Awujale is the royal title of the monarch of the Ijebu Kingdom. The holder is addressed as the Awujale of Ijebuland.[1] The most recent Awujale was Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona Ogbagba II, who served as the Awujale from 1960 until his death in 2025.[2] He was from the House of Anikinaiya.
By the declaration made under section 4(2) of the Chiefs Law 1957 of the Customary Law regulating the selection of the Awujale of Ijebuland Chieftaincy, there are four ruling houses:[3]
- House of Gbelegbuwa
- House of Anikinaiya
- House of Fusengbuwa
- House of Fidipote
The Declaration was approved 25 August 1959 and registered on 1 September 1959.
Background
[edit]According to one tradition, the title Awujale originated from the nickname Amujaile, meaning a person who understands the art of wrestling on land. This nickname was given to Obanta (Ogboroban) after he reached a village ruled by a chief named Olu-Igbo, who refused him passage, and the issue was resolved by a wrestling march between them in which Obanta was victorious.[4]
List of Awujales
[edit]Multiple regnal lists are known to exist, each containing some differences in the number and order of reigns. The succession of Awujale passed between four dynastic branches from the 15th century to the present day.
Revised Chronology (2017)
[edit]The following list is based on a revised chronology by Tunde Oduwobi.[5] This list is mostly based on an earlier list by Badejo Adebonojo in 1947, with the exception that it adds the name Boyejo who died shortly after assuming office and was excluded from Adebonojo's list. Regnal lengths have also been adopted from Adebonojo from the reign of Tewogbuwa onwards.[6]
Names with the ♀ symbol are female rulers.
| No. | Name | Reign dates | Regnal length (Years) | Dynastic Branch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Obanta | 1450–1465 | 15 | 1 |
| 2 | Obaguru | 1465–1475 | 10 | 2 |
| 3 | Munigbuwa | 1475–1480 | 5 | 3 |
| 4 | Obanla | 1480–1490 | 10 | 1 |
| 5 | Obaloja | 1490–1502 | 12 | 2 |
| 6 | Obalofin | 1502–1516 | 14 | 3 |
| 7 | Apasa | 1516–1528 | 12 | 1 |
| 8 | Obaganju | 1528–1536 | 8 | 2 |
| 9 | Tewogboye | 1536–1540 | 4 | 3 |
| 10 | Obaruwa | 1540–1549 | 9 | 1 |
| 11 | Ofiran | 1549–1552 | 3 | 2 |
| 12 | Lapengbuwa | 1552–1557 | 5 | 1 |
| 13 | Otutubiosun | 1557–1560 | 3 | 3 |
| 14 | Ajuwakale | 1560–1572 | 12 | 3 |
| 15 | Gbadisa | 1572–1581 | 9 | 1 |
| 16 | Obajewo | 1581–1596 | 15 | 2 |
| 17 | Elewu Ileke | 1596–1610 | 14 | 3 |
| 18 | Olumodan | 1610–1640 | 30 | 1 |
| 19 | Mase | 1640–1645 | 5 | 2 |
| 20 | Olutoyese | 1645–1655 | 10 | 3 |
| 21 | Mola (Omila) | 1655–1662 | 7 | 1/4 |
| 22 | Ajana | 1662–1664 | 2 | 1 |
| 23 | Ore-Yeye ♀ | 1664–1674 | 10 | 2 |
| 24 | Agunwaja | 1674–1680 | 6 | 1 |
| 25 | Jadiara | 1680–1695 | 15 | 3 |
| 26 | Sapoku | 1695–1707 | 12 | 2 |
| 27 | Folajoye | 1707–1712 | 5 | 4 |
| 28 | Mekun | 1712–1722 | 10 | 3 |
| 29 | Gbodogi | 1722–1730 | 8 | 2 |
| 30 | Ojigi Moyegeso | 1730–1745 | 15 | 4 |
| 31 | Boyejo | 1745 | 0 | 1 |
| 32 | Oniyewe | 1745–1750 | 5 | 3 |
| 33 | Olope Oluyoruwa | 1750–1755 | 5 | 2 |
| 34 | Ayora | 1755–1765 | 10 | 1 |
| 35 | Fesojoye | 1765–1769 | 4 | 3 |
| 36 | Ore-Geje ♀ | 1769–1770 | 1 | 2 |
| 37 | Sapenuwa Rubakoye | 1770–1775 | 5 | 2 |
| 38 | Orodudujoye | 1775–1778 | 3 | 1 |
