Alake of Egbaland (title)

The Alake of Egbaland

The Alake of Egbaland is the paramount Yoruba king of the Egba, a major clan in Abeokuta, Ogun State, southwestern Nigeria.
The Egba comprise Egba Ake, Oke-Ona, and Egba Gbagura.

Pre-Abeokuta History of the Alake

According to oral tradition, the Alake, believed to be a descendant of Oduduwa, was originally the monarch of the Ake subgroup of the Egba people.
The Alake operated under the influence of the Alaafin and ruled in an area known as "Igbo Ẹ̀gbá", north of present-day Abeokuta.

• There were over 20 kings of Ake before the migration to Abeokuta in 1830.
• The first Alake is traditionally known as Ajalake, possibly ruling in the 15th or 16th century.
• Laarun, who ruled in the 18th century, was the great-grandfather of:
  • Shomoye, Bashorun of Egbaland
  • Okukenu, the first Alake in Abeokuta
  • Jibodu, another future Alake

Other notable figures include:

• Larelu (or Lelu Erigi) – ruled mid-1700s; grandfather of warlord Sodeke
• Jibodu – penultimate Alake in Igbo-Egba; fathered many future Abeokuta Alakes
• Okikilu – last Alake in Igbo-Egba; murdered during the Agbaje civil war in the early 1800s

Following these events, the Egba Ake migrated to Abeokuta.

History of the Alake in Abeokuta

Sagbua Okukenu (1854–1862)

• First Alake of Egbaland in Abeokuta.
• Great-great-grandson of Laarun.
• Installed on 8 August 1854; ruled until 31 August 1862.

Adekanmbi Shomoye (Regent, 1845–1846 and 1862–1868)

• Born between 1790 and 1800 in Orile-Iporo.
• Cousin of Okukenu and served two regencies.
• Died on 8 August 1868.

Oba Ademola I (1869–1877)

• Appointed on 28 November 1869.
• Grandson of Jibodu through his mother Teniade.
• Faced opposition from supporters of Oyekan.
• Died on 30 December 1877.

Oba Oyekan (1878–1881)

• Appointed on 1 January 1878.
• Son of Alake Jibodu.
• Ruled for only three years; died on 18 September 1881.

Oba Oluwaji (1885–1889)

• Appointed on 9 February 1885.
• Grandson of Jibodu through his mother Erelu.
• Died on 27 January 1889.

Oba Oshokalu (1891–1898)

• Appointed on 18 September 1891.
• Son of Latomi and grandson of Jibodu.
• Died on 11 June 1898.

Oba Gbadebo I (1898–1920)

• Son of Okukenu and Efunwunmi.
• Born May/June 1854.
• Ruled for 22 years; died on 28 May 1920 at age 66.
• First Alake to convert to Christianity.
• Father of Adesanya Osolake Gbadebo, grandfather of Gbadebo III.

Oba Ladapo Ademola II (1920–1962)

• Appointed 27 September 1920.
• Son of Oba Ademola I.
• Initially opposed due to Christianity and western education.
• Reigned 42 years, including 2 years in exile (1948–1950).
• Died on 27 December 1962.

Oba Adesina Samuel Gbadebo II (1963–1971)

• Appointed 12 August 1963.
• Son of Oba Gbadebo I.
• Died on 26 October 1971.

Oba Samuel Oyebade Lipede (1971–2005)

• Son of Adebowale Lipede.
• Grandson of Adeluola, daughter of Oba Jibodu.
• Ruled 33 years.
• Died in February 2005.

Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III (2005–Present)

• Grandson of Adesanya Osolake Gbadebo.
• Appointed after the death of Oba Lipede.

List of Alakes of Ake in Igbo-Egba (Pre-1830)

(Historical and incomplete; based on oral tradition)
- Ajalake
- Laarun
- Larelu (Lelu Erigi)
- Jibodu
- Okikilu

List of Alakes of Egbaland in Abeokuta (Post-1830)

1. Shomoye (Regent) – 1845–1846
2. Sagbua Okukenu I – 1854–1862
3. Shomoye (Regent) – 1862–1868
4. Oba Ademola I – 1869–1877
5. Oba Oyekan – 1878–1881
6. Oba Oluwaji – 1885–1889
7. Oba Oshokalu – 1891–1898
8. Oba Gbadebo I – 1898–1920
9. Oba Ladapo Ademola II – 1920–1962
10. Oba Adesina Gbadebo II – 1963–1971
11. Oba Samuel Oyebade Lipede – 1971–2005
12. Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III – 2005–Present

See Also

• Egba Alake
• History of Abeokuta
• Yoruba Monarchies

References

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