List of Ife Rulers
The Ọọ̀ni of Ilé-Ifẹ̀ is the traditional ruler of Ile-Ife, whose dynasty goes back hundreds of years
Ọọ̀ni Lajamisan, who was the 8th Ọọ̀ni of Ile Ife, was a Son of Ọọ̀ni Oranmiyan, (Ọọ̀ni Oranmiyan was the Father of the first Oba of Benin, First Aláàfin of Oyo and the Father of Oṣile of Oke-Ona Egba). Ọọ̀ni Lajamisan the son of Ọọ̀ni Oranmiyan, was also the Father of Ọọ̀ni Lajodoogun, the 9th Ọọ̀ni of Ile Ife, through whom the genealogy of all succeeding Ọọ̀nis of Ile Ife until the reigning Ọọ̀ni Okunade Adele Sijuwade, Olubuse 11, Arole Oduduwa and the Head of the Yoruba Nation, is traced down to Ọọ̀ni Odùduwà
- Oduduwa
- Osangangan Obamakin
- Ogun
- Obalufon Ogbogbodirin
- Obalufon Alayemore (Obalufon II)
- Oranmiyan
- Ayetise
- Lajamisan
- Lajodoogun
- Lafogido
- Odidimode Rogbeesin
- Aworokolokin
- Ekun
- Ajimuda
- Gboonijio
- Okanlajosin
- Adegbalu
- Osinkola
- Ogboruu
- Giesi
- Luwoo
- Lumobi
- Agbedegbede
- Ojelokunbirin
- Lagunja
- Larunnka
- Ademiluyi
- Omogbogbo
- Ajila Oorun
- Adejinle
- Olojo
- Okiti
- Lugbade
- Aribiwoso
- Osinlade
- Adagba
- Ojigidiri
- Akinmoyero (1770–1800)
- Gbanlare (1800–1823)
- Gbegbaaje (1823–1835)
- Wunmonije (1835–1839)
- Adegunle Abewela (1839–1849)
- Degbinsokun (1849–1878)
- Orarigba (1878–1880)
- Derin Ologbenla (1880–1894)
- Adelekan Olubuse I (1894–1910)
- Adekola (1910)
- Ademiluyi Ajagun (1910–1930)
- Adesoji Aderemi (1930–1980)
- Okunade Sijuwade(1980-2015)
- Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (October 25, 2015)
ILE-IFE CURRENT OONI
OBA ADEYEYE ENITAN OGUNWUSI
Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi selected on October 25, 2015 at the age of 40-year old to become the 51st Ooni of ife. He was real estate magnate and prince from the Giesi Ruling House in Ile-Ife. Born into the family of John Oluropo Ogunwusi from the famous Ojaja Lineage of the Giesi ruling house of the Agbedegbede Quarters in Ile-Ife, Prince Ogunwusi’s mother, Margaret Wuraola Sidikatu Abegbe Ogunwusi, was born into the family of Soji-Opa, a prominent Cocoa merchant in Ile-Ife.
Oba Adeyeye attended the Polytechnic Ibadan where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accountancy. He is a certified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Institute of Management.
He grew up rapidly in business and became a successful real estate merchant. He sit on the board of Imperial Homes Morgage Bank Limited, which is a leading National Mortgage Bank and former subsidiary of one of the biggest banks in Africa; GTBank plc.
Oba Adeyeye is also a Director at Fina Trust Microfinance Bank Limited one of Nigeria’s foremost Microfinance Banks focusing on SMEs and micro credit facilities. He is the founder and Managing Director of Gran Imperio Group which is the holding company of his Real Estate Construction, Manufacturing, Facilities Management, Leisure and Tourism companies in Nigeria.
He went further and involved in engineering, procument, construction contracts, developed and involved in various project both locally in Nigeria and abroad. Oba Adeyeye never forget his grassroot despite a succesfull business man, his humilty is second to none and his love to developement of youths. Through his "Prince Adeyeye's Scholarship Platform" Oba Adeyeye has sponsored numerious less previleged children and youths both in Ile-Ife and outside of his town.
Before Oba Adeyeye became the 51st Ooni of Ife, he employed over 300 youths from Ile-Ife at his
Ife Festival
People in Ile-Ife usually uphold the religious practice of their forebears, therefore Ife's worship a lot of deities and as a result they celebrate a great many traditional festivals to regain the favour of the deities.
Some of these deities are: Orisa Oko (deity of agriculture); Ogun (deity of iron); Obatala (deity of creation); Esu Elegbara (trickster deity); Osanyin (deity of medicine);Ifa (deity of divination), Erinle (deity of forest); Orunmila (deity of fate) etc.
There were 401 deities that resided in the ancient city of Ile-Ife. Thus, the Ife people have diverse cultural festivals that they celebrate annually, which among them is Olojo festival which literally means “Owner of the day”.
