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{{Short description|none}}{{redirect|Ooni|the Open Observatory of Network Interference|OONI|the pizza oven manufacturer|Ooni (company)}} (File:IMG-20180922-WA0007_cropped.jpg|thumb|Ife bronze casting of a King, dated around twelfth century)(File:Drummers at Ooni's Palace.jpg|thumb|Drummers at Ooni's Palace)(File:A deity at the Ooni of Ife palce.jpg|thumb|A picture of an imagined Oduduwa sculpture at the Ooni of Ife palace|alt=){{Yoruba people}}The Ooni of Ile-Ife (Ọọ̀ni of Ilè-Ifẹ̀) is the traditional ruler of Ilé-Ifẹ̀ and the spiritual head of the Yoruba people. The Ooni dynasty existed before the reign of Oduduwa which historians have argued to have been between the 7th-9th centuries A.D.After the demise of Oduduwa and Ogun’s loss of the throne, Oduduwa's support base dispersed out of Ile-Ife. Another account but not in tandem with existing evidences states that Ogun purposely sent all Oduduwa's children on different journeys to effect Yoruba territory expansion.Whatever the case, after Oduduwa’s short reign, Ọbàtálá re-emerged as the king of Ile-Ife and the throne was rotated between Obatala and Obalufon houses until the return of Oranmiyan who briefly interrupted the succession pattern. Popular history as associated Ooni Lajamisan with Oranmiyan as his son. However, Ife tradition shows that Lajamisan was indeed a descent of Oranfe lineage. Nevertheless, Lajamisan is often said to have opened the modern Ife history.Prior to the 20th century, the succession pattern of the Ooni was fluid. However, with the modernity that came with colonialism, the succession pattern was structured to the existing four actual Ruling HousesNEWS, Vanguard (Nigeria),weblink The Place Of Oranmiyan In The History Of Ile – Ife, 2016-02-22, 2016-04-20, are named from Ooni Lafogido, Ooni Osinkola, Ooni Ogboru and Ooni Giesi. The structure has been heavily critiqued for being influenced by politics, personal vendetta and obfuscation of history. For instance, while the first three were said to have been sons of Ooni Lajodogun, certain figures regarded as siblings of Ogboru have either been completely excluded or subsumed. The current Ooni is Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II (born October 17, 1974).

Various authors have various lists

The primary sources for the history of the Yoruba are from oral tradition. The oral traditions of Ile-Ife indicate that Oranfe was an Olofin and likewise Obatala who is credited with the ownership of the Are (the Ife crown). Since there were not ceremonial recitations of the list of the Oonis (at burial or at crowning), 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 (see table, column LA). Nevertheless, the existing literature have excised Oranfe and Obatala from the lists of the rulers of Ile-Ife.

Books and research papers

1. Ojo Bada 1954BOOK, Ojo, Bada of Shaki, 1954, Iwe Itan Yoruba, Apa Kinni, Ibadan, 228 pages, Cited from Ojuade & Obayemi, not read directly. quotes 15 names for the Oduduwa to Lajamisan period.JOURNAL, J Sina Ojuade, The issue of Oduduwa in Yoruba genesis: the myths and realities, Transafrican Journal of History, 21, 1992, 139–158, 24520425, (p.154)JOURNAL, Ancient Ile-Ife: Another Cultural Historical Reinterpretation, Ade Obayemi, Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria, 9, 4, June 1979, 151–185, 41857206, (p.158) 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.BOOK, An Anthology of Historical Notes on Ife City, M. A. Fabunmi, J. West Publications, 1985, 9789781630170, 282,
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 BOOK, Dele, Awoyinfa, 1992, Ooni of Ife in Yoruba history,weblink Lichfield Nigeria, 96, 9789783049871, WEB, Worldcat, Awoyinfa, Dele,weblink 2016-04-23, pages 30–35.
2. Prince L. A. Adetunji 1999,BOOK, The Glory of Yoruba Nation, Prince L. A. Adetunji, Lichfield Nigeria, 1999, 9789783049871, 128, pages 70–77. The prince, from the Giesi family, was one of the contenders for the 2015 designation.WEB, Vanguard (Nigeria),weblink The Ooni has spiritual and physical powers, 2015-08-30, 2016-04-21, See column LA.
3. :

