HISTORY: OJO ABURUMAKU: Baale Of Ogbomoso And Aare Ona Kakanfo Of Yorubaland (List of past Souns)

Ojo Olannipa “Aburumaku” after the death of Baale Odunaro in 1865 became the 14th Baale of Ogbomoso and at the same time the 11th Aare Onakakanfo (Generalissimo or Field Marshal) of Yorubaland.

Thus, Ojo Aburumaku became the third Aare Ona Kakanfo produced by Ogbomoso in Yoruba history. According to Ayo Adelowo, of the 15 Aare Onakakanfos to date, 7 are of Ogbomoso extraction. Of the old and new Oyo Empire which produced 12 Aare Ona Kakanfo (6) hailed from Ogbomoso.

Nicknamed “Aburumaku” because of his wickedness and stubbornness which he exhibited from the youth. He was commonly referred to as Ojo Aburumaku in his time.

Ojo Aburumaku’s father, Toyeje Akanni nicknamed “Alebiosu” meaning one who shines like the moon was an important and significant figure because his ascension to the throne of Ogbomoso had far reaching results and effects not only on the course of Ogbomoso history but indeed on Oyo empire as a whole.

Toyeje Akanni (1808-1831) also doubled as the 9th Baale of Ogbomoso and 7th Aare OnaKakanfo (Generalissimo) of Yorubaland. He was Otun (Deputy) Aare Kakanfo to Afonja before becoming Baale of Ogbomoso.

He succeeded Afonja of Ilorin at a point when the peace and order that reigned during the kingship of Alaafin Abiodun was no more. Toyeje Akanni was exceptionally brave; he took part in war campaigns and tried all his best to bring back order to Old Oyo Empire (Oyo-Ile).

On the other hand, Ojo Olannipa (Aburumaku) was not like his father, Toyeje Akanni (Alebiosu). In the words of Professor Oyerinde N.D., Ojo Aburumaku was determined and desperate, for instance, to get rich rightly or wrongly.

In another instance, Chief Oyebisi Okewuyi also mentioned how Ojo Olannipa Aburumaku used contact and connection to become Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland from Alaafin Adelu without going to any war or having any reputation that qualified him.

The founder of Ogbomoso, Soun Olabanjo Ogunlola Ogundiran, was the first Soun of Ogbomoso. He had 5 sons, Lakale, Kekere, Esuo, Eiye and Jogioro. He was later succeeded by his youngest son, Erinbaba Alamu Jogioro, who was the second Soun. The five royal houses of Ogbomoso are descended from the five sons of Soun Ikomeyede, the third Soun of Ogbomoso (and son of Jogioro), Toyeje, Oluwusi, Baiyewu, Bolanta Adigun, and Ogunlabi Odunaro.

The title of Soun was originally a Baale (minor chief) as Ogbomoso was a small village within the realm of the Oyo Empire. In 1952, the title was changed to Soun and they became recognized as a monarch.

The list of past Baales and Soun of Ogbomoso is interesting.

1.       Soun Olabanjo Ogunlola Ogundiran (c. 1659 – c. 1714)

2.       Soun Erinsaba Alamu Jogioro (son of Ogunlola) (c. 1741 – c. 1770)

3.       Soun Ikumoyede Ajo (son of Jogioro) (c. 1770 – c. 1797)

4.       Ologolo (a son of Jogioro

5.       Olukan  ( Ologolo and Olukan grandson of Lakale and great-grandson of Ogunlola) ruled during this period but were deposed by the Alaafin of Oyo

6.       Soun Toyeje Akanni Alebiosu, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Oyo (son of Ikumoyede) (c. 1800 – c. 1825)

7.       Soun Oluwusi Aremu (son of Ikumoyede) (c. 1826 – c. 1840)

8.       Soun Jayeola Bayewu Kelebe "Are Arolofin Alao" (son of Ikumoyede) (c. 1840 – c. 1842)

9.      
Soun Idowu Bolanta Adigun (son of Ikumoyede) (c. 1842 – c. 1845)

10.   Soun Ogunlabi Odunaro (son of Ikumoyede) (c. 1845 – c. 1860)

11.   Soun Ojo Olanipa "Aburumaku," the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Oyo (son of Toyeje) (c. 1860 - September 1869)

12.   Soun Gbagungboye Ajamasa Ajagungbade I (son of Oluwusi) (1869 - c. 1871)

13.   Soun Laoye Atanda Orumogege (son of Bayewu) (c. 1871 – c. 1901)

14.   Soun Majengbasan Elepo I (son of Bolanta) (1901 - 1907)

15.   Soun Adegoke Atanda Olayode I (son of Odunaro) (1908 - 1914; deposed by the Colonial Government)

16.   Soun Itabiyi Olanrewaju Ande (son of Aburumaku, grandson of Toyeje) (1914 - 1916)

17.   Soun Bello Afolabi Oyewumi Ajagungbade II (son of Ajagungbade I, grandson of Oluwusi) (1916 - February 18, 1940)

18.   Soun Amao Oyetunde (son of Oyekola (never appointed), grandson of Laoye, and great-grandson of Bayewu) (1940 - June 12, 1944; deposed by the Colonial government, removed from some monarch lists); he was succeeded by his uncle

19.   Soun Lawani Oke Lanipekun (son of Laoye, grandson of Bayewu) (October 16, 1944 - March 19, 1952)

20.   Oba Olatunji Alao Elepo II (son of Elepo I, grandson of Bolanta) (1952 - 1966)

21.   Oba Emmanuel Olajide Olayode II (son of Olayode I, grandson of Odunaro) (July 22, 1966 - July 1, 1969; killed during the Agbekoya revolt)

22.   Oba Salami Ajiboye Itabiyi II (son of Itabiyi, grandson of Aburumaku, great-grandson of Toyeje) (June 4, 1972 - June 2, 1973)

23.   Oba Jimoh Oyewunmi Ajagbungbade III (son of Ajagungbade II, grandson of Ajagungbade I, great-grandson of Oluwusi) (October 24, 1973 - December 12, 2021) HM Jimoh Oyewunmi Ajagbungbade III of the Oluwusi Royal House was the longest reigning Soun in modern history, and died on December 12, 2021, at the age of 95

 

The current Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III is the 24^th ruler of Ogbomoso. Olaoye is the paternal great-grandson of Soun Laoye Atanda Orumogege through his son Emmanuel Oladayo Olaoye, who was a brother of Soun Lawani Oke Lanipekun. He was coroneted on September 8, 2023 .