Reference: Yoruba Towns, Rulers and Subgroups

Dis table gather di towns wey dey dis section together, with di ruler title, di state or country, di subgroup and short note 4. Every entry depend on source wey dey cited inside di file wey cover di town well well, and di cross-reference column dey mention di name of dat file 3. For place wey dem no fit verify title, di cell talk am clear instead of to just guess.

Three warning before di table.

People dey drag titles pass wetin table fit show. Ìkẹ́rẹ́ get two rulers wey dey claim di town, Ìkàrẹ́ get two with court judgment wey dey clash against each other, and di Ìlàjẹ Amápetu stool dey inside dispute. Di table give di position wey di sources support pass, and di detail file give di argument.

Ruler titles no be di same tin at all. Ọ̀ọ̀ni, Olúbàdàn, Emir and Baálẹ̀ dey hold offices wey different with different history, and make person no think say because dem share column heading means say na di same institution dem be.

Spelling and tone mark (diacritics) dey vary. Most web sources dey comot tone marks. Di tone marks wey dey here follow standard Yoruba orthography for forms wey people don well know; where di sources no give tone mark and person no too sure of di form, na di plain form dem use instead of to invent new one. Akran, Ayangburen and plenty of di Àkókó and Ìkálẹ̀ titles fall under dat category.

Di senior and best-known crowns 5

Town	Ruler title	State / country	Subgroup	Note	File
Ilé-Ifẹ̀	Ọ̀ọ̀ni	Ọ̀ṣun	Ifẹ̀	Ritual capital; four ruling houses wey dem fix for 1957	01
Ọ̀yọ́	Aláàfin	Ọ̀yọ́	Ọ̀yọ́	Imperial capital; Àtìbà build am again for 1837	02
Ọ̀yọ́-Ilé (Katunga)	ruined site	Ọ̀yọ́ / Kwara	Ọ̀yọ́	Old capital, dem leave am for 1835; national park	02
Ìbàdàn	Olúbàdàn	Ọ̀yọ́	mixed	War camp of 1829; two-line ladder wey dey rotate	03
Abẹ́òkúta (Aké)	Aláké of Ẹ̀gbáland	Ògùn	Ẹ̀gbá	Paramount ruler among four crowns wey dey stay di same place	04
Abẹ́òkúta (Òkè-Ọ̀nà)	Òṣìlé	Ògùn	Ẹ̀gbá	Seat dey for Oko	04
Abẹ́òkúta (Gbágùrà)	Àgùrà	Ògùn	Ẹ̀gbá	Seat dey for Ìdó	04
Abẹ́òkúta (Ọ̀wu)	Olówu	Ògùn	Ọ̀wu	Refugee kingdom after di Ọ̀wu war	04
Ìjẹ̀bú-Òde	Awùjalẹ̀	Ògùn	Ìjẹ̀bú	Four ruling houses wey dem fix for 1959; Ọ̀ṣùgbó courts	05
Lagos (Èkó)	Ọba of Lagos	Lagos	Àwórì / Benin line	Kingship from Àṣípa c. 1600; ìdejò hold di land	06
Ilésà	Ọ̀wá Obòkun Adìmúlà	Ọ̀ṣun	Ìjẹ̀ṣà	Obòkun from di seawater tradition	08
Ondó	Ọṣemawè	Ondo	Ondó / Ẹkímògùn	Lóbùn dey install di king	09
Ọ̀wọ̀	Ọlọ́wọ̀	Ondo	Ọ̀wọ̀	Coral crown in di Benin style; Igbo'Laja finds	09
Àkúrẹ́	Déjì	Ondo	Àkúrẹ́	Earlier title na Àjàpadà; Benin vassal 1818-1897	09
Ìlọrin	Emir of Ilorin	Kwara	contested	Yoruba town, Fulani emirate, allegiance to Sokoto	13
Ìlá-Ọ̀ràngún	Ọ̀ràngún	Ọ̀ṣun	Ìgbómìnà	Senior Odùduwà crown	10
Kétu (Kétou)	Aláké̩tu	Benin Republic	Kétu	Dahomey destroy am for 1886; Akaba Idena gate	12