Sources for the 50 items B list

1. Ologundu 2008,BOOK, Dayo, Ologundudu, 2008, The cradle of Yoruba culture,weblink Center for Spoken Words, 9780615220635, 206, BOOK, Searchworks, Stanford,weblink pages 58–59. Lists 48 names, that are the B list, except from Obalufon Alayemore (5) and Aworokolokin (12). Moreover, Osinkola (18) is at 25 (strange place) Araba Adedayo Ologundu was a native of Ile-Ife, Nigeria. See column Og.
2. Lawal 2000,BOOK, 2000,weblink Ile-Ifẹ : the cradle of the Yoruba : with Oduduwa as their progenitor, Lawal, Ladun Kofoworola Owolade, Ikoyi, Lagos : Ayojide Enterprises, 19, page 21 (nevertheless, this book is Google described as a 19 pages book !). See column LB.

Web sources

1. Source 2015weblink trustees= Chief Kemade Elugbaju, Hon. Rotimi Makinde, Dr. Akin Awofolaju, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, Niyi Murele, Sen. Babajide Omoworare, Prince Adedamola Aderemi, Kehinde Awoyele, Prince Adeleke Ijiyode
2. Leadership.ng 2015.,WEB,weblink Ooni Of Ife: Ademiluyi Family Set To Produce Successor, Leadership Newspaper, July 30, 2015, 2015-07-30, 2015. No references are given. One typo: Ademiluyi Ajagun (1930-19800).WEB, Ooni Ogun & The Obalades crown chiefs of Yoruba Land,weblink Adebola Opaleye, 5 August 2020,
3. Ooni Ojaja II web site,WEB,weblink Past Ooni of Ife, 2016-04-21,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160504212418weblink">weblink 2016-05-04, dead, 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.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}} Especially, the Ooni of Ife is often presented as the highest ranked Oba or, even more, as the natural chairman of the Council of Yoruba Chiefs.BOOK,weblink Nigerian Chiefs: Traditional Power in Modern Politics, 1890s-1990s, Rochester studies in African history and the diaspora, Olufemi Vaughan, University Rochester Press, 2006, 9781580462495, 168, The rules to fill a vacant stool are the Chiefs Law Cap 25 Laws of Osun State (modified 2002).WEB, Erring on the law to fill Ooni stool, Dr. Abiola Sanni, Bar Alpha (Nigeria),weblink 2016-04-21,weblink 2016-06-02, dead, And the Declaration made in 1980 by the traditional Chiefs under Section 4(2) 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 (present) [as of 1957]
2. The Ogboru House, Ilare
3. The Giesi House, More
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 VanguardNEWS, Vanguard (Nigeria),weblink 2015-10-31, 2016-04-26, How Giesi Family Joined the Ruling Class, for Lafog, Osink, Ogbor, Giesi. And NewzWEB,weblink Names of Ife Ooni, from Oduduwa ascension, 2016-04-26,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160507152032weblink">weblink 2016-05-07, dead, for the rest. (Both sources don't give their own sources).In 2015, it was the turn of the Giesi Family, as confirmed by the Ife kingmakers.WEB, Ife kingmakers narrow selection of Ooni to Giesi Family, Nigerian Tribune,weblink 2015-09-14, 2016-04-21,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20160508005029weblink">weblink 2016-05-08, dead, Nevertheless:

