A Compilation of Traditional Royal Titles Across Nigeria and Yoruba-Linked Communities
The Yoruba people have one of Africa’s most diverse and historically rich traditional institutions. Across Yorubaland and Yoruba-linked communities, traditional rulers bear different titles reflecting the history, traditions, kingdoms, towns and royal institutions of their respective communities.
From the Ooni of Ife, Alaafin of Oyo, Alake of Egbaland, Awujale of Ijebuland, Akarigbo of Remoland, Olubadan of Ibadanland, Soun of Ogbomosoland, Osemawe of Ondo, Deji of Akure, Olowo of Owo, Ewi of Ado-Ekiti and many others, each title has its own historical and cultural significance.
Below is a compilation of Yoruba Oba titles across Yorubaland and Yoruba-linked settlements in Nigeria and neighbouring areas.
📍 OGUN STATE
- ABEOKUTA — Alake of Egbaland
- SAGAMU — Akarigbo of Remoland
- SANGO-OTA — Olota of Ota
- IGBESA — Onigbesi of Igbesa
- IPERU-REMO — Oba of Iperu
- IKORODU — Ayangburen of Ikorodu
- ISHARA-REMO — Onishara of Ishara
- IJEBU-ODE — Awujale of Ijebuland
- IJEBU-IGBO — Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo
- ITELE-IJEBU — Onitele of Itele
- ODOGBOLU — Osile of Oodogbolu
- OGERE-REMO — Oba of Ogere
- IROLU-REMO — Oba of Irolu
- IPARA-REMO — Olofin of Ipara
- ILISAN-REMO — Onishan of Ilisan
- IKENNE — Oniwere of Ikenne
- OMU — Oloomu of Omu
- ILARO — Olu of Ilaro
- OKEHO — Onjo of Okeho
- ADO-ODO — Alado of Ado-Odo
- ITORI — Olu of Itori
- AYETORO — Olu of Aiyetoro
- MAGBON — Onimagbon of Magbon
- OFFIN — Onioffin of Offin
- EMUREN — Ologere of Emuren
- IBONWON — Oba of Ibonwon
- IPOJI — Oba of Ipoji
- IWOYE-KETU — Oloomu of Iwoye-Ketu
- IMEKO — Onimeko of Imeko
- IRANIKIN — Oniranikin of Iranikin
- ODE-REMO — Oba of Ode-Remo
- AKAKA-REMO — Oba of Akaka-Remo
- ILARA-REMO — Oba of Ilara-Remo
- OFADA — Oba of Ofada
- OWODE-REMO — Oba of Owode-Remo
📍 OSUN STATE
- ILE-IFE — Ooni of Ife
- OSOGBO — Ataoja of Osogbo
- ILESA — Owa Obokun of Ijesaland
- MODAKEKE — Ogunsua of Modakeke
- IWO — Oluwo of Iwo
- IKIRE — Akire of Ikire
- IKIRUN — Akinrun of Ikirun
- EDE — Timi of Ede
- ILA-ORANGUN — Orangun of Ila
- EJIGBO — Ogiyan of Ejigbo
- ESA-OKE — Owamiran of Esa-Oke
- IREE — Aree of Iree
- ILOBU — Olobu of Ilobu
- GBONGAN — Akinrun of Gbongan
- IRESI — Alana of Iresi
- ERIN-OSUN — Elerin of Erin-Osun
- KUTA — Alakuta of Kuta
