The Ooni of Ile-Ife (Ọọ̀ni of Ilè-Ifẹ̀) is the traditional ruler of Ilé-Ifẹ̀. 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 fail attempt to take over 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 identifies Ooni Lajamisan to have been a son or grandson of Oranmiyan. Meanwhile Ife tradition remains unclear about his ancestry. 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 Houses, which were 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).
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 Yoruba Chiefs. The rules to fill a vacant stool are the Chiefs Law Cap 25 Laws of Osun State (modified 2002). 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: The Oshinkola House, Iremo (present) [as of 1957] The Ogboru House, Ilare The Giesi House, More 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.
In 2015, it was the turn of the Giesi Family, as confirmed by the Ife kingmakers. 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. 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. 14 Oonis have been enthroned from Lajodogun and only 8 from Lafogido ruling house they added. 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.
Finally, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, from the Giesi house, was elected October 26, 2015.
Aggregated list
LBOg8685767554LAdatenameNotesnickname comments 00000000Obatala 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 different power-blocs within Ile-Ife. 00000000OdùduwàRegarded as Olofin He had a turbulent and short reign. Was upstaged by Obatala.111111111Obatala 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 respectively22 2Ogun Compeer of Obatala. A great warrior and hunter who attempted to seize power but was ousted by Ọbalùfọ̀n Ògbógbódirin a.k.a Osangangan Obamakin44 222222Ọbalùfọ̀n Ògbógbódirin Osangangan Obamakin He lived and reigned for an unusually long period of time.5 5333333Ọbalùfọ̀n AláyémọrẹS Obalufon IRegarded as the First Ooni and carried out the complete unification of Ile-Ife 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.654 4444Ọ̀raǹmíyaǹ S OgunOdede=title ?A son of Ogun or oduduwa 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. It was not clear, who the original father of òrànmíyàn was. 4.54.5Ọbalùfọ̀n Aláyémọrẹ Onigbomore Back to the throne after Oranmiyan's death. Reigned at the same time as Dada, Alaafin of Oyo. 76 4.7Ayétise 5555Àwórókọ̀lọ̀kín 644 5.55.5Lajuwa (usurper) Okoo olori-ko-yun-ajo (A king's wife, called olorì is forbidden to travel)Head messenger. Said to have usurped the throne at the death of Aworokolokin. 6 766Ẹ̀fọ̀n Ayíóyè Ogbolaajuree (no matter how ripe the okra is, it cannot be older than itself). 556677Ajímúda Ẹkùn 88Láamórò Ògìján From Molodo compound, Ilode. 99Ọ̀sẹgànderùkù Oseganderuku (He who turns the forest into dust). 67 9.5Otaran 81010Ọyẹ́ Okukuyewu Ilode 8 10 10.7Lamoro 87710127151111Lájẹ̀misìnSon of Aiyetise/Latise? Descendant of Oranmiyan? Product of an intermarriage between Alayemore and Oranmiyan offspring? Modern Ife history began with his reign which was unusually long. 79 111212Lárọ́ọ̀ká 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. 1313Òwódò From Okerewe, Ife. 8 121414Arírere Ọ̀kínwẹ 91515Ọtaataa Ọtaataa-kiranFrom Owodo. Alade yokun-saayo-lorun. 910 131616Lápeléke Oro-wuye-oluku-eti 11 14 16.2Oluwo 1717Otújàbíòjò (who scatters the market like rainfall) 9 1818Lúwo Gbàgìdá Ayare, AkọsulogbeFrom 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. .98 1919LájódogunS Lajamisan From Igbodo, Okerewe. Descendant of Lajamisan. 