Titles of Traditional Rulers in Yoruba Land

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Alaafin of Oyo

In Yoruba land, apart from “Oba“, the general term for kings, each king or traditional ruler has his own royal title which distinguishes him from other kings. Here are some titles of kings/ traditional rulers in Yoruba land.

*Alaafin of Oyo

*Ooni of Ife,

*Alake of Egba

*Olubadan of Ibadan

*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

*Oba of Okeho

*Ayangburen of Ikorodu

*Asero of Ijero

*Ogoga of Ikere

*Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo

*Eleruwa of Eruwa

*Akaran of Badagry

*Alakire 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

If you know some other titles of Yoruba traditional rulers/ kings not listed above, kindly add it in the comment box.
Thank You!

249 thoughts on “Titles of Traditional Rulers in Yoruba Land”

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

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  5. 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.

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  6. 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.

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  7. 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.

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  9. 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.

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  11. 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.

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  16. 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

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  26. 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.

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

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