- IPETU-IJESA — Olipetu of Ipetu-Ijesa
- ORILE-OWU — Olowu of Orile-Owu
- AWO — Oloawo of Awo
- ODE-OMU — Olomu of Omu
- IPETUMODU — Ooni of Ipetumodu
- IFE-ODAN — Ooni of Ife-Odan
- OKUKU — Akosin of Okuku
- OKE-ILA — Orangun of Oke-Ila
- IKONIFIN — Oba of Ikonifin
- IGBODI — Oba of Igbodi
- ILA-ORANGUN — Orangun of Ila
- IGBAYO — Oba of Igbayo
- OKE-IMO — Oba of Oke-Imo
📍 OYO STATE
- OYO — Alaafin of Oyo
- IBADAN — Olubadan of Ibadanland
- OGBOMOSO — Soun of Ogbomosoland
- ISEYIN — Aseyin of Iseyin
- SHAKI — Okere of Shaki
- ERUWA — Eleruwa of Eruwa
- IGBOHO — Onigboho of Igboho
- IGBETI — Onibeti of Igbeti
- ADO-AWAYE — Onjo of Ado-Awaye
- IGBO-ORA — Eleruwa of Igbo-Ora
- OKEHO — Onjo of Okeho
- IJIO — Onijio of Ijio
- IGBO-IFA — Onigbo-Ifa of Igbo-Ifa
- IRAYE — Oniraye of Iraye
- ORILE-IGBON — Olugbon of Orile-Igbon
- IJERU — Onpetu of Ijeru
- ILORA — Akinbio of Ilora
- FIDITI — Onifiditi of Fiditi
- AAWE — Alaawe of Aawe
- TAPA — Elempe of Tapa
- OJONGBOUDU — Oloodu of Ojongbodu
- AGUO — Alaguo of Aguo
- AJAGBA — Alajagba of Ajagba
- ISOKUN — Ona Isokun of Isokun
- GUDUGBU — Onigudugbu of Gudugbu
- AKEETAN — Alakeetan of Akeetan
- ISEKE — Elepe of Iseke
- IDODE — Onidode of Idode
- APAARA — Alapaara of Apaara
- OTEFON — Olotefon of Otefon
- IMELEKE — Onimeleke of Imeleke
- OKE-OGUN — Various traditional rulers
- TESHIE — Traditional ruler of Teshie
- FASOLA — Traditional ruler of Fasola
- KISHI — Iba of Kishi
📍 ONDO STATE
- AKURE — Deji of Akure
- OWO — Olowo of Owo
- ONDO — Osemawe of Ondo
- OKE-IGBO — Oniro of Oke-Igbo
- ODE-UGBO — Olugbo of Ugbo
- ODE-MAHIN — Olumahin of Mahin
- IKARE-AKOKO — Owa of Ikare
- OKA-AKOKO — Olubaka of Oka
- IRELE — Olofun of Irele
- OKITIPUPA — Traditional ruler of Ikale
- ILARA-MOKIN — Alara of Ilara-Mokin
- IGBARA-OKE — Olowa of Igbara-Oke
- IDANRE — Owa of Idanre
- ILE-OLUJI — Jegun of Ile-Oluji
- ODE-AYE — Onikeye of Aye
- ODE-ERINJE — Onierinje of Erinje
- ARAROMI-OBU — Olobu of Araromi-Obu
- IGBADO — Asafunrin of Igbado
- IGUNSIN — Alara of Igunsin
- ATOSIN — Awosunye of Atosin
- OBA — Oloba of Oba
- SUPARE — Olusupare of Supare
- AKUNGBA — Alale of Akungba
- IKUN — Onikun of Ikun
- IGBOKODA — Ayangburen of Igbokoda
- ILU-TITUN — Majuwa of Ilutitun
- IGBODIGO — Obagberume of Igbodigo
- MAHIN — Olumahin of Mahin
- AYE — Onikeye of Aye
- ILAJE — Various traditional rulers
