by Adekola.

    Typographic issues

Printing fixes everything, even the typographic issues.
  1. The two printed quotations of the printed Ojo Bada have discrepancies: Otaataa=Otasasa, Arirereokewe=Arirekewe, Lajamusan=Lajamisan.
  2. When Awosemo 1985 says Giesi before Ogboruu, this is probably a typo. Indeed, all other sources are saying that Ogboruu #23 was the maternal grand father of Giesi #24.
  3. The quotation of Ademakinwa uses Kworokolokun: this is probably Aworokolokun.
  4. In column x86, Lagunja is repeated. How to correct ?
  5. Perhaps Ologundu 2008 ranging Osinkola #18 at place #25 is also a typo ?

    Remaining discrepancies

  6. In list A, Lajamisan is ranked #11. This can be tracked to the 1973 Daily Sketch kinglist. This is strange since a list from start to Lajamisan should end by Lajamisan. Moving this one just before Otujabiojo #17 would synchronize the ordering of all the kinglists from Oduduwa to Lajamisan. This should be checked in detail.
  7. While list A sources put both Aworokolokin and Ajuimuda Ekun before Lajamisan, most of the list B sources are saying that Aworokolokin, Ajuimuda and Ekun were three descendants of Lajodoogun. We can only underline the discrepancy. Moreover, Ologundu don't quote Aworokolokin at all in his lists..
  8. The same occurs with the only woman that became Ooni. Most of the time, she is quoted as "Luwoo Gbagida" #18 and placed before Lajodogun #19. But also as "Luwo " and placed after Giesi #24..
  9. Efon Ayioye #6 in Awoyinfa is quite surely the same person as "Ayioye" in Bada and Fasogbon. But they are not ranked the same by the sources relatively to Ajimuda Ekun #7. Perhaps this was the reason of the comment no matter how ripe the okra is, it cannot be older than itself.
  10. 9 names aren't part of list A or list B.
"At least, it can be said that the existence of numerous variants requires explanation, and an interpretation can be assessed according to how satisfactorily it accounts for their existence. The method might be described as one of reductio ad non absurdum."