| 39 | Tewogbuwa | 1778–1780 | 2 | 3 |
| 40 | Gbelegbuwa | 1780–1790 | 10 | 1 |
| 41 | Fusengbuwa | 1790–1820 | 30 | 3 |
| 42 | Setejoye | 1820–1821 | 1 | 4 |
| 43 | Anikilaya | 1821–1854 | 33 | 2 |
| 44 | Fidipote | 1854–1885 | 31 | 4 |
| 45 | Tunwase | 1886–1895 | 9 | 3 |
| 46 | Adeleke | 1895–1906 | 9 | 2 |
| 47 | Adeona | 1906–1915 | 9 | 4 |
| 48 | Adekoya | 1916 | 0 | 3 |
| 49 | Ademolu | 1916–1925 | 9 | 2 |
| 50 | Adenuga | 1925–1929 | 4 | 3 |
| 51 | Ogunnaike | 1929–1933 | 4 | 4 |
| 52 | Adesanya | 1933–1959 | 26 | 1 |
| 53 | Adetona | 1960–2025 | 65 | 2 |
Dynastic Chart
[edit]The following chart was recorded in Tunde Oduwobi's "The Age and Kings of the Ijebu Kingdom" (2017).[7]
| Branch I | Branch II | Branch III | Branch IV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) Obanta r. 1450–1465 | (2) Obaguru r. 1465–1475 | (3) Munigbuwa r. 1475–1480 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (4) Obanla r. 1480–1490 | (5) Obaloja r. 1490–1502 | (6) Obalofin r. 1502–1516 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (7) Apasa r. 1516–1528 | (8) Obagunju r. 1528–1536 | (9) Tewobogye r. 1536–1540 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (10) Obaruwa r. 1540–1549 | (11) Ofiran r. 1549–1552 | (13) Otutubiosun r. 1557–1560 | (14) Ajuwakale r. 1560–1572 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (12) Lapengbuwa r. 1552–1557 | (16) Obajewo r. 1581–1596 | (17) Elewu Ileke r. 1596–1610 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (15) Gbadisa r. 1572–1581 | (19) Mase r. 1640–1645 | (20) Olutoyese r. 1645–1655 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (18) Olumodan r. 1610–1640 | (21) Mola (*) Branch IV | (23) Ore-Yeye ♀ r. 1664–1674 | (25) Jadiara r. 1680–1695 | (21) Mola r. 1655–1662 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (22) Ajana r. 1662–1664 | (26) Sapoku r. 1695–1707 | (28) Mekun r. 1712–1722 | (27) Folajoye r. 1707–1712 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (24) Agunwaja r. 1674–1680 | (29) Gbodogi r. 1722–1730 | (32) Oniyewe r. 1745–1750 | (30) Ojibi Moyegeso r. 1730–1745 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (31) Boyejo r. 1745–1745 | (34) Ayora r. 1755–1765 | (33) Olope Oluyoruwa r. 1750–1755 | (35) Fesojoye r. 1765–1769 | (42) Setejoye r. 1820–1821 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (38) Orodudujoye r. 1775–1778 | (36) Ore-Geje ♀ r. 1769–1770 | (37) Sapenuwa Rubakoye r. 1770–1775 | (39) Tewogbuwa r. 1778–1780 | (44) Fidipote r. 1854–1885 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (40) Gbeleguwa r. 1780–1790 | (43) Anikilaya r. 1821–1854 | (41) Fusengbuwa r. 1790–1820 | (47) Adeona r. 1906–1915 | (51) Ogunnaike r. 1929–1933 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (52) Adesanya r. 1933–1959 | (46) Adeleke r. 1895–1906 | (49) Ademolu r. 1916–1925 | (45) Tunwase r. 1886–1895 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (53) Adetona r. 1960–2025 | (48) Adekoya r. 1916–1916 | (50) Adenuga r. 1925–1929 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regnal lists
[edit]At least four regnal lists have been recorded based on oral tradition from the late 19th to the mid 20th centuries. There is some disagreement in the order and names of rulers, and not all lists include dates or reign lengths.
