Long Live the Chief: Chieftaincy Titles and the African Diaspora Pt 2 of 2

The traditional hierarchy in Yorubaland is among the greatest cultural practices regardless of the religion. The cultural system of leadership is an ancient Royal system based on monarchy’s and bloodlines. This can be very confusing for people in the diaspora, especially because most of our understanding of leadership is based on democracy or republics, not monarchy. Our country’s foundations in the USA were based on actually rebelling against the King Of England and rejecting royalty for equality. So entering into this tradition from the west requires learning cultural nuances on how to navigate these things. It can be confusing as to what they mean , what is legitimate and what is not. This article is an attempt to help navigate some of it especially for African Diasporans.

Key: There are different types of titles and its position depends on which authority conferred it.

Royal Titles

The highest titles are Royal titles which fall under the Ooni, Oba , Alafin, or Rulers of the land. These form the aristocracy. To offer context for people in the diaspora, Royal titles may be likened to The Royals of England with Queens, Kings, Dukes, Princess, Earls, etc. Royal titles focus on governance of certain bodies of land such as towns , States, and Nations . Royal Oba titles are generally inherited from founding families of a place although some lessor titles may be conferred by appointment. The person with this title will always have a land body attached to it. The Ooni and Alaafin are the top Royal titles over Yorubaland . The Alaafin is the traditional political, secular ruler while the Ooni is the traditional spiritual ruler. Both are descendents of Oduduwa the established founder of the Yoruba nation.

The Ooni governs the House of Odudua in Ife, considered the oldest Yoruba city and the founding land of the Yoruba. His title of Ooni came from the name Oonirisa or Oonile referring Custodian of Orisa or of the land . ( All titles from that house end with Oodua and are considered one of the highest title one can have. It covers all Omo Oduduwa in Yorubaland and abroad and their descendants. To carry it, means the person has initiated to the Traditional temple of Oodua in Ife which is the Ooni’s direct family temple.

The Alaafin was the traditional ruler of Oyo empire. The Alaafin is authorized to give titles that cover all of Yorubaland specifically. Thus any title that the Alaafin gives will also say of Yorubaland in it. This position is more cultural now than being a true political head of state due to colonialism. Now heads of states are elected officials . But the monarchy like in England  has been retained for cultural purposes.
Rulers such as the Alaafin and Ooni have councils under them who are also Obas or Kings in their own right over lands, regions, and specialities. Each Oba has their own council of chiefs .

Religious Titles

There are Traditional religious titles that are designated by the leaders of the religion such as Arabas , Oba Orisa , Olori Orisa, etc. To offer context to people in the diaspora, these might be like how Catholics view, the Pope, Cardinals, Bishops , etc. Traditional religious titles are also traditionally attached to a land / town/ state as well but also may be attached to Orisa. These are also considered the Nobels based on Traditional societies . These titles often have a specific Orisa associated but not necessarily. The religious leaders of the land run their own jurisdictions so they have its own political titles. These heads can give titles according to their domain. If the title does have an Orisa associated with it, the person has to have been initiated into that Orisa and then conferred the title to hold that title. Sometimes those titles come because the Orisa authorized it during the initiation, through possession or divination. In all cases, it is confirmed through divination. It is then followed by an initiation rite and confirmation ceremony to confer said title.

Private Organizational or Temple titles

There are titles conferred by private sects, guilds, iles, temples, and organizations. They may be religious or political in function. These title names may reflect the titles from the Royal or Religious ones but are limited to the individual sect, organization, or guild it was conferred by. Now a days even Christian and Muslim temples have titles for their Churches and Mosques. To give context to people in the Diaspora, these may be likened to Presidents, Decans, Pastor, Minister, First Lady, etc.