📍 EKITI STATE
- ADO-EKITI — Ewi of Ado
- IGEDE-EKITI — Onigede of Igede
- IJERO-EKITI — Ajero of Ijero
- IKERE-EKITI — Ogoga of Ikere
- IKOLE-EKITI — Elekole of Ikole
- ISE-EKITI — Arinjale of Ise
- EFON-ALAAYE — Alaaye of Efon-Alaaye
- OTUN-EKITI — Oore of Otun
- ILAWE-EKITI — Alawe of Ilawe
- IGBARA-ODO — Arajaka of Igbara-Odo
- ARAMOKO-EKITI — Alara of Aramoko
- IDO-EKITI — Olojudo of Ido
- ISAN-EKITI — Onisan of Isan
- OYE-EKITI — Oloye of Oye
- OGOTUN-EKITI — Ologotun of Ogotun
- ITAJI-EKITI — Onitaji of Itaji
- OKEMESI-EKITI — Owa-Ooye of Okemesi
- AIYEDE-EKITI — Attah of Aiyede
- EMURE-EKITI — Elemure of Emure
- OMUO-EKITI — Olomuo of Omuo
- OSI-EKITI — Olosi of Osi
- IDO-ILE-EKITI — Olojudo of Ido-Ile
- IYIN-EKITI — Oluyin of Iyin
- ARE-EKITI — Alare of Are
- IYE-EKITI — Oniye of Iye
- ODE-EKITI — Olode of Ode
- IKORO-EKITI — Olukoro of Ikoro
- ISINBODE-EKITI — Onisin of Isinbode
- OTUNJA-EKITI — Olootunja of Otunja
- OKE-AYEDUN-EKITI — Alaaye of Oke-Ayedun
- ERINMOPE-EKITI — Obaleo of Erinmope
- EDA-ONIYO-EKITI — Eleda of Eda-Oniyo
- IGOGO-EKITI — Onigogo of Igogo
- ILASA-EKITI — Alasa of Ilasa
- ILORO-EKITI — Oluloro of Iloro
- IPOTI-EKITI — Olupoti of Ipoti
- IMESI-EKITI — Onimesi of Imesi
- OSAN-EKITI — Olosan of Osan
- USIN-EKITI — Olusin of Usin
- AISEGBA-EKITI — Apalufin of Aisegba
- EWU-EKITI — Elewu of Ewu
- ODO-ORO-EKITI — Onise of Odo-Oro
- AWO-EKITI — Alawo of Awo
- AYEGUNLE-EKITI — Alayegunle of Ayegunle
- AYETORO-EKITI — Alayetoro of Ayetoro
- ERIO-EKITI — Elerio of Erio
- ERINJIYAN-EKITI — Olohan of Erinjiyan
- IFAKI-EKITI — Olufaki of Ifaki
- IGBEMO-EKITI — Onigbemo of Igbemo
- IJURIN-EKITI — Ojurin of Ijurin
- ILUPEJU-EKITI — Apeju of Ilupeju
- ISABA-EKITI — Asaba of Isaba
- IROPORA-EKITI — Oniropora of Iropora
- ITAPA-EKITI — Owatapa of Itapa
- IWOROKO-EKITI — Alaworoko of Iworoko
- ODO-AYEDUN-EKITI — Owa of Odo-Ayedun
- ODO-OWA-EKITI — Olowa of Odo-Owa
- EGBE-EKITI — Owa-Egbe of Egbe
- IJAN-EKITI — Onijan of Ijan
- ORUN-EKITI — Olowuro of Orun
- IPOLE-ILORO-EKITI — Olupole of Ipole-Iloro
- IKUN-AMURE-EKITI — Onikun of Ikun-Amure
- AGBAADO-EKITI — Owa-Oroo of Agbado
- ARA-EKITI — Alara of Ara
- ILOGBO-EKITI — Owalogbo of Ilogbo
- ILUDUN-EKITI — Owa of Iludun
- IPAO-EKITI — Obanla of Ipao
- ORIN-ODO-EKITI — Olorin of Orin-Odo
- ITAPAJI-EKITI — Olu of Itapaji
- AFAO-EKITI — Alafao of Afao