The following table uses lists from the following sources:
- List A – Tables of Principal Events in Yoruba History (1893) by John Otonba Payne.[8] Payne was a grandson of king Gbelegbuwa, who is the first king on his list. Payne's primary concern with writing his list was to collect data that could be used judicial purposes, and therefore was more interested in contemporary information than exploring the past.[9]
- List B – Ancient Ijebu-Ode (1937) by J.A. Olusola.[9] Olusala was an editor of Ibeju Weekly News (1933–1940). His book compiled various records of the colonial era. Awujale Adesanya submitted this king list to a panel who were considering the demands of the Remo people for administrative independence in 1937. Olusola added an additional name to the list, who was the then-current Awujale.[9]
- List C – Iwi Kini Ilosiwaju Wko Itan Ijebu (A Study of Ijebu History, Book I) by Odubanjo Odutola (1946). Odutola was well-known in the 1940s for his knowledge of local history and appeared in court litigations on behalf of the Awujale as his official historian.[9]
- List D – Itan Ido Ijebu (A History of Ijebu) by Badejo Adebonojo (1947). The actual author of this book was Badejo's father Samuel Adebonojo, who was an ex-officio member of the Awujale's cabinet. The compilation of the book ended in 1947, but his son Badejo later made additions and inserted the then-current Awujale to the list.[10] This list is notable for including reign dates for rulers before Gbelegbuwa and is also a genealogical list showing the lineages of the different rulers.[11]
During the period up to Tewogbuwa, there are only thirteen names that are in some agreement across these lists.[12]
| Name | List A (Payne, 1893) [13][14] |
List B (Olusola, 1937) [14] |
List C (Odutola, 1946) [14] |
List D (Adebonojo, 1947) [14] |
Revised List (Oduwobi, 2017) [5] |
Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order | Dates | Order | Dates | Order | Dates | Order | Dates | Order | Dates | ||
| Olu-Iwa | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Tunde Oduwobi suggested these two names may be fictive characters.[12] However, tradition states that Olu-Iwa led the first migration to Ijebu, accompanied by two warrior companions named Ajebu and Olode. He was the grandfather of Obanta/Ogborogan through his daughter Gborowo.[15] Oshin/Oshi was the son of Ajebu who ruled as regent after Olu-Iwa's death.[16] |
| Oshi | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| Obanta | – | – | 3 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1430 | 1 | 1450 | |
| Oba-Guru (B, C) Obaguru (D, Revised) |
– | – | 5 | – | 3 | – | 2 | 1445 | 2 | 1465 | |
| Monigbuwa (B) Monibgbuwa (C) Munigbuwa (D, Revised) |
– | – | 4 | – | 2 | – | 3 | 1455 | 3 | 1475 | |
| Obanla | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4 | 1460 | 4 | 1480 | |
| Oba-Loja (B, C) Obaloja (D, Revised) |
– | – | 6 | – | 4 | – | 5 | 1470 | 5 | 1490 | |
| Oba-Lofin (B, C) Obalofin (D, Revised) |
– | – | 7 | – | 5 | – | 6 | 1482 | 6 | 1502 | |
| Oba-Apasa (B, C) Apasa (D, Revised) |
– | – | 8 | – | 6 | – | 7 | 1496 | 7 | 1516 | |
| Oba-Ganju (C) Obaganju (D, Revised) |
– | – | 11 | – | 7 | – | 8 | 1508 | 8 | 1528 | |
| Tolumbogboye (B, C) Tewogboye (D, Revised) |
– | – | 12 | – | 8 | – | 9 | 1516 | 9 | 1536 | |
| Obaruwa (B, D, Revised) Obaruwa (Arunwa) (C) |