2020Lafogun From Igbodo. Descendant of Lajodoogun.109811 2121LáfogídoD_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 ?1110 21.01Odidimọdẹ RogbẹṣinD_Lajodogun 12 21.02Àwórókọ̀lọ̀kínD_Lajodogun 1311 21.03ẸkunD_Lajodogun 1412 21.04AjímúdàD_Lajodogun 12 21.1Luciro 15131013 21.2Gboo ni jioD_Lajodogun 16141114 21.4OkunlajosinD_Lajodogun 17151215 21.6AdégbàlúD_Lajodogun 1316 21.8Odidi Egbesin 18 1417 2222Ọ̀sińkọ́láD_Lajodogun Descendant of Lajodoogun. 18 22.2Lagbuja 19 22.3Omoropo 15 22.4Lagunja 19161921 2323ÒgbórúD_Lajodogun 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 Mọropo20172022 2424Gíẹ̀sí D_Lajodogun Maternal grandson of Ogboruu2118 24.1LuwoD Lafogido 2219 24.2LúmobiD of Lafogido 252216 24.3LagunjaD_Lajodogun 262317 24.4LarunkaD_Lajodogun 27241820 24.6AdemiluD_Lajodogun 25 24.8Ọ̀sińkọ́lá 2525Adéjinlé Descendant of Owodo #13 and ancestor of Abeweela #42 2626Àróganganlàgbo From Akuyi. 242121 26.3Ojee lokun binrinD_Lajodogun 2826 26.5ỌmọgbogboD_Lajodogun 302824 26.6AdejinlẹD Lafogido 343225 2727AríbiwọsọD LafogidoAribiwoso-lode-AkuyiFrom Akuyi. 2828Ṣojuolu Ọ̀gbọnsẹ̀gbọndẹ From Owodo compound. 232022 2929Agbẹ̀dẹ̀gbẹdẹD_Lajodogun Descendant of Giẹsi.312926 3030Ọlọ́jọ́D LafogidoAgbele-wojuorun-yanmongiFrom Okerewe. 3230 30.3OkitiD Lafogido 3331 30.6LúgbadéD Lafogido 3232Ajífadéseré 3333Otuko 3434Odidimọdẹ Rogbẹṣin Ancestor of Mọlodo, Awura and Lami (?,?,?)292723 3535Ajílà OòrùnD_Lajodogun From Moore. Descendant of Agbedegbede #29353327 3135.5Ọ̀sinínladé Òtutùbiọ̀ṣunD Lafogido Descendant of Lafogido. 3636Abigboọla 3634 36.4ÀdàgbáD Lafogido 373528 3737ÒjìgìdìríD_LajodogunLambuwa. From Akuyi ward, Ife. 383629 381770−1800AkínmóyèróD LafogidoIriko dunle biojo (the mist cannot wet the ground like rain). 393730 391800−1823GbániárèD_LajodogunGbadioro at x86From Ilare ward, Ife. 403831 401823−1835GbégbáajéD_Lajodogun 413932 411835−1839Wúnmọníjẹ̀D LafogidoWunmo-nije-soogunA descendant of Lafogido.424033 421839−1849Adégúnlẹ̀ AbewéiláD LafogidoAbewe-ila gberengedẹ (spread out like the leaf of the okra plant). He is said to have died at about 35 years of age.434134 431849−1878Degbin KùmbúsùD Lafogido The first fall of Ife occurred during his reign in 1849.444235 441878−1880Ọ̀ráyẹ̀gbà ỌjajaD_LajodogunAyikiti-ninu-aran (rolls around in velvet fabric).Imposed by the Ibadan.454336 451880−1894Dérìn Ọlọ́gbénláD Giesi 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 1882.464437 461894−1910Adélékàn 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.474538 471910−1910Adékọ́láD_LajodogunLawarikan, Agbejanla-bofa. From Akuyi. An Ooni-elect for only two months, June–July 1910.484639 481910−1930Ademiluyi AjagunD Lafogido He was a descendant of Otutubiosun #31. During his reign the Modákẹ́kẹ́ people returned to Ifẹ̀ in 1921.494740 491930−1980Adesoji AderemiD OsinkolaAinla, Ọmọ Adekunbi Ipetu From Akuyi. death=3/7/1980. Doubled as Governor of the Western Region of Nigeria. He was a descendant of Ojigidiri Lambuwa (#37)504841 501980−2015Olubuse IID Ogboru 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 publicized51 512015−Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja IID Giesi
Some accounts consider Òránfè as the first ruler of ifè.
Sources
Print sources Ojo Bada 1954 Cited from Ojuade & Obayemi, not read directly. quotes 15 names for the Oduduwa to Lajamisan period. See column 5. Chief Fabunmi 1975 quotes 7 names for the same period. See column 6. Chief Fabunmi is known for his Historical notes. Chief Fasogbon 1976 quotes 12 names for this period. See column 7. Chief Awosemo 1985 quotes 22 names from Oduduwa to Giesi. See column 8. Eluyemi 1986 quotes 41 names from Oduduwa to nowadays. See column 9.
Sources for the 50 items A list
Awoyinfa, Dele, 1992 pages 30–35. 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.
Sources for the 50 items B list