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No young man can ever become Olubadan of Ibadan – Research

By the time the Olubadan designate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji is installed as the new Olubadan, he will be 87. The new Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who ascended the throne in December 2015 is just 40.

Yes, it is possible for a young man to become king of any other Yorubaland but not Ibadan. No young man can even become Olubadan of Ibadan, the paramount ruler of the ancient town. The reason for this is not far-fetched.

In Ibadan, you cannot become the king without going through the 23 hierarchical lines of ascension for the Military line and 22 lines of ascension for the civil line. To become an Olubadan, you must first be a Mogaji  which is the head of the family.

Your promotion from Mogaji to Jagun Olubadan or Jagun Balogun which is the most junior rank of the 23 chieftaincy rung of the ladder is not automatic. A chief in the chain of ascension must die to earn you promotion to the next level until you get to Otun Olubadan or Balogun (depending on your line of ascension) before you can become Olubadan. The average age that one can become a Mogaji is 40.

Aside this, there are no fewer than 200 Mogajis waiting to be conferred with the Jagun Olubadan or Jagun Balogun chieftaincy title.

The ascension from Mogaji will take any young man nothing less than 40 years. For example, the Olubadan designate, High Chief Saliu Adetunji, became Mogaji in 1978, which is 38 years ago before he became Olubadan. His predecessor, Oba Samuel Odugade became Mogaji in 1976 and became Olubadan 31 years later in 2007.

Oba Odugade’s predecessor, Oba Yinusa Ogundipe Arapasowu became the Mogaji of his family 40 years before he became the paramount ruler of the ancient city in 1999.

One other peculiar feature of Ibadan traditional rulers is that they don’t rule for long. The longest reigning Olubadan, was Oba Okunola Alesinloye, who reigned from 1930-1946. The shortest was Olubadan Oguntunde I, who reigned between November 21, 1947 and January 13, 1948.

 

THE PROFILE OF OLUBADAN DESIGNATE

High Chief Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, the man who is in line of succession as the next Olubadan of Ibadan was born in 1929 in Alusekere compound, Popo Yemoja, Ibadan. He was a tailor before moving into music record production through late Badejo Okusanya of Badejo Records.

He produced records for many musicians including King Wasiu Ayinde aka K1 de Ultimate, Sule Alao (Malaika), late lefty, Balogun, late Saka Laigbade, late Haruna Ishola and many others.

He was a proud owner of three record labels Omo Aje Sound Studio, Adetunji label and Babalaje Record before retiring to Ibadan his place of birth and ancestral home, from Lagos.

High Chief Adetunji became Mogaji of his family in 1978 and had moved through the 23 chieftaincy titles.

He was just promoted Balogun on January 1, 2016, after the death of the duo High Chief Sulaimon Adetunji and Omowoale Kuye, the Balogun and Otun Balogun respectively in 2015. When installed, he will be the 41st Olubadan of Ibadan.

 

Steps to becoming

Olubadan

Egbe Agba                                               Egbe Balogun

(Civil line)                                               (Military line)

 

Otun Olubadan                                       Balogun

Osi Olubadan                                          Otun Balogun

Asipa Olubadan                                      Osi Balogun

Ekerin Olubadan                                     Asipa Balogun

Ekarun Olubadan                                    Ekerin Balogun

Abaese Balogun

Abese Olubadan                                     Ekarun Balogun

Maye Olubadan                                      Abese Balogun

Ekofa Olubadan                                      Maye Balogun

Agbaakun Olubadan                               Ekefa Balogun

Aara Alaasa Olubadan                            Agbaakin Balogun

Ikolaba Olubadan                                    Aare Alaasa Balogun

Asaaju Olubadan                                    Ikolaba Balogun

Ayingun Olubadan                                  Asaaju Balogun

Aare-Ago Olubadan                                                Ayingun Balogun

Lagunna Olubadan                                  Aare-Ago Balogun

Oota Olubadan                                       Lagunna Balogun

Aare Egbe Omo Olubadan                      Oota Balogun

Gbonka Olubadan                                   Aara Egbe Omo Balogun

Aare Onibon Olubadan                           Gbonkaa Balogun

Bada Olubadan                                       Aare Onibon Balogun

Ajia Olubadan                                         Bada Balogun

Jagun Olubadan                                      Jagun Balogun

 

NB: These two lines of ascension alternate the Olubadan between themselves. The last Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odunlana was from the Egbe Agba (civil line). Automatically, the next Olubadan, High Chief Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, will come from the Egbe Balogun (military line).

  • TOLANI ABATTI
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