Orangun
Encyclopedia
Orangun or Ọ̀ràngún is the title of both paramount kings
of the Yoruba
kingdoms of Ila Orangun and Oke-Ila
, Ila Orangun and their ancient (originally united) kingdom of Ila-Yara
of northeastern Yorubaland, presently in southwestern Nigeria
.
, the first Òràngún was the fourth son of Odùduwà
, the mythical ancestor of the Yoruba, who was king at Ile-Ife
in ancient times. Odùduwà’s fourth son was named Fagbamila and nicknamed Òràngún. The nickname is a contraction of Ọ̀ràn mí gún, meaning "my situation is perfect", although an alternative but implausible etymology exists.
Odùduwà is said to have given a crown to each of his seven sons (some accounts say seven grandsons, and yet others claim sixteen grandsons) and sent them off to found their own kingdoms.
The first Òràngún was given a massive, curved cutlass called "Ogbo" by Odùduwà to clear his way in the forest but the main purpose of the "Ogbo" gift was the inherent power to lead the young prince to a suitable place to settle down and establish his own kingdom. This "Ogbo" is claimed by oral historians .
as the source of the name "Igbomina
" (from "Ogbo mi mo ona" or "Ogbo mo ona", a statement attributed to the original Òràngún, meaning "My Ogbo knows the way", or "The Ogbo knows the way"), which the Yoruba sub-ethnic of northeastern Yorubaland (of Òsun
and Kwara State
s of Nigeria) are called.
This translation of Ogbo is only one interpretation, in standardized Yoruba, Ogbo in fact means Long Life, or Senior citizen, depending on where the accents are. Ada, is the yoruba word for cutlass, Ogbo mi mo ona would correctly translate to "My elder shows me the road".
Orangun one of the twin sister-kingdoms, and capital of Ifedayo
Local Government area of Osun State, the current Orangun is His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin.
He is from the Obasolo Ruling House, one of the four ruling houses among which the title rotates in Oke-Ila Orangun. He was installed on December 8, 2006.
In Ila Orangun, the other of the sister kingdoms, and capital of Ila
Local Government area of Osun State, the current Orangun is His Royal Majesty, Oba Wahab Kayode Adedeji Oyedotun.
For the first time in more than 3 centuries, the two Orangun reigning in both Oke-Ila and Ila are descendants of Arutu Oluokun, the younger prince who led the exodus of the youth from the united kingdom at Ila Yara about 500 years ago. Some siblings of Arutu Oluokun stayed loyal to the then Orangun Apakiimo, and migrated with him to Igbohun (the initial name for Oke-Ila Orangun).
Paramount Ruler
The term Paramount Ruler, or sometimes Paramount King, is a generic description, though occasionally also used as an actual title, for a number of rulers' position in relative terms, as the summit of a feudal-type pyramid of rulers of lesser polities in a given historical and geographical context,...
of the Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
kingdoms of Ila Orangun and Oke-Ila
Òkè-Ìlá
Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún is an ancient city in southwestern Nigeria that was capital of an ancient Igbomina-Yoruba city-state of the same name....
, Ila Orangun and their ancient (originally united) kingdom of Ila-Yara
Ila Yara
Ila Yara was the original kingdom founded about the 12th century by Ajagun-nla , also nicknamed "Orangun", the legendary son of Oduduwa. The kingdom split into two after Orangun Apakiimo was installed towards the end of the 15th century...
of northeastern Yorubaland, presently in southwestern Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
History
According to Yoruba oral historyOral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews...
, the first Òràngún was the fourth son of Odùduwà
Oduduwa
Oduduwa Omoluabi, Olofin Adimula, Emperor of the Yoruba, phonetically written by his people as Odùduwà and sometimes contracted as Odudua or Oòdua, is generally held among the Yoruba to be the reigning ancestor of the crowned Yoruba kings....
, the mythical ancestor of the Yoruba, who was king at Ile-Ife
Ife
Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria. Evidence of inhabitation at the site has been discovered to date back to roughly 560 BC...
in ancient times. Odùduwà’s fourth son was named Fagbamila and nicknamed Òràngún. The nickname is a contraction of Ọ̀ràn mí gún, meaning "my situation is perfect", although an alternative but implausible etymology exists.
Odùduwà is said to have given a crown to each of his seven sons (some accounts say seven grandsons, and yet others claim sixteen grandsons) and sent them off to found their own kingdoms.
The first Òràngún was given a massive, curved cutlass called "Ogbo" by Odùduwà to clear his way in the forest but the main purpose of the "Ogbo" gift was the inherent power to lead the young prince to a suitable place to settle down and establish his own kingdom. This "Ogbo" is claimed by oral historians .
as the source of the name "Igbomina
Igbomina
The Ìgbómìnà are a tribe of the Yoruba people occupying the north-central portion of the Yoruba region of southwestern Nigeria....
" (from "Ogbo mi mo ona" or "Ogbo mo ona", a statement attributed to the original Òràngún, meaning "My Ogbo knows the way", or "The Ogbo knows the way"), which the Yoruba sub-ethnic of northeastern Yorubaland (of Òsun
Osun State
Ọṣun State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria. Its capital is Osogbo. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east partly by Ekiti State and partly by Ondo State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west by Oyo State. The state's current governor is Rauf Aregbesola, who was...
and Kwara State
Kwara State
Kwara State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Ilorin. The primary ethnic group of Kwara State is Yoruba, with significant Nupe, Bariba and Fulani minorities.- History :...
s of Nigeria) are called.
This translation of Ogbo is only one interpretation, in standardized Yoruba, Ogbo in fact means Long Life, or Senior citizen, depending on where the accents are. Ada, is the yoruba word for cutlass, Ogbo mi mo ona would correctly translate to "My elder shows me the road".
Orangun of Oke-Ila and Ila
In Oke-IlaÒkè-Ìlá
Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún is an ancient city in southwestern Nigeria that was capital of an ancient Igbomina-Yoruba city-state of the same name....
Orangun one of the twin sister-kingdoms, and capital of Ifedayo
Ifedayo
Ifedayo is one of the 30 local government areas of Osun State in southwestern Nigeria. It is one of the most recent local government areas to be created.Its headquarters are in the town of Oke-Ila Orangun....
Local Government area of Osun State, the current Orangun is His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin.
He is from the Obasolo Ruling House, one of the four ruling houses among which the title rotates in Oke-Ila Orangun. He was installed on December 8, 2006.
In Ila Orangun, the other of the sister kingdoms, and capital of Ila
Ila, Nigeria
Ìlá Òràngún, is an ancient city in Osun State, Nigeria that was capital of an ancient city-state of the same name in the Igbomina area of Yorubaland in southwestern Nigeria...
Local Government area of Osun State, the current Orangun is His Royal Majesty, Oba Wahab Kayode Adedeji Oyedotun.
For the first time in more than 3 centuries, the two Orangun reigning in both Oke-Ila and Ila are descendants of Arutu Oluokun, the younger prince who led the exodus of the youth from the united kingdom at Ila Yara about 500 years ago. Some siblings of Arutu Oluokun stayed loyal to the then Orangun Apakiimo, and migrated with him to Igbohun (the initial name for Oke-Ila Orangun).