Olojo festival celebration usually begins in the middle of October each year. On this day, the Ooni (king of Ife) appears after five days of seclusion, communing with the 401 deities that resided in the ancient city of Ile-Ife.. This ritual is to make him pure and ensure the efficacy of his prayers.
Before the Ooni emerges, women from his maternal and paternal families sweep the Palace, symbolically ridding the Palace of evil.
He engages himself in special prayers and ritual sacrifices along with seven high priests. Within this period, the Ooni will not eat any natural food, but spiritual food and alligator pepper with kola nut. During this period also, the high priest will be coming to see the Ooni to perform some rituals, turn-by-turn for consecutive five days.
Olojo festival is a three-day event. The first day, which is normally Friday, is called “Ilagun” day. The second day, being Saturday is called “Olojo proper while the third day being Sunday is the grand finale and for merry-making. Thus, before the commencement of the festival on the first day, the Ooni of Ife would first of all emerge wearing the sacred beaded crown “Ade Aare” which was believed to have been empowered by the deities. After that, the chief priest, Osogun with other chiefs including the priest and a representative of Ooni would immediately proceed towards the Okemogun (the shrine) to prepare the Ogun shrine before the Ooni would come out in the open. There, the chief priest would make some incantations while the other chiefs that accompany echo “Esei” (meaning, Amen).
At the shrine, a dog is tied, while the Osogun and other seven chiefs move round the shrine seven times before the Osogun (chief priest) would finally cut the dog into two halves. Immediately after the ritual killing, the entire people of Ife around will shout “Ogun yee” (meaning, the ritual has been accepted). During the festival different songs are sung in praise of the Almighty God for a peaceful festival and for the reigning Ooni.
(OJAJA II) THE OONI OF IFE
Inagbe Cocowood Factory-Essential Homes Furniture brand, his company that uses 100% indigenous raw materials for production, He has over 450 direct employees across his various companies and over 3000 indirect employees.
Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is indeed a highly dignified man, fearless and daring, a self-made man who not only has passion for his home town but for his country as a whole. He has forged respectable alliances with some of the most esteemed Royal fathers, leaders and kings of our time.
Over the years before he became the 51st Ooni of Ife, he has nurtured numerous remarkable partnerships with dignified Royal Fathers of Lagos (Yoruba Land) in some of his Real Estate developments. HRM Oba Saheed Elegushi, Kusenla III, Elegushi of Ikate Land, Lagos (Development of Lake View Park 2, Lafaji, Off Orchid Hotel Road, Lekki-Epe expressway), HRM the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, (development of Northpointe Estate, Chevron Drive, Lekki, Lagos), HRM Oba Oyekan, Onilado of Ilado-lnagbe Island, Lagos(Development of Inagbe Grand Resorts and leisure, Lagos), HRM Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, The Oranmiyan Osile Oke Ona of Egba Land, Abeokuta (development of the Lord’s Estate, Buckswood College Abeokuta), HRM Oba Oloruntoyin Saliu, The Oloworo of Oworonsoki, Lagos (partners in the proposed Oworonsoki Redevelopment Scheme, Lagos), HRM Oba Akinloye, Ojomu of Ajiran Land, Lekki – a host to several developments which Prince Adeyeye has embarked on. HRM Olofa, Oba Mufutau Muhammed Gbadamosi (partnership during the rice and sugar merchandising for Dangote Group).
Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is loved and highly admired by the people of great Ile-Ife and importantly, he remains in tune with his roots and tradition. Long Live Kabiyesi, Iku Baba Yeye, Alase Ekeji Osa, Ki ade pe lori, Ki bata pe lese, Igba yi a tuwa lara o.
Ife Art and Culture
sculptures from ife will tell the story of the legendary city of Ife through some of the most refined and beautiful sculptures ever to be found in Africa. Ife is rightly regarded as the birthplace of some of the highest achievements of African art and culture.
Ife developed a refined and highly naturalistic sculptural tradition in stone, terracotta, brass and copper-alloy to create a style unlike any in Africa at the time. The human figures portray a wide cross-section of Ife society and include depictions of youth and old age, health and disease, suffering and serenity. The almost pure copper mask of Obalufon II, an early Ooni (king) of Ife is one of the finest images of royal power from Ife.
The figurative terracotta sculptures, which represent the largest group of works, capture the diverse nature of Ife society at the time. Several terracotta heads bear facial striations suggesting cultural markings, some possibly from groups outside Ife. Some heads appear to depict women wearing regalia or jewellery indicating their high status. Also on display are almost life-size copper alloy heads which reveal an idealized, naturalistic uniformity although each head has notable individual characteristics. It is suggested that they were produced over a relatively short period of time, maybe in a single workshop. These heads are believed to be associated with the coronation or the accession rituals of new rulers of Yoruba city-states which owed allegiance to Ife.