Èkìtì 5

Town	Ruler title	State	Note	File
Adó-Èkìtì	Ẹ̀wì	Ẹkìtì	State capital; Udiroko festival; three ruling houses	07
Ìkẹ́rẹ́-Èkìtì	Ògògà	Ẹkìtì	Dem also recognise Olúkèrè as ọba from 2021; people dey contest di stool	07
Ìkẹ́rẹ́ (Odo-Oja)	Olúkèrè	Ẹkìtì	Dem recognise am 8 October 2021; dey claim priority pass Ògògà	07
Ìkọ̀lé-Èkìtì	Elékọlé	Ẹkìtì	Paramount ruler of di Egbeoba confederation of 24 ọba	07
Ọ̀tùn-Èkìtì	Oore (Òòrẹ̀)	Ẹkìtì	Mọ̀bà; first President of di pẹ̀lúpẹ̀lú, 1900	07
Efọ̀n-Aláàyè	Aláàyè (Aláyé)	Ẹkìtì	Ọbalùfọ̀n Aláyémọrẹ start am c. 1200; woodcarving centre	07
Ìjẹ̀rọ̀-Èkìtì	Ajẹrò	Ẹkìtì	Dem mention am alongside Alárá and Ọ̀ràngún as uterine brothers	07
Aramoko-Èkìtì	Alárá	Ẹkìtì	Dem also dey call am Alárá of Ara	07
Ìsẹ̀-Èkìtì	Arìnjalẹ̀	Ẹkìtì	Hometown of di carver Olówè of Ìsẹ̀	07
Ìdó-Èkìtì	Olójùdó	Ẹkìtì	Dey inside di 1903 Ifẹ̀ gazette list	07
Òyè-Èkìtì	Olóyè	Ẹkìtì		07
Ògótùn-Èkìtì	Ológotun	Ẹkìtì		07
Òkèmèsì	Ọ̀wá Ọ̀ọ̀yẹ	Ẹkìtì	Hometown of Fabunmi, wey trigger di Kiriji war	07
Ìtàjí-Èkìtì	Onítàjí	Ẹkìtì		07
Ìṣàn-Èkìtì	Onísàn	Ẹkìtì		07
Ayédé-Èkìtì	Atta	Ẹkìtì	Observer for di 1900 pẹ̀lúpẹ̀lú	07
Èmùrẹ̀-Èkìtì	Elémùrẹ̀	Ẹkìtì	Observer for di 1900 pẹ̀lúpẹ̀lú as Baálẹ̀	07
Òmùọ-Èkìtì	Olómùo	Ẹkìtì	Dey inside di modern roster	07
Ìlàwẹ̀-Èkìtì	Alawe	Ẹkìtì	Dem go court over di chairmanship appointment for 2020	07
Ìyìn-Èkìtì	Olúyìn	Ẹkìtì		19

