Traditional Chiefs

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The Chiefs

The Iwarafa Mefa

The first categories are the High Chiefs or Iwarafa mefa or Kingmakers. These include (without names of the incumbent chiefs):

  1. The Odofin
  2. The Saba
  3. The Sajiku
  4. The Aro
  5. The Asolo
  6. The Enurin

The Odofin is the leader of the chiefs and a loyal assistant and confidant of the Oba. Together with the other chiefs, they assist in the traditional local administration. When an Oba joins his ancestors, the Odofin or in his absence, the most senior of the Iwarafa mefa, act as the Regent. The six Iwarafa mefa or those alive among them would constitute the kingmakers who search and select a new Oba among the ruling houses.

The Special Traditional Chieftaincies

  1. Baba Oba
  2. Yeye Oba
  3. Bobagunwa
  4. Obaloye
  5. Yeyelori
  6. Looyin
  7. Risa-Looyin

Traditional Chiefs: Men

  1. Egbe Bajumo/Aare
    • Iwarafa Egbe Bajimo
    • Bajimo (Head)
    • Saloro
    • Risawe
    • Odole
    • Sapaye
    • Segbua
  2. Opon Keji Egbe Bajimo
    • Arapate (Head)
    • Oshogun
    • Oshodi
    • Sawe
    • Odunro
    • Adegbua
  3. Egbe Legbewa
    • Legbewa is the head of 21 other chiefs.
  4. The Lojas, Baales or Village Heads
  5. The Priests (Aworo) include:
    • Obaloye
    • Oba-lorisa
    • Aworo-orin
    • Loriawo Ifa
    • Oba-risa
    • Lori Awo
    • Olu-ode (Olori awon ode)
    • Oniroko
  6. Asoju Oba (formally called Emese)
    • Chief Walaiye (Head) and ten other chieftaincies
    • Risamese
    • Lorikan
    • Lugbalesun
    • Lotun
    • Losi
    • Yeseri
    • Tagbosin
    • Osopo
    • Lorikan agba
    • Lorikan Omode
  7. Oloro Omo or Loogun (Quarter-Heads Men)
    • Each of the twelve quarters of Ijebu-Jesa has one Lori Omo Loogun.
    • Their overall head is Lomode-Ijebu

Traditional Chiefs – Women

  1. Yeye-Esemure – Head Chief for all women.
    • Other top chieftaincies for women include:
  2. Yeye-risa
  3. Yeye-keta
  4. Yeye-Iara
  5. Yeye-titu
  6. Yeye Nijebu
  7. Yeye Dofin
  8. Yeye Sadiku
  9. Yeye-Ro
  10. Yeye-Solo

Olori-Omos/Loogun (Quarter Heads: Women)

Each of the twelve quarters of Ijebu-Jesa has a Loogun-Obirin.

Honourary Titled Chiefs (Men and Women)

Honourary awards or honourary chieftaincies are usually conferred by the Oba or the Oba in Council on distinguished indigenes or non-natives in recognition of outstanding contribution of such personalities to the development of Ijebu Jesa.  Men and women are honoured alike.

A few of the honourary chiefs include:

  • Baamofin (Head)
  • Otun Baamofin
  • Otunba
  • Jaagun
  • Miiyegun
  • Babalayi
  • Baasegun
  • Bobajiro
  • Baaroyin
  • Amuludun
  • Bobasuyi
  • Ataiyese
  • Ajiroba
  • Otun Gbabaniyi
  • Otun Gbadegun
  • Otu Atobase
  • Obamuagun
  • Otun Bobafunwa

A few of the women honourary chiefs include:

  • Iyalaje
  • Otun Iyalaje
  • Yeye Meto
  • Iya-Oge
  • Otun Yeyemeso
  • Yeylua
  • Otun Yeyemuagun
  • Yeyelua
Source:
50 Years of Ijebu-Jesa Social Club (IJSC) in IJebu-Jesa History.
A 50th Anniversary Publication of IJSC
Edited By: Professor Akin 'Femi Fajola & Dele Ogunyemi
First Published 2005