– | – | 10 | – | 10 | – | 10 | 1520 | 10 | 1540 | Consistently named as the tenth Awujale on all lists. His appellation is ekewa olu meaning "the tenth king".[17] Traditonally remembered as a "warrior king" who established the dynasties of Ode and Makun at Remo.[18] |
| Oba-Ofiran (B, C) Ofiran (D, Revised) |
– | – | 9 | – | 9 | – | 11 | 1529 | 11 | 1549 | |
| Lapengbuwa (B, Revised) Lapeguwa (D) |
– | – | 13 | – | – | – | 12 | 1532 | 12 | 1552 | The absence of this ruler on list C may be because his accession was the first major disruption in the succession chain.[12] |
| Otutu (B) Otutubiosun (C, Revised) Owa Otutubiosun (D) |
– | – | 14 | – | 12 | – | 13 | 1537 | 13 | 1557 | His brother Ajukawale usurped the throne.[19] |
| Ajuwakale | – | – | 15 | – | 13 | – | 14 | 1540 | 14 | 1560 | |
| Adisa (B) Oba-Adisa (C) Gbadisa (D, Revised) |
– | – | 16 | – | 11 | – | 15 | 1552 | 15 | 1572 | |
| Jewo (B) Oba-Jewo (C) Obajewo (D, Revised) |
– | – | 17 | – | 14 | – | 16 | 1561 | 16 | 1581 | |
| Elewu-Ilke (B) Elewuileke (C) Obalewuileke (D) Elewu Ileke (Revised) |
– | – | 18 | – | 15 | – | 17 | 1576 | 17 | 1596 | |
| Olumodan (B, C, Revised) Obalumodan Elewu (D) |
– | – | 21 | – | 17 | – | 18 | 1590 | 18 | 1610 | |
| Mase | – | – | 22 | – | 21 | – | 19 | 1620 | 19 | 1640 | |
| Olutunoyese (B) Olutoyese (C, Revised) Olotuneso (D) |
– | – | 20 | – | 18 | – | 20 | 1625 | 20 | 1645 | |
| Mola (D) Mola (Omila) (Revised) |
– | – | – | – | – | – | 21 | 1635 | 21 | 1655 | |
| Ajana (B) Ajano (C) |
– | – | 19 | – | 25 | – | 22 | 1642 | 22 | 1662 | |
| Ore-Yeye ♀ (B, C, Revised) Ore ♀ (D) |
– | – | 23 | – | 16 | – | 23 | 1644 | 23 | 1664 | |
| Agunwaja (B, C, Revised) Obaguwaja (D) |
– | – | 24 | – | 19 | – | 24 | 1654 | 24 | 1674 | |
| Jadiyara (B) Jadiara (C, D, Revised) |
– | – | 25 | – | 20 | – | 25 | 1660 | 25 | 1680 | |
| Asapo-kun (B) Sapo-Oku (C) Sapokun (D) Sapoku (Revised) |
– | – | 26 | – | 22 | – | 26 | 1675 | 26 | 1695 | |
| Afola (B) Afolajoye (C) Folajoye (D, Revised) |
– | – | 27 | – | 23 | – | 27 | 1687 | 27 | 1707 | |
| Omila | – | – | 28 | – | 24 | – | – | – | – | – | |
| Mekun | – | – | 29 | – | 26 | – | 28 | 1692 | 28 | 1712 | |
| Gbogidi (B, C, D) Gbodogi (Revised) |
– | – | 30 | – | 27 | – | 29 | 1702 | 29 | 1722 | |
| Moyegso (B, C) Ojigi Moyegeso (D, Revised) |
– | – | 41 | – | 37 | – | 30 | 1710 | 30 | 1730 | |
| Boyejo | – | – | 40 | – | 35 | – | – | – | 31 | 1745 | |
| Oniyewe (B, Revised) Oniyewe ♀ (C) Obaliyewe (D) |
– | – | 39 | – | 36 | – | 31 | 1725 | 32 | 1745 | |
| Olope (B, C) Olope Oluyoruwa (D, Revised) |
– | – | 34 | – | 30 | – | 32 | 1730 | 33 | 1750 | |
| Oluyoruwa (B, C) Olope Oluyoruwa (D, Revised) |
– | – | 32 | – | 29 | – | |||||
| Muwagona | – | – | 33 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Possibly a duplicate of Monigbwa, successor of Obanta.[9] |
| Ayora (B, C, Revised) Oljara (D) |
– | – | 35 | – | 31 | – | 33 | 1735 | 34 | 1755 | |
| Fesojoye | – | – | 36 | – | – | – | 34 | 1745 | 35 | 1765 | |
| Ore-Geje ♀ (B, C, Revised) Geje ♀ (D) |
– | – | 31 | – | 28 | – | 35 | 1749 | 36 | 1769 | |
| Rubakoye ♀ (B, C) Saponuwa Rubakoya (D, Revised) |
– | – | 37 | – | 32 | – | 36 | 1750 | 37 | 1770 | |
| Sapen-nuwa (B) Sapenuwa (C) Sapnuwa Rubakoya (D, Revised) |
– | – | 38 | – | 33 | – | |||||
| Orodudu-joye (B) Orodudujoye (C, D, Revised) |
– | – | 42 | – | 34 | – | 37 | 1755 | 38 | 1775 | |
| Atewogbuwa (B, C) Tewogbuwa (D, Revised) |