Ìjẹ̀ṣà and Ọ̀ṣun State 6

Town	Ruler title	State	Subgroup	Note	File
Òṣogbo	Atáọ́ja	Ọ̀ṣun	Ìbọ̀lọ̀ / Ọ̀yọ́	State capital; UNESCO grove; 1838 battle	10
Ìwó	Olúwo	Ọ̀ṣun	Epo / Ọ̀yọ́	Na Adékọ́lá Telu start am; pass 40,000 people for di 19th c.	10
Èdè	Tìmì	Ọ̀ṣun	Ìbọ̀lọ̀ / Ọ̀yọ́	Ọ̀yọ́ frontier post under Aláàfin Kórí; e no get Ifẹ̀ link	10
Ìkirun	Akírun	Ọ̀ṣun	Ìbọ̀lọ̀	Site of di Jalumi war, 1878	10
Ìlobù	Olóbù	Ọ̀ṣun	Ìbọ̀lọ̀		10
Ifẹ̀-Odan	Adimula	Ọ̀ṣun	Ìbọ̀lọ̀		10
Ejigbo	Ògìyán	Ọ̀ṣun	Ọ̀yọ́	Plenty of dia diaspora people dey Abidjan	10
Ìjẹ̀bú-Jẹ̀ṣà	Oníjẹ̀bú Ẹgbọ̀rọ̀	Ọ̀ṣun	Ìjẹ̀ṣà	Dem claim say di founder na senior brother of Ọ̀wá Obòkun	08
Gbọ̀ngán	Olúfi	Ọ̀ṣun	Ifẹ̀		19
Òkè-Ìlá Ọ̀ràngún	Ọ̀ràngún	Ọ̀ṣun	Ìgbómìnà		10
Okuku	Olókuku	Ọ̀ṣun	Ìgbómìnà	Barber oríkì fieldwork site	18
Ìpetumodù	Apetu	Ọ̀ṣun	Ifẹ̀		10
Modáké̩ké̩	Ògùnsùà	Ọ̀ṣun	Ọ̀yọ́ settlers	Dem establish am for mid-1840s inside Ifẹ̀; long land dispute	01

Other Ọ̀ṣun towns wey di sources mention but wey ruler title no dey verified here: Ìrágbìjí, Ada, Ìpetu-Ìjẹ̀ṣà, Èrìn-Òkè, Ìbòkun, Ode-Omu, Otan Ayegbaju, Ifetedo, Èsa-Òkè, Otan-Ile, Ìgbàjọ, Ifẹ̀wàrà 1.

Ọ̀yọ́ State 4

Town	Title of ruler	State	Subgroup	Note	File
Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́	Sòun	Ọ̀yọ́	Ọ̀yọ́	Na hunter Ògúnlọlá start am around 1650; Baptist centre	11
Ìsẹ́yìn	Aṣẹ́yìn	Ọ̀yọ́	Òǹkò	Main centre for aṣọ òkè weaving; 1916 rising	11
Ṣakí	Òkèrè	Ọ̀yọ́	Òǹkò	Di biggest Òkè Ògùn town	11
Ìgbòho	Alẹ́pàtà (plus Ọ̀nà Oníbodè)	Ọ̀yọ́	Òǹkò	Ọ̀yọ́ capital during di Nupe interregnum; dem bury four Aláàfin for dia	11
Kíṣí	Ìbà	Ọ̀yọ́	Òǹkò	Place of refuge during di interregnum and after 1835	11
Òkèhò	Ọnjọ̀	Ọ̀yọ́	Òǹkò	Federation of settlements	11
Ìgbẹ̀tì	dem never verify di title here	Ọ̀yọ́	Òǹkò	Agbele rock	11
Ado Awaye	dem never verify di title here	Ọ̀yọ́	Òǹkò	Ìyáké suspended lake	11
Èrúwà	Elérúwà	Ọ̀yọ́	Ìbàràpá	Di Aláàfin recognise am as di main Ìbàràpá town	15
Igbó-Òrà	Olú of Igbó-Òrà	Ọ̀yọ́	Ìbàràpá	Highest measured dizygotic twinning rate	15
Ìdẹ̀rẹ, Tápà, Àyété, Igangan, Lanlate	dem never verify di titles here	Ọ̀yọ́	Ìbàràpá	Na Nupe refugees settle for Tápà	15

