Olota of Ota

Last updated

The Olota of Ota is the traditional ruler and sovereign of Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Contents

The traditional institution in OTTA dates back to the IFE OODAYE or ORUNMILA period in particular to say the least as ORUNMILA the great IFA Prophet met a woman OBA named IYARIGIMOKO OTAYO, titled OLOTA ODO, OBA ARODEDEWOMI the original mother  of OTA and the first OLOTA in history as succinctly confirmed by the  ODU-IFA title IRET OLOTA (OWONRIN)  and OSA MEJI (ODU ELEYE). However this traditions are confirmed not only in OTA but by many Yoruba historians especially the IFA priest (babalawo) within the OTA and outside Ota and some scholars and researchers have also confirmed same.  Thus IYARIGIMOKO was the first (OBA) OLOTA in history which dated back to the BC era  at least as confirmed in the Odu-ifa traditions mentioned above. She was, however succeeded by ATELE OLODE MERO, ERELU AFINJU OLOJA EKUN otherwise known as OLOTA ELEGBEJE OJA and OLOTA OLOFIN ARAOYE, first male traditional ruler as the fourth OLOTA in succession that reigned in OTA without any specific date, and many Obas that still reigned after him (Olofin ARAOYE) no date could be ascribed. There are other several Obas in OTA whose names and dynasties had been mowed down by the sickle of time, and/or could not be remembered due to the mist of time but quite few of them are still remembered.

ODELU FAGBA of a well known dynasty was the Olota before the current Osolo (OLOFIN) dynasty led by osolo himself before lkoriku. ARUGBA -IFA, the powerful female IFA priest was the last relic of ODELU-FAGBBA. ARUGBA IFA was born in OTA towards the end of the 13th century. Arugbaifa, an OTA AWORI woman took IFA ikin (IFA ELEKURO), to Oyo ILE the type Orunmila used during his life time which thus every successive Alaafin of Oyo adopted as well as the Oyo mesi known till date. She later married Alaafin Oluaso (circa 1300-1350) and was the mother of Alaafin ONIGBOGI, OLOFIN AREMITAN, the founder of ILE-OLUJI and prince Koyi, the founder of ADO-AWAYE in lbarapa land. Inconsequent of the above, every Alaafin of Oyo and Oyo elders regard Otta as the land of their mothers.

THE OSOLO (OLOFIN IFE PRINCE) DYNASTY: the Osolo dynasty follows immediately after the demise of OLOTA ODELU FAGBA.

Osolo (Son of Olofin Ogbodorigiefon of Oduduwa dynasty ) was a very powerful prince of Ile-Ife  and he brought his beaded crown directly from Ile-Ife and he reigned in OTA as an OBA long before Akinsewa. Of a fact some Obas (Olotas) reigned in Ota from Osolo dynasty or generation before Akinsewa Ogbolu, who is also from Osolo's dynasty. Before the arrival of Osolo and Eleidi Atalabi (Eleidi Atala), OTTA had been producing 0bas (Kings) in succession but not without interregnums

Selection of an Olota

When a reigning Olota dies, the Ota Council of Chiefs receives an official report of his death. Burial rites are performed, and last for three months.

Following the end of the three-month mourning period, the selection and enthronement procedures for a new Olota begin. Candidates come from one of the three ruling houses: Ikowogbe, Ijemo-Isolosi, and Ileshi. Ruling houses are rotated so that each has an opportunity to produce an Oba. Proposed candidates must be members of the ruling house whose turn it is to produce candidates and male, though exceptions can be made if there are no qualified male candidates. The competition can be fierce, and sometimes pits family members against one another. Courts are sometimes involved in settling disputes within a ruling house. Eventually, the ruling family meets and presents one or more candidates to a group of Kingmakers. There are twelve Kingmakers: the Balogun of Ota, the Ajana of Ijana Quarter, the Onikotun of Otun Quarter, the Onikosi of Osi Quarter, the Akogun of Oruba Quarter, Seriki of Ota, the Ekerin of Ota, the Odota of Ota, the Lisa of Ota, the Aro of Ota, and the Oluwo of Ota. The Kingmakers then make the final determination of who becomes the Olota. [1]

See Ota Traditional Chiefs for more information about the Kingmakers and other major and minor chiefs of Ota.