Aggregated list

LBOg8685767554LAdatenamedesc nicknamecomments
111111111OdùduwàFounderFounder of the Yoruba country
2221.2Osańgangan ObamakinS OduduwaSee for more details about the 16 Elders
3331.4Ogun1Son Oduduwametallurgist/warrior
44222222Ọbalùfọ̀n ÒgbógbódirinS OduduwaElder son of Oduduwa. He lived and reigned for an unusually long period of time.
55333333Ọbalùfọ̀n AláyémọrẹS Obalufon IBecame the Ooni after his father’s death while Oranmiyan was on sojourn. Fled when Oranmiyan returned.
6544444Ọ̀raǹmíyaǹ9Son of OduduwaOdede=title ?Said to have lived between 1200 and 1300 A.D. Eweka, the Oba of Benin and Ajaka, the Alaafin of Oyo were his sons.
4.54.5Ọbalùfọ̀n AláyémọrẹBack to the throne after Oranmiyan’s death. Reigned at the same time as Dada, Alaafin of Oyo.
764.7AyétiseS Oduduwa
5555Àwórókọ̀lọ̀kín
6445.55.5Lajuwa Okoo olori-ko-yun-ajo Head messenger. Said to have usurped the throne at the death of Aworokolokin.
6766Ẹ̀fọ̀n AyíóyèOgbolaajuree.
556677Ajímúda Ẹkùn
88Láamórò ÒgìjánFrom Molodo compound, Ilode.
99Ọ̀sẹgànderùkù.
679.5Otaran
81010Ọyẹ́Okukuyewu Ilode
81010.7Lamoro
87710127151111Lájẹ̀misìnS AiyetiseFrom Ilare. Descendant of Oranmiyan. Modern Ife history began with his reign which was unusually long.
79111212Lárọ́ọ̀káFrom Moore. Descendant of Ọ̀ranmiyan and Ancestor of Giẹsi. There is one common saying: Larooka built the town hall and Giẹsi constructed a support for it at the bottom.
1313ÒwódòFrom Okerewe.
8121414Arírere Ọ̀kínwẹ
91515ỌtaataaỌtaataa-kiranFrom Owodo. Alade yokun-saayo-lorun.
910131616LápelékeOro-wuye-oluku-eti
111416.2Oluwo
1717Otújàbíòjò
91818Lúwo GbàgìdáAyare, AkọsulogbeFrom Owode compound, Okerewe. Descendant of Otaataa. She was married to Chief Ọbalọran of Ilode and became the mother of Adekola Telu, the founder of Iwo town. Was the only woman Ooni..
981919LájódogunS LajamisanFrom Igbodo, Okerewe. Descendant of Lajamisan.
2020LafogunFrom Igbodo. Descendant of Lajodoogun.
1098112121LáfogídoD_LajodogunFrom Igbodo. Descendant of Lajodoogun. Prominent among his children were: Otutu biosun ? Okiti #26.6 Olojo Agbele #30 Adagba #36.4 Wunmọnijẹ #41 Lugbade #26.7 Lumobi #24.2 Yeyelueko, mother of Singbunsin Yanningan ?
111021.01Odidimọdẹ RogbẹṣinD_Lajodogun
1221.02Àwórókọ̀lọ̀kínD_Lajodogun
131121.03ẸkunD_Lajodogun
141221.04AjímúdàD_Lajodogun
1221.1Luciro
1513101321.2Gboo ni jioD_Lajodogun
1614111421.4OkunlajosinD_Lajodogun
1715121521.6AdégbàlúD_Lajodogun
131621.8Odidi Egbesin
1814172222Ọ̀sińkọ́láD_LajodogunDescendant of Lajodoogun.
1822.2Lagbuja
1922.3Omoropo
1522.4Lagunja
191619212323ÒgbórúD_LajodogunDescendant of Lajodoogun. Ogboruu was deposed after reigning for 70 years. Six princes were appointed successively within a year and all died without completing the coronation. Finally, Ogboruu agreeded to bless Giesi, a son of his daughter Mọropo
201720222424Gíẹ̀síD_LajodogunMaternal grandson of Ogboruu
211824.1LuwoD Lafogido
221924.2LúmobiD Lafogido
25221624.3LagunjaD_Lajodogun
26231724.4LarunkaD_Lajodogun
2724182024.6AdemiluD_Lajodogun
2524.8Ọ̀sińkọ́lá
2525AdéjinléDescendant of Owodo #13 and ancestor of Abeweela #42
2626ÀróganganlàgboFrom Akui.
24212126.3Ojee lokun binrinD_Lajodogun
282626.5ỌmọgbogboD_Lajodogun
30282426.6AdejinlẹD Lafogido
3432252727AríbiwọsọD LafogidoAribiwoso-lode-AkuiFrom Akui.
2828Ṣojuolu Ọ̀gbọnsẹ̀gbọndẹFrom Owodo compound.
2320222929Agbẹ̀dẹ̀gbẹdẹD_LajodogunDescendant of Giẹsi.
3129263030Ọlọ́jọ́D LafogidoAgbele-wojuorun-yanmongiFrom Okerewe.
323030.3OkitiD Lafogido
333130.6LúgbadéD Lafogido
3232Ajífadéseré
3333Otuko
3434Odidimọdẹ RogbẹṣinAncestor of Mọlodo, Awura and Lami
2927233535Ajílà OòrùnD_LajodogunFrom Moore. Descendant of Agbedegbede #29
3533273135.5Ọ̀sinínladé Òtutùbiọ̀ṣunD LafogidoDescendant of Lafogido.
3636Abigboọla
363436.4ÀdàgbáD Lafogido
3735283737ÒjìgìdìríD_LajodogunLambuwa.From Akui ward, Ife.
383629381770−1800AkínmóyèróD LafogidoIriko dunle biojo.
393730391800−1823GbániárèD_LajodogunGbadioro at x86From Ilare ward, Ife.
403831401823−1835GbégbáajéD_Lajodogun
413932411835−1839Wúnmọníjẹ̀D LafogidoWunmo-nije-soogunA descendant of Lafogido.
424033421839−1849Adégúnlẹ̀ AbewéiláD LafogidoAbewe-ila gberengedẹ.He is said to have died at about 35 years of age.
434134431849−1878Degbin KùmbúsùD LafogidoThe first fall of Ife occurred during his reign in 1849.
444235441878−1880Ọ̀ráyẹ̀gbà ỌjajaD_LajodogunAyikiti-ninu-aran.Imposed by the Ibadan.
454336451880−1894Dérìn Ọlọ́gbénláD GiesiOoni-elect, who never came to be crowned at Ife before he died at Okeigbo. During his reign, the second fall of Ife occurred in 1882.
464437461894−1910Adélékàn Olúbòse ID OgboruEriogun, Akitikori, EbitikimopiriFirst Ooni to reign in Ile Ife after the end of Ekitiparapo war. The evacuation of Modakeke occurred during his reign.
474538471910−1910Adékọ́láD_LajodogunLawarikan, Agbejanla-bofa.From Akui. An Ooni-elect for only two months, June–July 1910.
484639481910−1930Adémilúyì ÀjàgúnD LafogidoHe was a descendant of Otutubiosun #31. During his reign the Modákẹ́kẹ́ people returned to Ifẹ̀ in 1921.
494740491930−1980Adesoji AderemiD OsinkolaAinla, Ọmọ Adekunbi IpetuFrom Akui. death=3/7/1980. Was a descendant of Ojigidiri Lambuwa
504841501980−2015Olubuse IID Ogborudeath=28/7/2015. Grandson of Adelekan Olubuse. Okunade Sijuade Olubuse II banned the sale of the Adetunji's book in IIfe town because it included a story pertaining to his grandfather Adélẹkàn Olúbùse, which he did not want publicized.
51512015−Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja IID Giesi