Ògùn State: Ìjẹ̀bú, Rẹ́mọ, Ẹ̀gbá and Yewa 5

Town	Title of ruler	State	Subgroup	Note	File
Ṣàgámù	Akárigbò of Rẹ́moland	Ògùn	Rẹ́mọ	Dem gather am for 1872 from thirteen towns; kola centre	14
Ìjẹ̀bú-Ìgbó	Orímọlùṣì	Ògùn	Ìjẹ̀bú	Five clans wey each get dia own ọba	14
Àgọ́-Ìwòyè	Ẹbùmawè	Ògùn	Ìjẹ̀bú	Olabisi Onabanjo University main campus	05
Ìlàrò	Olú of Ìlàrò	Ògùn	Yewa	Paramount ruler of Yewaland since 1993	15
Àyétòrò (Ògùn)	dem never verify di title here	Ògùn	Yewa		15
Ìmẹ̀kọ	dem never verify di title here	Ògùn	Yewa		15
Ìpòkìá	dem never verify di title here	Ògùn	Yewa / Anàgó	Border with Benin Republic	15
Òtà	Olótà	Ògùn	Àwórì	Historic Àwórì capital; Iganmode festival	15
Ado-Odo	dem never verify di title here	Ògùn	Àwórì		15
Ifọ̀nyìn	Elehin / Elewi Odo (unverified)	Ògùn / Benin Rep.	Anàgó	Di 1889 border divide am	12

Lagos State and the coast 5

Town	Title of ruler	State	Subgroup	Note	File
Ìkọ̀rọdú	Ayangburen	Lagos	Ìjẹ̀bú / Rẹ́mọ	Di earlier title na Olója; Ìjẹ̀bú dialect	14
Èpé	Olója of Èpé	Lagos	Ìjẹ̀bú	Kòṣọ́kọ́'s refuge from 1851; na dat time Islam enter	14
Badagry	Akran	Lagos	Àwórì / Ogu	Eight wards; Vlekete market; first storey building	14
Ìṣerí	dem never verify di title here	Lagos	Àwórì	Where the Olófin calabash paused	15
Àgége	dem never verify di title here	Lagos	Àwórì		15

Ondo State: the eastern Yoruba 3

Town	Title of ruler	State	Subgroup	Note	File
Ìdànrè	Ọ̀wá of Ìdànrè	Ondo	Ìdànrè	Stool dey vacant since 30 July 2024; UNESCO tentative list	09
Ilé-Olújì	Jegun of Ilé-Olújì	Ondo	Ondó-related	Dem share twin tradition with Ondó; cocoa processing	09
Ikoya	Abodi	Ondo	Ìkálẹ̀	Paramount of Ìkálẹ̀land, court uphold am for 2018	09
Osooro	Rebuja	Ondo	Ìkálẹ̀	Largest Ìkálẹ̀ moiety	09
Idepe-Okitipupa	Jegun	Ondo	Ìkálẹ̀	Different from di Jegun of Ilé-Olújì	09
Ode-Aye	Halu	Ondo	Ìkálẹ̀		09
Ode-Erinje	Orungberuwa	Ondo	Ìkálẹ̀		09
Ayeka	Lumure	Ondo	Ìkálẹ̀		09
Irele	Olofun	Ondo	Ìkálẹ̀	Trace descent go di Ugbo kingdom	09
Ugbo (Ode Ugbo)	Olúgbó	Ondo	Ìlàjẹ	Claim say dem own Ilé-Ifẹ̀ before Odùduwà	09
Màhìn	Amápetu	Ondo	Ìlàjẹ	Dispute dey on top di stool since February 2017	09
Etikan	Onikan (Olikan)	Ondo	Ìlàjẹ		09
Aheri	Maporure	Ondo	Ìlàjẹ		09
Ayetoro (Ìlàjẹ)	Ogeloyinbo	Ondo	Ìlàjẹ	Holy Apostles Community, dem start am for 1947	09
Ọ̀kà-Àkókó	Olubaka	Ondo	Àkókó	Supreme Court confirm paramountcy on 18 Dec 1998	09
Ọ̀kà (Oka-odo)	Asin	Ondo	Àkókó	Earlier paramount, dem displace under colonial rule	09
Ìkàrẹ́-Àkókó	Olukare, and Owa-Ale	Ondo	Àkókó	Two monarchs; court record dey contradict	09
Àrìgìdì-Àkókó	Zaki	Ondo	Àkókó	Hausa title wey dem adopt after di Nupe period	09
Ogbagi-Àkókó	Ọ̀wá	Ondo	Àkókó		09
Ikaram	Akala	Ondo	Àkókó		09
Irun	Onirun	Ondo	Àkókó		09
Iye	Oniye	Ondo	Àkókó		09
Afin-Àkókó	Aláàfin	Ondo	Àkókó	Dem share title with Ọ̀yọ́ but na separate stool	09
Epinmi, Isua, Sosan, Ipe	Ovie	Ondo	Àkókó South-East	Edo title, no be Yoruba	09
Akungba	Alale	Ondo	Àkókó	Adekunle Ajasin University	09