- EYIO-EKITI — Eleyio of Eyio
- ESURE-EKITI — Elesure of Esure
- IPERE-EKITI — Onipere of Ipere
- AAYE-OJA-EKITI — Alaaye of Aaye-Oja
- OLOJE-EKITI — Obaloja of Oloje
- IMOJO-EKITI — Olumojo of Imojo
- ESUN-EKITI — Elesun of Esun
- IKOGOSI-EKITI — Oloja of Ikogosi
- IKOSUN-EKITI — Obanikosu of Ikosun
- ILAFON-EKITI — Alafon of Ilafon
- AAYE-EKITI — Alaaye of Aaye
- ARAROMI-OKE-EKITI — Oloja of Araromi-Oke
- ASIN-EKITI — Alasin of Asin
- AYEGBAJU-EKITI — Owa of Ayegbaju
- IGBOLE-EKITI — Olugbole of Igbole
- IJESAMODU-EKITI — Onijesa of Ijesamodu
- IJELU-EKITI — Elejelu of Ijelu
- IKOYI-EKITI — Onikoyi of Ikoyi
- IKUN-OBA-EKITI — Onikun of Ikun-Oba
- ILU-OMOBA-EKITI — Ajagun of Ilu-Omoba
- IROKO-EKITI — Oluroye of Iroko
- OMU-EKITI — Owajumu of Omu
- OSIN-EKITI — Olosin of Osin
- KOTA-EKITI — Elekota of Kota
- OMUO-OKE-EKITI — Olomuo-Oke of Omuo-Oke
- ILEMESO-EKITI — Obadu of Ilemeso
- IFISIN-EKITI — Onifisin of Ifisin
- ARAROMI-EKITI — Alararomi of Araromi
- ARAROMI-OBO-EKITI — Odolofin of Araromi-Obo
- AYEBODE-EKITI — Owa of Ayebode
- EDA-ILE-EKITI — Eleda-Ile of Eda-Ile
- EPE-EKITI — Elepe of Epe
- OKE-ORO-EKITI — Owa of Oke-Oro
- IGBONA-EKITI — Obaloke of Igbona
- IKUNRI-EKITI — Eleri of Ikunri
- ILAMO-EKITI — Alamo of Ilamo
- ILOGUN-EKITI — Obalogun of Ilogun
- ILUKUNO-EKITI — Eesalokun of Ilukuno
- IRARE-EKITI — Onirare of Irare
- IRELE-EKITI — Onirele of Irele
- IRO-EKITI — Oniro of Iro
- ISA-OYE-EKITI — Obasaoye of Isa-Oye
- IYEMERO-EKITI — Olu of Iyemero
- ODO-ORA-EKITI — Obalemo of Odo-Ora
- OKE-AKO-EKITI — Owa of Oke-Ako
- OKE-IJEBU-EKITI — Oloojebu of Oke-Ijebu
- OKE-ORA-EKITI — Olora of Oke-Ora
- ORIN-EKITI — Olorin of Orin
- TEMIDIRE-EKITI — Onikun of Temidire
- IRA-EKITI — Eisa of Ira
- EJIYAN-EKITI — Obalaye of Ejiyan
- IJARO-EKITI — Onijaro of Ijaro
- ARAROMI-UGBESHI-EKITI — Owa Eleshi of Araromi-Ugbeshi
- ILOMU-EKITI — Olomu of Ilomu
- IJOWA-EKITI — Alajowa of Ijowa
- ISAYA-EKITI — Asaya of Isaya
- AHAN-AYEGUNLE-EKITI — Alahan of Ahan-Ayegunle
- OWATEDO-EKITI — Oloja-Owa of Owatedo
- AYETEJU-EKITI — Owa-Ateju of Ayeteju
- ODO-OJA-EKITI — Olukere of Odo-Oja
- AHUN-EKITI — Alahun of Ahun
The Ekiti State Government’s published traditional-ruler records confirm many of these titles, including Ewi, Ajero, Alaaye, Ogoga, Elekole, Oore, Alawe, Arinjale, Owa-Ooye, Onisan, Onitaji, Olojudo and others.