Aborigine Ogboni is considered a fraternal priesthood that is worldwide and has traditional titles. Its history dates back to precolonial and traditional times as they were considered part of the justice system , senate, or nobles. They often settled disputes and could establish authority. Because of their traditional history, they are a combination of political because of the function they served as well as religious because to be a member you had to initiate as a priest of Ile , Mother Earth. They have junior members and senior members. All senior members have a title that is also considered an Aje or Oso title because of their relationship to the land. Traditionally this is called Ogboni Aborigine Worldwide. Because the original is associated with traditional priesthood, there is now a Christianized version called Reformed Ogboni. There are also also newer ones showing up now but the traditional, oldest and most recognized is Aborigine Ogboni.

Why a title may be conferred

Titles are given according to their domain and jurisdiction . Titles may be  based on religion, war, the market, etc. Religious titles come from temples and depends on the heirarchy. Each area may have different needs and different titles offices. Many are conferred because the person has established themselves in their communities , contributed to community development, and or gained some level of respect from the community. This may be due to work done, a level of wealth or fame or influence achieved , and or for political strategy and alliances. Unfortunately some leaders are now conferring titles for personal wealth as they sell titles to the highest bidder. Traditionally titles are not “paid for” but the initiations, ceremonies and celebrations may be. Traditionally there are also no ongoing dues although there may be certain responsibilities attached to the title that require use of personal resources and volunteer of time.

Limitations of Titles

A ruler in one land cannot establish authority over another land. They can offer titles to people who live in another land to establish a kind of ambassadorship title… Meaning to issue a title governing the United States, they can say this person holds a title in their kingdom or temple to hold this position in the United States for their members there. But not that person is now over all of the people of the United States and all other iles, temples, and priests in the a United States.  This is something that seems to have started to be exploited for money but is not recognized by the Council of Obas in Yorubaland. For instance no one can hold a title of Oba over any other land outside of Yorubaland. The only exception to this is Oyotunji Village in South Carolina. It is the only town and Oba in the United States recognized by the Council of Obas in Yorubaland. One of the criteria for Oba of a land is that your family founded the town. That was the case in Oyotunji.

The same with Orisa titles. The orisa title authority is for the community that conferred it. It does not extend over the whole religion globally… unless it is given by the Ooni which overs all omo Odudua abroad and their descendants.

The following are also some Chieftaincy  titles that may be familiar to people in the Diaspora. This is by no means and exhaustive list. Just a starting point to understand the title someone has. The title is clarified when the full name of it and its jurisdiction is expressed. Often chiefs become known and addressed by their title as opposed to being addressed by their name.

Oloye – Chief Generic Title covering all kinds of chief
Aare -President
Iya or Yeye Mother
Baba -Father
Araba- Chief priest of Ifa of a town
Balogun- War chief
Bashorun- Political head or Prime minister
Asipa -Advisor to the king
Olori- Royal title of Princess, Queen, or Prince
Iyalaje- Mother of wealth or commerce
Iyalode -Leader of women
Otun right hand Deputy
Osi Left hand
Ajaguna Warrior
Erelu- Female leader. Traditional female who may go to war
Iya Abiye -Grand midwife or female leader
Yeyeniwura – Golden mother
Iyamokun- Mother-knows-the-origin
lya Alaje -Business women leader
Yeye Oge -cultural ambassador
Iya Agba/ Iya Mode – Female heads of Egungun, Grandmother
Alagba – Head male of Egungun
Asiwaju- Someone who leads a community
Olori head or royal woman like princess or queen
Yeyelodu- Female title in Ifa for elder Woman who have or represents  Odu
Babalodu received odu and can perform Ifa initiations
Obalesun Obatala chief priest of obatala
Elemosho door keeper
Lisa -next to oluwu to carry corpse
Asipa distributing proceeds
Oluwo- Teacher have to wear hat
Oluko Female Teacher
Apena- chief priest Ogboni
Abiye- head of women in conclave
Agbaye in title denotes Worldwide

A special recognition to Omo’ba S Adebimpe Ladigbolu , Oba Alaragbo Oodua who assisted me in this article to clarify terms and offer more insight.

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