Benin Republic and Togo 3

Town	Title of ruler	Country	Subgroup	Note	File
Kétu (Kétou)	Aláké̩tu	Benin Republic	Kétu	Plateau Department; 156,497 for 2013	12
Sábẹ́ (Savè)	Ọnísàbẹ̀	Benin Republic	Sábẹ́ / Shabe	Collines; dem cancel monarchy, symbolic chief remain	12
Ìdáìṣà (Dassa-Zoumé)	Ọba of Igbo Idaasha	Benin Republic	Ìdáìṣà	Collines; city of forty-one hills	12
Pobè	dem never verify di title here	Benin Republic	Anàgó / Nagot	Plateau Department seat since 2016	12
Ọ̀họ̀rí country	dem never verify di title here	Benin Republic	Ọ̀họ̀rí-Ìjè	Kumi depression; rebellion against France by 1914	12
Atakpamé and the Ifè	dem never verify di title here	Togo	Ifè / Ana	Yoruba subgroup wey dey far pass for west; Ede Ife language	12
Popo	Onípòpó	Benin Republic		Dem group am with Kétu and Sábẹ́ as Odùduwà crowns	12

Titles wey dey repeat, and wetin dem mean

Several elements dey show across many titles and to know dem dey make di table easy to read 7.

Olú- and Ol- prefixes mean owner or lord of, so Olúbàdàn na lord of Ìbàdàn, Olótà na lord of Òtà, Olówu na lord of Ọ̀wu, Olóbù na lord of Ìlobù. Na dis be di commonest Yoruba title formation and person fit apply am to any place name.

Oní- and On- get di same function but different sound shape, like Oníkòyí, Onísàn, Onítàjí, Ọnísàbẹ̀, Onijẹ̀bú. Di prefix wey name dey take depend on how di place name dey sound, no be on top rank.

Ọba na di general word for ruler wey wear crown, and dem dey use am both as title on its own and as title before person name.

Baálẹ̀ na di head of town wey no get crown, wey dem dey explain as father of di land, and e dey lower in rank pass ọba. Plenti towns, including Ìbàdàn reach 1936 and Igbó-Òrà until recently, don get upgrade from Baálẹ̀ go crowned title, and dis kind upgrades dey always bring dispute.

Balógun na war title, lord of di war camp, wey dey across Yorubaland and dey form di whole military line for Ìbàdàn.

Aàrẹ Ọ̀nà Kakanfò na di supreme military commander of Ọ̀yọ́ empire, wey Àfọ̀njá hold and dem revive for Ìbàdàn.

Otún and Òsì mean right hand and left hand, and na di two senior positions wey dey stand for right and left of ruler for plenti chieftaincy systems.

Ìwàrèfà na di council of senior chiefs, six for most towns, wey dem dey call Eghae for Ondó, and e dey appear as di top grade of di Ọ̀ṣùgbó for Ìjẹ̀bú.

Wetin dis table no be

E no complete. Yorubaland get hundreds of towns with recognised crowns, and di Nigerian state chieftaincy registers dey list plenti more titles pass any summary wey dem publish. Di Wikipedia list of Yoruba royal titles state say e no complete 2, and dis one sef na so.

E no be final authority on top precedence. Di grading of chieftaincies into first, second, third, and fourth class na matter of state law for Nigeria, state governments dey change am, and people dey carry am go court; nothing for inside dis table suppose make person think say e don settle rank.

And na snapshot. People wey hold title dey die, stools dey fall vacant, and states dey restructure chieftaincy declarations. Di Ìdànrè stool dey vacant when dem compile dis one, di Badagry Akran just die dat period, and di Ìbàdàn and Ìkàrẹ́ arrangements dey court dat time.