Yoruba Obas, Is Oba Of Benin Among?

The list of 54 obas who are entitled to wear crowns in yoruba land and compiled in 1931.

The 1931 list of the 54 Obas is reproduced exactly as published in the Nigerian Tribune of 6 April, 1987 as follows:

1.Oni of Ife.

2. Olowu – Abeokuta.

3. Alaafin – Oyo.

4. Oba Ado – Ado-Benin.

5. Ore Otun – Ottun.

6. Orangun – Ila.

7. Awujale – Ode.

8. Apero – Ijero.

9. Olojudo – Ido Ogundaru.

10. Ilara – Ara.

11. Elekole – Ikole.

12. Owa –Ijesa.

13. Oloye – Oye

14. Alake – Abeokuta.

15. Ewi – Ado.

16. Alaye – Efon.

17. Ologotun.

18. Akarigbo – Shagamu.

19. Oloyi Ife – Oyi Ife (Jebba).

20. Agura – Abeokuta.

21. Ogoga – Ikere.

22. Oshemowe – Ondo.

23. Oshile – Abeokuta.

24. Elemure –Emure.

25. Onigbajo – Igbajo.

26. Olowo Oko – Owo.

27. Olowo Ile – Owo.

28. Ewusi – Shagamu (Onimakun)

29. Onise – Ise.

30. Olojudo – Ido Efon.

31. Owa Idanre.

32. Alajogun – Ajase.

33. Oba Dada – Dahomey.

34. Onibara – Abeokuta.

35. Onire – Ire ti Oye.

36. Oloton – oton Koro.

37. Owa Igbara – Igbara

38. Olojudo – Ido Oshun.

39. Oniseri – Iseri.

40. Oloja Oke – Imesi I.

41. Oloja Oke – Imesi II.

42. Ologere – Ogere.

43. Olo… – Obagun. ………………….

44. Elepe – Shagamu (Alupon).

45. Owalubo – Ubo.

46. Onilawe – Ilawe.

47. Onipokia – Ipokia.

48. Onitede – Tede.

49. Olohan – Ohan (Ara).

50. Alapa – Agbonda.

51. Oloba – Akure.

52. Oniro – Iro.

53. Olota – Otta.

54. Onitori – Itori.

In 1937, the first conference of all Obas of Yorubaland held at Oyo, The Ooni of Ife presided. In 1938, the second conference was held at Ife, the Ooni of Ife presided. In 1939, the conference was held in Ibadan, the Ooni of Ife presided.

In 1940, the conference of Yoruba Obas was held at Abeokuta, the Ooni of Ife presided. In 1941, the conference was held at Ijebu-Ode the Ooni of Ife presided.

In 1942, the conference was held at Benin City the Ooni of Ife presided. It was the custom at the conference for the Ooni of Ife to sit in the east and the other Obas on his right and left. The governor sat in the west with members of his staff, the governor would depart with his entourage and the Ooni would take control.

The Royal dynasty of Yorubaland extends to Benin Republic, Warri and other parts of the world such as the Akoos, of Sierra Leone and the Bahians of Brazil. In the United States of America, a strong “resorgimento” in African culture and tradition has identified itself with Ife.