Today Ife remains a major spiritual and religious centre for the Yoruba people. Some of its shrines and groves are still in use and rituals to key gods are performed regularly. Works of art from Ife have become iconic symbols of regional and national unity, and of pan-African identity. Since Independence in 1960 enthusiasm for copies or reproductions of heritage items with nostalgic associations has increased. The ‘Ori Olokun’ head was chosen as the logo for the All-Africa Games held in Lagos in 1973 and has been adopted as the logo of numerous commercial, educational and financial institutions. Such images have become universal symbols of African heritage.
Above is the video presentation of ' Ife uncover' by Professor John Picton and metallurgist Paul Craddock discuss the meaning and the making of the sculptures in the exhibition Kingdom of Ife sculptures in United Kingdom.
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Ile-Ife: Places to Visit
Ile-Ife is mostly populated by the yorubas or ifes; they are also regarded as Omo Oduduwa. Oduduwa is the descendant of the Yoruba race. Although Ile-Ife is, a medium size city considering the population and land mass but the tourist attractions play a vital role in its consideration as a place to visit. Ife is indeed a place of interest because of the cultural history that surrounds it.
Yearly, visitors visit the city of Ile-Ife in thousands to catch a sight, commend the merits of the magnificent sites, and have facts of the mysteries that the ancient city is compresses. There are numerous tourist attractions in great city of ile-ife, but the follows are just few of the place to visits.
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Ooni 's Palace (Ile Oduduwa)
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The Ooni’s palace has been in existence for centuries, as far back as 500 BC and is located at the centre of a city called Enuwa in Ile-Ife. The palace is home to not only the Ooni but also to his Oloris (wives) and his children. Besides being the abode of members of the royal family, it is also the location of a meeting hall for the high chiefs of Ile-Ife.
Until a few decades ago, the Ooni’s palace was constructed with a mud wall but since the demolition of those buildings, modern buildings built with cement have been erected. The palace is a well-landscaped home of treasures.The five main sections of Ile Ife flow from three major roads that meet at an orita (intersection) called Enu Owa (meaning “mouth of the king”, and from which Enuwa is derived). In Yoruba traditional belief, an orita is not just a place where three roads meet, but a place where sacrifices may be offered to spirits and messages maybe conveyed to the gods or other spiritual realms.
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Ooni Palace
Ife Museum
A visit to the Ooni of Ife’s Palace is incomplete without stopping next door at the Ife Museum, which is also in Enuwa Square, Ile-Ife The history museum is dedicated to the preservation of antiquities that were found in Ile Ife, including many bronzes and terracotta sculptures dating back to the 13th century
. Ife Museum
Opa Oranmiyan
Opa Oranmiyan stands over five meters tall in Moopa area of the town within a fenced wall. It is believed that it was the place where the great Yoruba warrior, Oranmiyan spent the later years of his life and the spot where the granite is standing today was where he planted his staff in the ground and immediately turned into stone.
Opa Oranmiyan
Natural History Museum (OAU)
In January, 1974, the idea of establishing a Natural History Museum and that which will be a leading natural history museum in the west coast of Africa was midwived this was to be an autonomous unit starting with the collection of the then zoology Department as a nucleus.
Apart from Institut Fundamental Afrique Noir in Dakar, Senegal, this natural history museum was the only one in West Africa. The museum has a herbarium which contains about 20,000 fully identified plants. 5,150 bird varieties, specimens and minerals of south western Nigeria. There are about a collection of over 6,000 archaeological artifacts like the famous Ife terracotta, ife glass beads, crucible and ancient tobacco pipes, potsherd pavements. In conclusion, it has the archaeological, zoological, geological and botany exhibitions.
Natural Museum
Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)
The Obafemi Awolowo University is a comprehensive public institution established in 1962 as The University of Ife. The University is situated on a vast expanse of land totaling 11,861 hectares in Ile-Ife, Osun State, southwest of Nigeria.
The Obafemi Awolowo University is a complete public institution established in 1962 as The University of Ife. The University is situated on a vast expanse of land totalling 11,861 hectares in Ile-Ife, Osun State, southwest of Nigeria.
A tour of the AOU campus is sufficient, as you will see a wide diversity of incredible architecture that the university possesses. Some of these buildings are the Amphi theatre, the spider; civil engineering department building, animal zoo and so on.
OAU
Oduduwa Statue
Oduduwa statue in Enuwa Square is Well-designed structure found inside Afewonro Park at the Enuwa square in Ile-Ife just in front of the Ooni’s palace.
The structure stands tall among every other structure around it, which gives it the visibility it requires. The structure is made of metal and it shows the legendary king in a single garment wrapped around his left shoulder. His face is covered with beaded crown, “Are” and a clutching staff in his right hand.
Oduduwa
Ife Anthem
4. Repeat Refrain