– | – | 43 | – | 38 | – | 38 | 1758 | 39 | 1778 | From this point onwards all lists are in agreement on the succession of kings due to his successors' reigns still being in living memory at the time of the commencement of documentation under British rule over Yorubaland.[17] |
| Gbelegbua (A) Gbelegbuwa I (B, D) Gbelegbuwa (C, Revised) |
1 | c. 1760 | 44 | 1760 | 39 | 1760 | 39 | 1760 | 40 | 1780 | |
| Fusengbua (A) Fusengbuwa (B, C, D, Revised) |
2 | c. 1790 | 45 | 1790 | 40 | 1790 | 40 | 1790 | 41 | 1790 | |
| Setejoye | 3 | c. 1819 | 46 | 1819 | 41 | 1819 | 41 | 1820 | 42 | 1820 | |
| Anikilaya (A, Revised) Figbajoye Anikilaya (B) Fugbajoye-Anikilaya (C) Anikinaiya (D) |
4 | c. 1820 | 47 | 1820 | 42 | 1820 | 42 | 1821 | 43 | 1821 | |
| Ademiyewo (A) Ademuyewo Fidipote (B, C) Fidipote (D, Revised) |
5 | c. 1852 | 48 | 1852 | 43 | 1852 | 43 | 1850 | 44 | 1854 | |
| Aboki (A) Adesimbo Tunwase (Aboki) (B) Adesimbo-Tunwase (C) Tuwase (D) Tunwase (Revised) |
6 | 1886 | 49 | 1886 | 44 | 1886 | 44 | 1886 | 45 | 1886 | |
| Adeleke Ogbagba (B, C) Ogbagba I (D) Adeleke (Revised) |
– | – | 50 | 1895 | 45 | 1895 | 45 | 1895 | 46 | 1895 | |
| Adeona Fusigboye (B, C) Fusigboye (D) Adeona (Revised) |
– | – | 51 | 1906 | 46 | 1906 | 46 | 1906 | 47 | 1906 | |
| Fusogbade (first reign) (D) | – | – | – | – | – | – | 47 | 1916 | – | – | |
| Adekoya Eleruja (B, C) Adekoya (D, Revised) |
– | – | 52 | – | 47 | 1916 | 48 | 1916 | 48 | 1916 | |
| Ademolu Fesogbade (B, C) Fesogbade (second reign) (D) Ademolu (Revised) |
– | – | 53 | 1915 | 48 | 1915 | 49 | 1917 | 49 | 1916 | |
| Adenuga Folagbade (B, C) Adenuga (D, Revised) |
– | – | 54 | 1925 | 49 | 1925 | 50 | 1925 | 50 | 1925 | |
| Ogunnaike Fibiwoga (B, C) Fibiwoga (D) Ogunnaike (Revised) |
– | – | 55 | 1929 | 50 | 1929 | 51 | 1929 | 51 | 1929 | |
| Dan. Adesanya Gbelegbuwa II (B) Gbelegbuwa II (D) Adesanya (Revised) |
– | – | 56 | 1933 | – | – | 52 | 1933 | 52 | 1933 | |
| Sikiru Adetona Ogbagba II (B) Ogbagba II (D) Adetona (Revised) |
– | – | 57 | 1959 | – | – | 53 | 1960 | 53 | 1960 | |
References
[edit]- ^ "Ijebu History". ijebumn.org. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ "Awujale of Ijebu, Buhari's longtime friend, dies at 91". The Cable. 13 July 2025. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
- ^ "Ijebu Community Association | History". Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 26 February 2016.
- ^ Ogunkoya 1956, p. 50.
- ^ a b c Oduwobi 2017, pp. 65–66.
- ^ Oduwobi 2017, p. 61.
- ^ Oduwobi 2017, p. 52.
- ^ John Otonba Payne (1893). Tables of Principal Events in Yoruba History. p. 40.
- ^ a b c d e Oduwobi 2017, p. 50.
- ^ Oduwobi 2017, pp. 50–51.
- ^ Oduwobi 2017, p. 55.
- ^ a b c Oduwobi 2017, p. 51.
- ^ John Otonba Payne (1893). Tables of Principal Events in Yoruba History. p. 40.
- ^ a b c d Oduwobi 2017, pp. 62–63.
- ^ Ogunkoya 1956, p. 49.
- ^ Ogunkoya 1956, p. 51.
- ^ a b Oduwobi 2017, p. 54.
- ^ Tunde Odowọbi (2006). "Early Ìjẹ̀bú History: An Analysis on Demographic Evolution and State Formation". In Toyin Folala; Ann Genova (eds.). Yorùbá Identity and Power Politics. University of Rochester Press. p. 154.
- ^ Oduwobi 2017, p. 53.
Bibliography
[edit]- Oduwobi, Tunde (2017). "The Age and Kings of the Ijebu Kingdom". In Akinyele, A.T. (ed.). History and Diplomacy: Essays in Honour of Ade Adefuye. New Jersey: Goldline and Jacobs. pp. 48–70.
- Ogunkoya, T.O. (1956). "The Early History of Ijebu". Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria. 1 (1): 48–58.