Prior to the installation of a new Oba, members of the Ogboni secret society perform a procession around Ota to perform pre-installation rites. Additionally, other chiefs play important roles in the installation of a new Olota, such as the Odota and the Aro, who perform the installation rites, and the Oluwo, who performs rituals at predetermined dates following the crowning of a new Olota. [2]

List of Olotas of Ota

·       IYARIGIMOKO, OLOTA ODO, Oba Arodedewomi Mariwo tara ope giri giri, Oba loke, Oba lodo (the original founder of OTTA and first OLOTA in history)

·       ATELE OLODE MERO

·       Erelu AFINJU OLOJA Ekun (otherwise known as Olota ELEGBEJEOJA)

·       Olofin ARAOYE (Male)

·       Afundi Adelusi (Male)

·       Ookan Ajagbusi (male)

·       IginlaJajabuekun (male)

·       Ojiku lwaoye

·       0ga Adeku

·       Alomorin Asoki

·       Ajijawole

·       Dada Olu-Asode

·       Ataata Asagbaramuda

·       Ikoti ija

·       0delu Fagba

·       Osolo (Olofin)


(AD 1320-1620): DOCUMENTED


·       IKORIKU

·       ORUNMOLU

·        AMORORO

·       KUMOLU (LANLEGE EKUN 1 AMORORO)


(AD 1621 TILL DATE): DOCUMENTED


·       AKINSENWA OGBOLU 1621 – 1680

·       OLUMORIN 1680 -1690

·       KUMUYI ATEPOJOYE 1696 - 1700

·       MOROLUGBE AJAGUNLA(OBA MORO)1701-1725

·       OLAGOROYE ELEWI  1768-1786

·       ADELU 1794-1821

·       OLUKORI ILUMOOKA 1821-1853

·       OYEDE AROLAGBADE 1 1853-1882

·       ISIYEMI (OTUTUBIOSUN) 1882-1901

·       OLUWOLE ADEWOLU 1902

·       AINA AKO 1902-1927

·       SALAMI OYELUSI (AROLAGBADE II) 1927-1947

·       TIMOTHY OLOYEDE FADINA (OLAGOROYE II) 1949-1954

·       TIMOTHY TALABI DADA (0JIKUTUJOYE I) 1954-1992

·       MOSHOOD ALANI OYEDE (AROLAGBADEIII) 1997-2016

·       ADEYEMI ABDULKABIR OBALANLEGE (OLOFIN APESIN OLODE, LANLEGE EKUN II, AROLE IGANMODE) 2018-TILL DATE

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oduduwa</span> Yoruba divine king

Oduduwa was a Yoruba divine king, legendary founder of the Ife Empire and a creator deity (orisha) in the Yoruba religion. His earthly origins are from the village of Oke Ora According to tradition, he was the holder of the title of the Olofin of Ile-Ife, the Yoruba holy city. He ruled briefly in Ife, and also served as the progenitor of a number of independent royal dynasties in Yorubaland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ifá</span> Yoruba divination practice

Ifá or is a divination system originating from West Africa. It originates within the traditional religion of the Yoruba people although is also practised by followers of West African Vodun and in African diasporic religions like Cuban Santería.

Ota is a town in Ogun State, Nigeria with an estimated 163,783 residents. Ota is the capital of the Ado–Odo/Ota Local Government Area. The traditional leader of Ota is the Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi AbdulKabir Obalanlege. Historically, Ota is the capital of the Awori Yoruba tribe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oyo Empire</span> Former empire in present-day Benin and Nigeria

The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire in West Africa. It was located in present-day southern Benin and western Nigeria. The empire grew to become the largest Yoruba-speaking state through the organizational and administrative efforts of the Yoruba people, trade, as well as the military use of cavalry. The Oyo Empire was one of the most politically important states in Western Africa from the mid-17th to the late 18th century and held sway not only over most of the other kingdoms in Yorubaland, but also over nearby African states, notably the Fon Kingdom of Dahomey in the modern Republic of Benin on its west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yewa</span> Ethnic group

The Ẹgbado, now Yewa, are a subgroup of the Yoruba people and mostly inhabit the eastern area of Ogun West Senatorial District, Ogun State, in south-west Nigeria, Africa. In 1995, the group's name was changed to Yewa after the Yewa River, the river (odo) they foraged towards. The name of this river is derived from the Yoruba goddess Yewa. Yewa/Ẹgbado mainly occupy four Local Government Areas in Ogun State, Yewa South, Yewa North, Imeko-Afon, and Ipokia, while the Ado-Odo/Ota LGA forms the fifth Awori part of the senatorial district. Other Yewa/Ẹgbado are located in Lagos West, Lagos East, Oyo North, and Oyo South senatorial zones.

Ọ̀rànmíyàn, also known as Ọranyan, was a legendary Yoruba king from the kingdom of Ile-Ife, and the founder of the Oyo empire. Although he was the youngest of the descendants of Oduduwa, he became the prime heir of Oduduwa upon his return to claim his grandfather's throne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Awori people</span> Tribe of the Yoruba people

The Awori is a subgroup of the Yoruba people speaking a dialect of the Yoruba language. The Awori people are the original inhabitants of Lagos State and some parts of Ogun State, namely Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. The Awori people are landowners, farmers and fishermen.

Ijebu-jesa is the capital of Oriade Local Government area in Osun State of Nigeria.

Traditional Chiefs in Ota play a role in maintaining local cultures and traditions in Ota, Nigeria. Many also form the group of Kingmakers who select the traditional ruler, or Oba, of Ota: the Olota of Ota.