• Olakunle Aderemi (leader of Osinkola) said that, despite having produced Adesoji Aderemi (1930-1980), Osinkola house deserved to produce the new King because the family produced the fewest of the Ooni among the four ruling houses. Ife Chieftaincy Declaration of 1980 technically throws open the contest for filling the stool of Ooni, he added.WEB,weblink 2016-04-21, New Ooni: As expected, ruling houses have already started fighting, 2015-08-27, The Scoop (Nigeria),
• The Lafogido house went to court, describing the Chieftaincy Declaration as unfair. Lafogido house had been constantly marginalized in chieftaincy reviews in Ife since 1957 they said.WEB, Ooni Ogun & The Obalades crown chiefs of Yoruba Land,weblink Dakingsman.com, 5 August 2020, 14 Oonis have been enthroned from Lajodogun and only 8 from Lafogido ruling house they added.NEWS,weblink Ife kingmakers announce that Giesi would produce next Ooni; but one other family is heading to court, 2015-09-14, 2016-04-21, The Scoop (Nigeria),
• Adetowo Aderemi (of Osinkola) got even further, faulting the 1957 and 1980 Ife Traditional Council Declarations, describing them as a fraud. That they are against the customary law of succession of the Ife people, he said. He also faulted the inclusion of Giesi Ruling House among eligible royal families to fill the stool of Ooni, saying that Giesi was only invited to complete the term of Ogboru, not being from the male lineage with right to the stool as the grandson of Ogboru.WEB, New Ooni: Bickering gets worse as Osinkola Ruling House distances self from rotation of crown,weblink 2015-09-06, 2016-04-21,

Finally, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, from the Giesi house, was elected October 26, 2015.WEB, Vanguard (Nigeria),weblink 2015-10-27, 2016-04-21, Profile of Ogunwusi Ooni-elect,

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 (1981). 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 (diacritics removed):{| class="wikitable"!Ojajii !! LB !! Eluyemi (x86)

Ogun	Ogun	Ogun

Odidimode Rogbeesin	Odidimode Rogbesin

Gboonijio	Gbodo-Nijio	Gbodo-Nijio

Okanlajosin	Okunlajosin	-

Adegbalu	Adegbolu	Adegbolu

Ooni Luwoo	>	| Luwo (Female)

Ojelokunbirin	Oje Lokunsinrin	Ojee Lokunsinrin

Larunnka	Larinka	Larinka

Adegunle Adewela	Adegunle Abeweela	Abewela

Degbinsokun	Degbin Kumbusu	Degbinna-okun

Orarigba	Orayigba Ojaja	Orayigbi

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

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 (quoted by Sina Ojuade) 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 (p158) 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

1. In list A, Lajamisan is ranked 11. This can be tracked to the 1973 Daily Sketch kinglist (p158). 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.
2. 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. (green in the table).
3. 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 (Female)" and placed after Giesi 24. (green in the table).
4. 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.
5. 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."JOURNAL, 180445, R. C. C. Law, The Journal of African History, 2, 207–222, Cambridge University Press, The Heritage of Oduduwa: Traditional History and Political Propaganda among the Yoruba, 14, 1973, 10.1017/s0021853700012524, p.221.

Aggregated list

{{clear}}{|class="wikitable sortable" !LB!!Og!!86!!85!!76!!75!!54!!LA!!date!!name!!Notes!!nickname !!comments

Oranfe (Oramfe)

Often regarded as the earliest ruler of Ile-Ife, otherwise known as Ugbomekun

Okanranjigbo, Onile ina

The ancestor of: Osangangan Obamakin (aka Obalufon Ogbogbodirin); Obalufon Alayemore; and Lajamisan

Obatala

Succeeded Oranfe. He was an important ruler of Ile-Ife whose authority was challenged through an usurpation

Olufe, Olofin Iwase, Oseremagbo

During the conflict that followed the usurpation of his leadership, he was able to retain the support of the larger number of the 13 major hamlets of the Ugbomekun confederacy who were regarded as 'Elu Meje'. Nonetheless, he lost the support of the other hamlets to Oduduwa, the head of the usurpation group.

OdùduwÃ

Regarded as Olofin

He headed 6 groups out of the 13 major hamlets of the confederacy. Had a troubled and short reign. Was upstaged by Obatala.

