Ondo Connects New Era
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He (Ekiri) welcomes Princess Pupupu and her Royal entourage with open arms embraced them warmly and later led them to a place known till today as Oriden near Ifore where every attempt to stick the yam stake to the ground prove abortive. It is said that they were happy and exclaimed Edo du do, edo do, idi edo which later transformed to Ondo. It is not certain that Princess Pupupu became Osemawe of Ondo immediately but with her Royal Status, she might have ascended the throne soon afterwards and it was presumed to be the year 1516 AD.
1. Oba Olu Pupupu, daughter of Alaafin of Oyo Oba Oluaso reigned from 1516-1530 AD
2. Oba Airo, first son of Oba Pupupu ascended the throne after her mother and regarded the seniority set up of Chiefs especially that of High Chief Lisa, who was made senior to High Chief OJomu and for this reason, the Oba was named Airo. He reigned from 1530-1560 AD.
3. Oba Luju was the junior brother to Oba Airo and ascended the throne after the death of his brother. He reigned from 1561-1590 AD.
4. Oba Okuta, a descendant of Oba Airo ascended the throne after the death of Oba Luju. He created Okerowo and Oke-Aruwa quarters during his time and reigned from 1590-1614 AD.
5. Oba Luyare a descendant of Oba Airo ascended the throne after the death of Oba Okuta and make Ondo people to realize that they are from the same stock. He reigned from 1614-1630 AD.
6. Oba Foyi (Awuro), a descendant of Oba Luju ascended the throne after the death of Oba Luyare. He was a warrior and power fighter and successfully suppressed all attacks against the Ondos. The Oba was named Foyi because of his tributes. He reigned from 1630-1649 AD.
7. Oba Leyo, the last born child of Oba Luju ascended the throne after the death of Oba Foyi. He successfully suppressed the attackers of Ondo people with the support of Alaafin Ayibi who normally send army from Oyo. Other attempts to attack the Ondos, the people would exclaim ha you don’t know Ologun l’eyo meaning he has troop in Oyo and the Oba was named Leyo. He reigned from 1649-1668 AD.
8. Oba Gbaji (Ogbode), son of Oba Okuta ascended the throne after the death of Oba Leyo. He reigned from 1668-1685 AD.
9. Oba Liyen, a grandson of Oba Luju ascended the throne after the death of Oba Gbaji. He introduced Ifa divination and Agemo festival to Ondo and reigned from 1685-1702 AD.
10. Oba Bajumu, son of Oba Foyi ascended the throne after the death of Oba Liyen. He wage war against his neighbouring town and before he returned from the battle front, the Ondo people has rejected him and selected a new Oba. He later sojourned at his mother’s home in Lejuwa compound where he died and buried. He reigned from 1702-1711 AD.
11. Oba Aperuwa (Olu-Okun), son of Oba Gbaji ascended the throne after the dethronement of Oba Bajumu and reigned from 1711-1716 AD.
12. Oba Gbedegbede, a descendant of Oba Leyo ascended the throne after the death of Oba Aperuwa and reigned from 1716-1717 AD.
13. Oba Lamole, a grandson of Oba Leyo ascended the throne after the death of Oba Gbedegbede. He reigned from 1716-1731 AD.
14. Oba Iganmude, a grandson of Oba Okuta ascended the throne after the death of Oba Lamele. He created Sokoti and Losare quarters during his time and reigned from 1731-1748 AD.
15. Oba Olowolaiye, a grandson of Oba Okuta ascended the throne after the death of Oba Aganmude. He reigned from 1748-1759 AD.
16. Oba Jogunde, a grandson of Oba Okuta ascended the throne after the death of Oba Olowolaiye. He reigned from 1759-1777 AD.
17. Oba Terere, a grandson of Oba Luju ascended the throne after the death of Oba Jogunde. He originated the Eku festival in Ondo in memory of Owu war and reigned from 1777-1786.
18. Oba Ajisowo, first son of Oba Terere ascended the throne after the death of his father (Oba Terere). He was known to be trustworthy and named Ajisowo because his father left a rich legacy for him. He reigned from 1786-1802 AD.
19. Oba Arobiere, a descendant of Oba Foyi ascended the throne after the death of Oba Ajisowo and reigned from 1802-1811 AD.
20. Oba Iyanlola, son of Oba Jogunde ascended the throne after the death of Oba Arobieke. He reigned from 1811-1814 AD.
21. Oba Odunola (Ojagodolokun), a grandson of Oba Lamele ascended the throne after the death of Oba Iyanlola. He reigned from 1814-1817 AD.
22. Oba Jilu, Son of Oba Iyanlola ascended the throne after the death of Oba Odunola. He live thrilling with joy daily with regular drumming in the palace and that earned him the name Jilu and reigned from1817-1822 AD.
23. Oba Olowolakun, son of Oba Iyanlola ascended the throne after the death of Oba Jilu and reigned from 1822-1826 AD.
24. Oba Jiwomo, a grandson of Oba Terere ascended the throne after the death of Oba Olowolakun and reigned from 1826-1833 AD.
25. Oba Jilalu, a grandson of Oba Terere ascended the throne after the death of Oba Jiwomo. He created Lijofi and Loyinmi quarters. Oba Jilalu reigned from 1833-1844 AD.