Esa-Oke is a Yoruba town located at the Obokun Local Government Area of the Ijesa North Federal Constituency of Ife/Ijesa Senatorial District of Osun State, South-West of Nigeria. It is a native Ijesa (Ijesha) community and shares boundaries with other towns namely: Oke-Imesi, Imesi-ile, Ijebu-Ijesa, Esa-Odo, Efon-Alaaye. Omiran Adebolu, a member of the Olofin family of Ile-Ife, though disputably, was believed to have founded Esa-Oke after he left Ile-Ife in 1184 A.D. The traditional title of the ọba (King) is Ọwámiran of Esa Oke.

Ado-Odo is the metropolitan headquarters of the ancient kingdom of Ado, renowned for its Oduduwa/Obatala temple, the ancient fortress of the traditional practice of Ifá. Oodu'a is also regarded by traditionalists as the mother of all other deities. All of these made Ado an inviolate territory in western Yorubaland—the same "father-figure" status accorded to Ile-Ife. Unlike the other kingdoms, which had at one time or the other engaged in the internecine wars that ravaged Yorubaland in the nineteenth century, Ado stood out as an unconquered sanctuary city-state throughout the period.

Gbalefa Peninsula is an area of land located south of Abeokuta and north of Lagos city. Gbalefa Peninsula was named after Akindele Gbalefa, the outstanding Owu warrior who led the Owu/Egba war against Ilobi, Ado-Odo and Dahomey.

Iyalawo is a term in the Lucumi religion that literally means Mother of Mysteries or Mother of Wisdom. Some adherents use the term "Mamalawo," which is a partially African diaspora version of the Lucumi term, Iyaláwo and Yeyelawo are two more versions of mother of mysteries. Ìyánífá is a Yoruba word that can be translated as Mother (Ìyá) has or of () Ifá or Mother in Ifá & is the Yoruba title for Mother of mysteries & the female equivalent of a Babalawo.

This is a list of the royal titles of Yoruba monarchs. It is not in the order of seniority.

Ijanikin is a town located in Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area of Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos, Lagos state, Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ekiti people</span> Sub-group of the Yorubas of West Africa

The Ekiti people are one of the largest historical subgroups of the larger Yoruba people of West Africa, located in Nigeria. They are classified as a Central Yoruba group, alongside the Ijesha, Igbomina, Yagba and Ifes. Ekiti State is populated exclusively by Ekiti people; however, it is but a segment of the historic territorial domain of Ekiti-speaking groups, which historically included towns in Ondo State such as Akure, Ilara-Mokin, Ijare, and Igbara-oke. Ogbagi, Irun, Ese, Oyin, Igasi, Afin and Eriti in the Akoko region, as well as some towns in Kwara State, are also culturally Ekiti, although belong in other states today.

Alara is the royal title of the king of Ilara-Mokin land in Nigeria. The Alara may be addressed as Oba, like rulers in other Yoruba kingdoms, or as His Royal Majesty. Alara is also known to be unquestionable, with an authority that is said to be next to the gods.

Isinkan is a Nigerian traditional state. It is based in a town of the same name in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State. It is contiguous to the Akure Kingdom, and shares such a close proximity to that kingdom that visitors may not know that both are traditionally distinct entities.

The Olofin Adimula Oodua of Ado-Odo is the Traditional Ruler and Yoruba king of Ado-Odo; he is also referred to as the Oba of Ado. Ado-Odo is the metropolitan headquarters of the Ado Kingdom in Ogun State, Southwestern Nigeria.

References

1.     ^ P.C. Lloyd (1962). Yoruba Land Law. Oxford University Press. p. 225.

2.     ^ Jump up to:a b Ruhollah Ajibola Salako (1999). Ota: The Biography of the Foremost Awori Town. Penink & Co. p. 15.

3.     ^ Jump up to:a b Ruhollah Ajibola Salako (1999). Ota: The Biography of the Foremost Awori Town. Penink & Co. p. 16.

4.     ^ Jump up to:a b "Lagos belongs to Awori, the Bini met them there — Akintoye". Punch Newspapers. 17 December 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2023.

5.     ^ Jump up to:a b "History, the human anchor". The Guardian Nigeria. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2023.

6.     ^ Jump up to:a b Akintoye, Stephen Adebanji (1 January 2010). A History of the Yoruba People. Amalion Publishing. ISBN 978-2-35926-027-4.

7.     ^ "OUR ANCESTORS ARE With The OLOTA - IFA PRIEST". Retrieved 28 January 2023.

8.     ^ Jump up to:a b c "Masquerading Politics". Indiana University Press. Retrieved 28 January 2023.

9.     ^ Jump up to:a b "Irete Owonrin - UCLA Library Digital Collections". ucla.edu. Retrieved 28 January 2023.

  1. Ruhollah Ajibola Salako (1999). Ota: The Biography of the Foremost Awori Town. Penink & Co. pp. 55–82.
  2. Ruhollah Ajibola Salako (1999). Ota: The Biography of the Foremost Awori Town. Penink & Co. pp. 59, 112, 106–107, 110–111.