1

Obatala

Seized power at the fall of Oduduwa and re-emerged as the king of Ife. He began the unification process of the previously semi-autonomous hamlets. His strong alliance with Osangangan Obamakin led to the rotation of power between the groups headed by both of them respectively

2

Ogun

Compeer of Oduduwa. A great warrior and hunter who attempted to seize power but was ousted by Ọbalùfọ̀n Ògbógbódirin a.k.a Osangangan Obamakin

2

Ọbalùfọ̀n Ògbógbódirin

S Oranfe/Oduduwa

Osangangan Obamakin (Orunmakin)

Possibly a son of Oduduwa or Oranfe. He lived and reigned for an unusually long period of time.

3

Ọbalùfọ̀n Aláyémọrẹ

S Obalufon I

Regarded as the First Ooni and carried out the complete unification of Ile-IfeSUZANNE >FIRST1=BLIER

JOURNAL=THE ART BULLETIN

VOLUME=67

|Became the Ooni after his father's death while Oranmiyan was on sojourn or exile. Abdicated after a stiff confrontation with Oranmiyan who returned to Ile-Ife.

4

Ọ̀raǹmíyaǹ

S Ogun

Odede=title ?

A son of Ogun through a Lakange whom Oduduwa would later seize. Said to have lived between 1200 and 1300 A.D. Eweka, the Omo n'Oba of Benin, Ajaka and Sango the Alaafin of Oyo were his sons.

4.5

style="color:#DDDDDD;"

|Back to the throne after Oranmiyan's death. Reigned at the same time as Dada, Alaafin of Oyo.

4.7

Ayétise

5

style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"

|

5.5

style="color:#DDDDDD;"

|Head messenger. Said to have usurped the throne at the death of Aworokolokin.

6

Ẹ̀fọ̀n Ayíóyè

Ogbolaajuree (no matter how ripe the okra is, it cannot be older than itself).

7

style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"

|

8

Láamórò Ògìján

From Molodo compound, Ilode.

9

Ọ̀sẹgànderùkù

Oseganderuku (He who turns the forest into dust).

9.5

Otaran

10

Ọyẹ́

Okukuyewu Ilode

10.7

Lamoro

11

style="background-color:#EEBBBB;"

TITLE=THE CRADLE OF A RACE: IFE FROM THE BEGINNING TO 1980

PUBLISHER=SUNRAY PUBLICATIONS LIMITED

| Modern Ife history began with his reign which was unusually long.

12

Lárọ́ọ̀ká

From Moore. Claimed to be a 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.

13

Òwódò

From Okerewe, Ife.

14

Arírere Ọ̀kínwẹ

15

Ọtaataa

Ọtaataa-kiran

From Owodo. Alade yokun-saayo-lorun.

16

Lápeléke

Oro-wuye-oluku-eti

16.2

Oluwo

17

Otújàbíòjò

(who scatters the market like rainfall)

18

style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"

Ooni Luwoo>Lúwo Gbàgìdá

Ayare, Akọsulogbe

From Owode compound, Okerewe. Descendant of Otaataa (#15). 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. .

19

style="background-color:#EEBBBB;"

|From Igbodo, Okerewe. Descendant of Lajamisan.

20

Lafogun

From Igbodo. Descendant of Lajodoogun.

21

style="background-color:#FFCCCC;"

D_Lajodogun

From Igbodo. Descendant of Lajodoogun. Prominent among his children were: (1) Otutu biosun ? (2) Okiti #26.6 (3) Olojo Agbele #30 (4) Adagba #36.4 (5) Wunmọnijẹ #41 (6) Lugbade #26.7 (7) Lumobi #24.2 (8) Yeyelueko, mother of Singbunsin Yanningan ?

21.01

style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"

D_Lajodogun

21.02

style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"

D_Lajodogun

21.03

style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"

D_Lajodogun

21.04

style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"

D_Lajodogun

21.1

Luciro

21.2

Gboo ni jio

style="background-color:#DDDDFF;"

|

21.4

Okunlajosin

style="background-color:#DDDDFF;"

|

21.6

Adégbàlú

style="background-color:#DDDDFF;"

|

21.8

Odidi Egbesin

22

style="background-color:#FFCCCC;"

D_Lajodogun

Descendant of Lajodoogun.