26. Oba Jisomosun 1, son of Oba Jilalu ascended the throne after the death of his father (Oba Jilalu) and reigned from 1844-1853 AD.
27. Oba Afunbiiye (odundun a s’ode d’ero), son of Oba Jilo ascended the throne after the death of Oba Jisomosun 1. He was named Afunbiiye because of his cleanliness and reigned from 1853-1861 AD.
28. Oba Arilekolasi, a descendant of Oba Foyi ascended the throne after the death of Oba Afunbiiye. He created Ogbotitun and Oke Sarowo quarters. Oba Arilekolasi reigned from 1861-1866 AD.
29. Oba Totemolejoye, ascended the throne after the death of Oba Arilekolasi and reigned from 1866-1870 AD.
30. Oba Osungbedelola 1, grandson of Oba Odunola ascended the throne after the death of Oba Totemolejoye. He reigned from 1870-1873 AD.
31. Oba Ayibikitiwodi, son of Oba Jimowo ascended the throne after the death of Oba Osungbedelola 1. He reigned from 1873-1876 AD.
32. Oba Afaidunjoye, ascended the throne after the death of Oba Ayibikitiwodi. He was named Afaidunjoye because he was neutral among the princes that contested for the Obaship at that time and reigned from 1876-1881 AD.
33. Oba Jimekun (Ojikutupekun), grandson of Oba Jilalu ascended the throne after the death of Oba Afaidunjoye. He was named Jimekun because a hunter killed a big tiger on the day of his coronation. During Oba Jimekun time, he received Governor Glover delegation to Ondo from Lagos and Bishop Phiilips, a C.M.S. Missionary also arrived at Ondo. Oba Jimekun reigned from1881-1894 AD.
34. Oba Jilo 1 (Ajiboro), grandson of Oba Afunbiiye ascended the throne after the death of Oba Jimekun and reigned from 1894-1896 AD.
35. Oba Dedeniunola Fidipote 1, a grandson of Oba Totemolejoye ascended the throne after the death of Oba Jilo. Oba Fidipote 1 achieved complete peace among his people and received a British Government representative from Lagos who also invited the Oloja Obu to the Osemawe Palace to meet face to face which resulted in removing animosities among the people. That is why the Oba was named Afidipotemole and reigned from 1896-1901.
36. Oba Aroworayi, a grandson of Oba Osungbedelola ascendended the throne after the death of Oba Aroworayi. He was installed by a British Government official called Major amidst stiff opposition from Ondo people and reigned from 1901-1901 AD.
37. Oba Tewogboye 1 (Aniyenoye), son of Oba Jimekun ascended the throne after the death of Oba Aroworayi. He was named Aniyenoye because his mother was still alive when he installed as Osemawe and also named Tewogboye because on the day of his selection he stretch forth his hand and accept the honour. He reigned from 1901-1917.
38. Oba Adekolurejo Jisomosun 11 (Otutubiosun), son of Oba Jisomosun 1 ascended the throne after the death of Oba Tewogboye 1. It was during Oba Jisomosun 11 that amotor vehicle entered Ondo for the first time and the first secondary school (Ondo Boy’s High School) was founded. He was banished to Ile-ife by the British Government in1925. He reigned from 1918-1925.
39. Oba Arojojoye Jilo 11 (Oba Pupa), son of Oba jilo1 ascended the throne after the banishment of Oba Jisomosun 11. He was named Oba Arojojoye because of heavy rainfall on the day of his installation. He reigned from 1926-1935.
40. Oba Adeuga Fidipote 11, son of Oba Fidipote 1 ascended the throne after the death of Oba Arojojoye. He was a wealthy Oba and built the first modern Palace. Oba Fidipote 11 was dethroned by his Chiefs and banished to Ibadan in 1942. He reigned from 1935-1942
41. Oba Rufus Adesokeji Aderele (Tewogboye 11), son of Oba Tewogboye 1 ascended the throne after the dethronement Oba Fidipote 11. He was an educated Oba, adequately experienced in the system of governance and reigned from 1942-1974.
42. Oba Itiade Adekolurejo Jisomosun 111, son of Oba Adekolurejo Jisomosun 11 ascended the throne after the death of Oba Aderele Tewogboye 11 after two years competition by the Oba Aroworayi lineage. He reigned from 1976-1991.
43. Oba Festus Ibidapo Adedinsewo Adesanoye Osungbedelola 11, a descendant of Oba Osungbedelola 1 ascended the throne after the death of Oba Adekorejo Jisomosun 111.
Oba Adesanoye was well educated, famous and the wealthiest Osemawe in history. He built ultra modern palace that will befit his status after he was installed. He reigned from 1991-2006.
44. Oba Victor Ademefun Kiladejo Jilo 111, a descendant of Oba Jilo ascended the throne after the death of Oba Adesanoye in the year 2006. May God Almighty Father grant Your Royal Majesty long reign with prosperity and abundant blessings to us all in Ondo Kingdom.
There are three Royal Ruling families that rotate the Osemawe ascendant stool in Ondo Kingdom namely, Okuta / Jilo, Foyi / Jisomosun / Tewgboye and Leyo Royal Ruling Houses.
Authored by – Otunba Damilola Oladimeji
“Leyo Royal Ruling House, Ondo Kingdom”