📍 LAGOS STATE
- LAGOS/EKO — Oba of Lagos
- IRU — Oniru of Iruland
- IKATE — Elegushi of Ikate
- IKOYI — Onikoyi of Ikoyi
- IBA — Oniba of Iba
- IGBEJU-LEKKI — Onibeju of Ibeju
- LEKKI — Onilekki of Lekki
- EPE — Olu of Epe
- ORIMEDU — Onimedu of Orimedu
- POKA — Alade Uraka of Poka
- OKE-ODO-IWEREKUN — Onitedo of Oke-Odo-Iwerekun
- IKOTUN — Onikotun of Ikotun
- IKOSI — Onikosi of Ikosi
- IBESHE — Olubeshe of Ibeshe
- ODO-AVANDELU — Alayandelu of Odo-Avandelu
- AJAH — Ojomu of Ajah
- IJORA — Ojora of Ijora
- EJIGBO — Elejigbo of Ejigbo
- ISOLO — Osolo of Isolo
- IGANDO — Onigando of Igando
- IJEGUN — Onijegun of Ijegun
- ITIRE — Onitire of Itire
- ELEKO — Eleko of Eleko
- AKESAN — Onikesan of Akesan
- IKEJA — Onikeja of Ikeja
- OGBA — Onigba of Ogba
- OSHODI — Traditional ruler of Oshodi
📍 KWARA STATE
- ILORIN — Emir of Ilorin
- OFFA — Olofa of Offa
- AJASE-IPO — Olupo of Ajase-Ipo
- ESIE — Olori-Esie of Esie
- OMU-ARAN — Olomu of Omu-Aran
- IWOYE-AYEDUN — Onigede of Iwoye-Ayedun
- IRAA — Oniraa of Iraa
- SHARE — Olupako of Share
- IGBAJA — Elese of Igbaja
- ORA — Olora of Ora
- IKOSIN — Olukosin of Ikosin
- IJAGBO — Onijagbo of Ijagbo
- ERIN-ILE — Elerin of Erin-Ile
- ISANLU-ISIN — Olusin of Isanlu-Isin
- IJARA-ISIN — Olusin of Ijara-Isin
- ILUPEJU — Onilupeju of Ilupeju
- OKE-OPIN — Oloke of Oke-Opin
- MASUDO — Onimosudo of Masudo
📍 KOGI STATE — OKUN YORUBA
- KABBA — Obaro of Kabba
- IFE-OLUKOTUN — Ajalorun of Ife-Olukotun
- EKINRIN-ADDE — Oba of Ekinrin-Adde
- OGIDI — Oba of Ogidi
- IYARA — Oba of Iyara
- IYAH-GBEDDE — Oba of Iyah-Gbedde
- ISANLU — Oba of Isanlu
- IYAMOYE — Oba of Iyamoye
- ODO-ERE — Oba of Odo-Ere
📍 EDO STATE — YORUBA-LINKED SETTLEMENTS
- USEN — Elawure of Usen
- EGBETA — Oba of Egbeta
📍 DELTA STATE — YORUBA-LINKED SETTLEMENTS
- WARRI — Olu of Warri
- UGBORODO — Traditional ruler of Ugborodo
- OGIDIGBEN — Traditional ruler of Ogidigben
- INORIN — Traditional ruler of Inorin
- UREJU — Traditional ruler of Ureju
- OMADINO — Traditional ruler of Omadino
📍 REPUBLIC OF BENIN
- KETU — Ahosu of Ketu
- DASSA-ZOUME / IGBO-IDAASHA — King of Igbo-Idaasha
- SHABE / ILE-SHABE — King of Shabe
👑 THE RICHNESS OF YORUBA ROYAL TRADITION
One of the remarkable features of Yoruba traditional society is that there is no single title used by every Yoruba monarch. Different kingdoms, towns and communities have developed their own royal titles over centuries.
For example, the Ooni is associated with Ile-Ife, the Alaafin with Oyo, the Alake with Egbaland, the Awujale with Ijebuland, the Akarigbo with Remoland, the Olubadan with Ibadanland, the Olowo with Owo, the Osemawe with Ondo, the Deji with Akure and the Ewi with Ado-Ekiti.
These titles are more than names. They are connected to the history, political organization, migration traditions, royal families, ancestral institutions and cultural identity of individual Yoruba communities.
⚠️ EDITORIAL NOTE
This compilation is intended as a reference list of Yoruba and Yoruba-linked royal titles. Traditional institutions can change over time, and spellings, titles, classifications and the status of particular communities may differ between official government records, palace records, historical sources and local usage.
There are also repeated names or titles in the original compilation, and some communities listed as Yoruba-linked settlements have complex historical and ethnic relationships that deserve further research. Therefore, readers and traditional institutions are encouraged to provide corrections, additions or clarifications where necessary.
For example, official Ekiti State records provide a government-maintained classification of traditional rulers and show that several titles in this compilation have established official recognition.
This list should therefore be regarded as a living compilation rather than a final ranking of Yoruba monarchs.
🗣️ WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Which Yoruba Oba title is the oldest?
Which Yoruba traditional ruler has the most historically influential kingdom?
Which Oba title did we miss?
Drop your answer in the comments and share this list with others interested in Yoruba history, culture and traditional institutions.
FOLLOW US ON:
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
PINTEREST
TIKTOK
YOUTUBE
LINKEDIN
INSTAGRAM