22.2

Lagbuja

22.3

Omoropo

22.4

Lagunja

21

23

style="color:#DDDDDD;"

Ògbórú

style="background-color:#DDDDFF;"

|Descendant 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

22

24

style="color:#DDDDDD;"

Gíẹ̀sí

style="background-color:#DDDDFF;"

|Maternal grandson of Ogboruu

24.1

style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"

|

24.2

Lúmobi

D of Lafogido

24.3

Lagunja

style="background-color:#DDDDFF;"

|

24.4

Larunka

style="background-color:#DDDDFF;"

|

24.6

Ademilu

style="background-color:#DDDDFF;"

|

24.8

style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"

|

25

Adéjinlé

Descendant of Owodo #13 and ancestor of Abeweela #42

26

Àróganganlàgbo

From Akui.

26.3

Ojee lokun binrin

style="background-color:#DDDDFF;"

|

26.5

Ọmọgbogbo

style="background-color:#DDDDFF;"

|

26.6

Adejinlẹ

D Lafogido

27

Aríbiwọsọ

D Lafogido

Aribiwoso-lode-Akui

From Akui.

28

Ṣojuolu Ọ̀gbọnsẹ̀gbọndẹ

From Owodo compound.

29

Agbẹ̀dẹ̀gbẹdẹ

style="background-color:#DDDDFF;"

|Descendant of Giẹsi.

30

Ọlọ́jọ́

D Lafogido

Agbele-wojuorun-yanmongi

From Okerewe.

30.3

Okiti

D Lafogido

30.6

Lúgbadé

D Lafogido

32

Ajífadéseré

33

Otuko

34

style="background-color:#CCFFCC;"

|Ancestor of Mọlodo, Awura and Lami (?,?,?)

35

Ajílà Oòrùn

style="background-color:#DDDDFF;"

|From Moore. Descendant of Agbedegbede #29

35.5

Ọ̀sinínladé Òtutùbiọ̀ṣun

D Lafogido

Descendant of Lafogido.

36

Abigboọla

36.4

Àdàgbá

D Lafogido

37

Òjìgìdìrí

style="background-color:#DDDDFF;"

|From Akui ward, Ife.

											|

D_Lajodogun

Gbadioro at x86

From Ilare ward, Ife.

D_Lajodogun

											|A descendant of Lafogido.

											|He is said to have died at about 35 years of age.

											|The first fall of Ife occurred during his reign in 1849.

D_Lajodogun

Ayikiti-ninu-aran (rolls around in velvet fabric).

Imposed by the Ibadan.

											|Ooni-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.

											|First Ooni to reign in Ile Ife after the end of Ekitiparapo war. The evacuation of Modakeke occurred during his reign.

D_Lajodogun

Lawarikan, Agbejanla-bofa.

From Akui. An Ooni-elect for only two months, June–July 1910.

									Ademiluyi Ajagun>		|He was a descendant of Otutubiosun #31. During his reign the Modákẹ́kẹ́ people returned to Ifẹ̀ in 1921.

									Adesoji Aderemi>		|From Akui. death=3/7/1980. Doubled as Governor of the Western Region of Nigeria. He was a descendant of Ojigidiri Lambuwa (#37)

									Olubuse II>		|Grandson of Adelekan Olubuse. death=28/7/2015. Communal clashes between Modakeke and Ife people was reignited during his reign. Sijuade Olubuse II banned the sale of the Adetunji's book in ife town because it included a story pertaining to his grandfather Adélẹkàn Olúbùse, which he did not want publicized

Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi>Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II

D Giesi

Further reading

• BOOK, Milestones and concepts in Yoruba history and culture: a key to understanding Yoruba history, I. A. Akinjogbin, Olu-Akin Publishers, 2002, 167, 9789763331392,weblink (not read)

References

{{Reflist}}