List of Obas in Yoruba land (Ranking of Yoruba Monarchs)

While the President is the political head and leader of a country, ethnic groups have their own traditional rulers as well.

The amazing Yoruba culture is worth discovering and exploring. This ethnic group has always had traditional rulers who represented the sons of Oduduwa.

By the way, Oduduwa is known as the first Ife ruler and represents the ancestor of all modern and autonomous royal families and generations in Yorubaland.

The Yorubas believe that Oduduwa was a real soldier and idol, representing a father of the whole race. It is possible to say that modern first-class Obas in Yorubaland are kings who continue what Oduduwa started and keep uniting all Yoruba people under the Yoruba crown.

The ranking of kings or Obas in Yoruba land is a topic that has caused a series of controversies as to who is the most powerful Yoruba King in Nigeria between the Ooni and the Alaafin of Oyo.

In a report, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, declared the answer to that question, that the Ooni of Ife remains the number one monarch in Yoruba land and should be given the honor as the number one paramount ruler in the Yoruba culture.

Below is the ranking of the list of top Obas in Yoruba land.

1. Ooni of Ife

The Ooni of Ife is the most respected and powerful king in Yoruba land. this Ooni of Ife is Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. consistent with the Alake of Egbaland, the Ooni is the initial of the 5 principal Obas in Yorubaland a bit like the Sultan of Sokoto is the best ruler within the northern part of the African nation. this can be as a result of his mastery dates back to the origin of the Yoruba tribe. he’s additionally one of every of the foremost powerful figures in Nigeria and he recently married Queen Morenike’s mother-in-law Oluwaseyi, a prophetess.

2. Alaafin of Oyo

He is the second one in line withinside the ranking of Yoruba monarchs in Nigeria, Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi who was born on 15 September 1938 and he’s the cutting-edge Alaafin, or conventional ruler, of the Yoruba nation of Oyo and the rightful inheritor to the throne of its ancient empire.

His dynasty dates lower back to the vintage Oyo empire which acknowledges him because of the emperor of the Oyo empire. He is a few of the listings of the richest Yoruba king in Nigeria.

3. Oba of Benin

Many don’t agree with Benin’s being part of the Yoruba. Nonetheless, based on history, the people of Benin and the entire Edo state are believed to have emanated from the founding fathers of the Yoruba empire. As a result, the Oba of Benin can be classified as a Yoruba traditional ruler, despite the differences in languages and customs of the Benin people and the Yoruba people.

The throne of the Oba of Benin is a very sensitive one, and the process of the coronation of a new Oba is very protracted and often involves many rituals and sacrifices. Little wonder, the Oba is one of the most influential personalities in Yorubaland, and in Nigeria as a whole.

4. Alake of Egbaland

The Alake of Egbaland is the fourth on the list of rankings of top Obas of Yoruba land. The Alake of Egbaland known by his original name Oba Adedotun Aremu is designated as the ‘Alake’ or ‘Oda’ of Egbaland. He is one of the longest-serving rulers in Yoruba land, having been on the throne since the year 2005.

He was the one who cleared the air concerning how the monarchs in Yoruba land should be ranked starting from the Ooni of Ife to the Awujale of Ijebuland.

5. Awujale of Ijebuland

He is the least on the list of 5 powerful obas in Yoruba land. His kingdom, Ijebu (also known as Jebu or Geebu) was a Yoruba kingdom in pre-colonial Nigeria. It was formed around the fifteenth century. According to legend, its ruling dynasty was founded by Obanta of Ile-Ife. The current Awujale of Ijebuland is Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

Oba Sikiru Adetona, the spiritual leader of Ijebuland is perhaps the longest-serving traditional leader still alive at the moment. He has been on the throne of Ijebuland for over six decades. He is a very influential leader, and he is also very wealthy.

6. Olubadan of Ibadan: Oba Saliu Adetunji

The Oyo state, that’s possibly the biggest state amongst the ones withinside the Yoruba empire, has multiple conventional rulers. The first is the Alaafin of Oyo, who policies over Oyo town; even as the opposite is the Olubadan of Ibadan, who presides over the affairs of Ibadan.

The modern-day Olubadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, changed into coronated as a frontrunner withinside the 12 months 2016.

7. Deji of Akure: Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi

His imperial majesty, Oba Aladetoyinbo was appointed as the Deji of Akure in the year 2015. He just the spiritual leader of the Yoruba people of Ondo state.

8. Oba Francis Adedoyin

Oba Francis is the Paramount ruler of Modakeke, a famous city in Osun State, southwestern Nigeria. He became appointed as the Oba of Modakeke withinside the 12 months 2009.

His ascension to the throne became now no longer without its proportion of controversies. It became rumored that Francis Adedoyin did now no longer belong to any of the royal households that had been eligible for Kingship; and the guidelines of the city-country truly that most effective people of royal blood can ascend the throne.

9. Oba of Ondo: Oba Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo Ademefun

Also known as Jilo the third, Oba Victor Adesimbo is the current Oba of the entire Ondo Empire. He is also one of the most educated traditional rulers in Nigeria, being a medical doctor. He allegedly attended medical school in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

He has been on the throne of the Ondo empire since the year 2008.

10. Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II

Oba Gabriel Adekunle is the Oba of Ilesa, in Osun State, Nigeria. The town of Ilesa is very significant to the history of the Yoruba people. It holds various historical centers and artifacts and is also a popular tourist destination.

He is also a very educated man, having been a school teacher during the time of the defunct old Western region. He is also a notable economist and he has written many books to date.