Ondo Kingdom
Encyclopedia
The Ondo Kingdom is a traditional state that traces its origins back for over 500 years, with capital in Ondo City
, Ondo State
, Nigeria. The kingdom survived during and after the colonial period, but with a largely symbolic role. The ruler as of 2010 was Oba Adesimbo Victor Kiladejo
, the 44th Osemawe, or traditional ruler
.
.
According to tradition, the progenitor of the Yoruba was Oduduwa
, who migrated from Mecca
to Ile-Ife.
One of his 16 sons was Oranmiyan, the first Alaafin of Oyo
. Oranmiyan's granddaughter Pupupu was a twin, which was regarded as unlucky, and her mother was forced to leave Oyo with the twins.
After various wanderings, Pupupu became the first ruler of the Ondo Kingdom in the 15th century and her descendants wear the crown today.
Another tradition is that the kingdom was founded by migrants from Benin
.
The Oba Luju was one of Oba Pupupu's sons, reigning from 1561 to 1590.
He had four sons, who ruled after hims in order of seniority, and each of whom establishing a ruling house.
One of these houses died out, and today the Oba is selected from one of the remaining three.
was unacceptable in the Christian tradition.
Ondo was unusual in the status given to women, who had their own council which consulted with the men's council.
The Ondo land tenure principle was that all land was property of the king, but that any man could farm it as long as he obtained permission from the leader of the nearest community.
The Osemawe of Ondo made an agreement on 20 February 1889 with the Governor of the British Lagos Colony
by which free trade was guaranteed between Ondo and the colony, and disputes would be referred to an arbitrator appointed by the governor for resolution.
In 1899 an order in council was issued to extend the Lagos protectorate over Yoruba land, making Ondo formally subject to the British crown.
The kingdom survived under colonial rule and subsequent independence, and the coronation of the 44th Osemawe on 29 December 2008 was a major event, attended by many dignitaries.
Ondo City
Ondo City is the largest city in Ondo State, Nigeria. It has a population of 275,917.Local industries include food processing and cocoa manufacture....
, Ondo State
Ondo State
Ondo State, Nigeria was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was split off in 1996. Akure is the state capital.-Government and society:...
, Nigeria. The kingdom survived during and after the colonial period, but with a largely symbolic role. The ruler as of 2010 was Oba Adesimbo Victor Kiladejo
Adesimbo Victor Kiladejo
Oba Adesimbo Victor Kiladejo Adenrele Ademefun Kiladejo, or Jilo III, was appointed the 44th Osemawe, or traditional ruler of the Ondo Kingdom in Nigeria on 1 December 2006...
, the 44th Osemawe, or traditional ruler
Nigerian traditional rulers
Nigerian traditional rulers often derive their titles from the rulers of independent states or communities that existed before the formation of modern Nigeria...
.
Origins
The Ondo people are one of the largest subgroups of the Yoruba peopleYoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
.
According to tradition, the progenitor of the Yoruba was Oduduwa
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....
, who migrated from Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
to Ile-Ife.
One of his 16 sons was Oranmiyan, the first Alaafin of Oyo
Oyo Empire
The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire of what is today southwestern Nigeria. The empire was established before the 14th century and grew to become one of the largest West African states encountered by European explorers. It rose to preeminence through its possession of a powerful cavalry and wealth...
. Oranmiyan's granddaughter Pupupu was a twin, which was regarded as unlucky, and her mother was forced to leave Oyo with the twins.
After various wanderings, Pupupu became the first ruler of the Ondo Kingdom in the 15th century and her descendants wear the crown today.
Another tradition is that the kingdom was founded by migrants from Benin
Benin Empire
The Benin Empire was a pre-colonial African state in what is now modern Nigeria. It is not to be confused with the modern-day country called Benin, formerly called Dahomey.-Origin:...
.
The Oba Luju was one of Oba Pupupu's sons, reigning from 1561 to 1590.
He had four sons, who ruled after hims in order of seniority, and each of whom establishing a ruling house.
One of these houses died out, and today the Oba is selected from one of the remaining three.
Colonial and independent Nigeria
When British missionaries started to penetrate Yorubaland in the later 19th century, Ondo was still a major kingdom. However, some of the missionaries considered that the Ondo were socially lower than other Yoruba tribes, perhaps because their custom of concubinageConcubinage
Concubinage is the state of a woman or man in an ongoing, usually matrimonially oriented, relationship with somebody to whom they cannot be married, often because of a difference in social status or economic condition.-Concubinage:...
was unacceptable in the Christian tradition.
Ondo was unusual in the status given to women, who had their own council which consulted with the men's council.
The Ondo land tenure principle was that all land was property of the king, but that any man could farm it as long as he obtained permission from the leader of the nearest community.
The Osemawe of Ondo made an agreement on 20 February 1889 with the Governor of the British Lagos Colony
Lagos Colony
Lagos Colony was a British colonial possession centered on the port of Lagos in what is now southern Nigeria. Lagos was annexed on 6 August 1861 and declared a colony on 5 March 1862....
by which free trade was guaranteed between Ondo and the colony, and disputes would be referred to an arbitrator appointed by the governor for resolution.
In 1899 an order in council was issued to extend the Lagos protectorate over Yoruba land, making Ondo formally subject to the British crown.
The kingdom survived under colonial rule and subsequent independence, and the coronation of the 44th Osemawe on 29 December 2008 was a major event, attended by many dignitaries.