TheOsemawe of Ondo Kingdom is the paramount Yoruba king ofOndo Kingdom a city inOndo State, southwesternNigeria.[1] The "Osemawe title" was coined from the phrase "Ese-omo-re" adopted from the comment made by the lateAlaafin Oluaso during the birth of his daughter called Olu pupupu who later settled in Ondo Kingdom.[2] The people ofOndo Kingdom are generally calledEgin.[3]
The Osemawe title ofOndo Kingdom was instituted in 1510, when princess Pupupu, a powerful daughter of the late Alaafin ofOyo, king Oluaso left the palace with the royal entourage in a bid to settle far from her father's palace.[4]She settled on a hill calledOke Agunla inOndo town. On arrival of this princess atOke Ogunla a smoke rising from far below was spotted by a man calledEsiri who traced the smoke to know its source.[5] On getting to the hill where the smoke was spotted, he met princess Pupupu and her royal entourage. He took them to a village inOndo Kingdom calledOriden.[6] The villagers were very happy to meet the powerful princess and exclaimed “Edu do, edo do, idi edo!” where the name of the KingdomOndo Kingdom was formed.[7]
| Part ofa series on |
| Yorùbá people |
|---|
 |
Geography |
Festivals / events
|
Notable personalities |
About 43 rulers had ruled with the title ofOsemawe ofOndo Kingdom since the inception of the title.[8]
Princess Olu Pupupu ascended the throne as the firstOsemawe of the Ekimogun people ofOndo Kingdom and reign from 1516 to 1530.[9]Before her death, she gave birth two sons, the eldest was namedAiro Pupupu and the younger one was namedLuju Pupupu. Airo Pupupu later ascended the throne after the demise of his mother in 1530. He reigned for 30 years, between 1530 and 1560.After the death ofAiro Pupupu in 1560,Luju Pupupu the younger brother of Airo Pupupu ascended the throne in 1561 and reigned for 29 years, between 1561 and 1590.[10]After the demise ofLuju Pupupu in 1590, prince Okuta Airo Pupupu the son ofAiro Pupupu succeeded his uncle,Luju Pupupu in 1590 and reigned for 24 years, between 1590 and 1614.
After the demise ofOkuta Airo Pupupu, his brother,Luyare ascended the throne and reigned for 16 years, 1614 to 1630.After the demise ofLuyare in 1630, Foyi (Awuro), a brave warrior and a descendant ofLuju Pupupu ascended the throne and reigned for 19 years, between 1630 and 1649. Thereafter,Leyo Luju Pupupu, the last child ofLuju Pupupu ascended the throne after the death of Foyi (Awuro) and reigned for 19 years, between 1649 and 1688.[11]After the death ofLeyo Luju Pupupu in 1668, princeGbaji (Ogbode), the son ofOkuta ascended the throne and reigned between 1668 and 1685.Thereafter,Liyen, the grandson ofLuju Pupupu succeededGbaji (Ogbode) and reigned between 1685 and 1702.
After the demise ofLiyen in 1702,Bajumu, a great warrior who was the son ofFoyi ascended the throne. He engaged in a war with a neighboring town against the wish of the people and when he returned from the battle, he was rejected and was succeeded byAperuwa (Olu-Okun), the son ofGbaji who reigned between 1711 and 1716.[12]After his demise in 1716, he was succeeded byGbedegbede, a descendant of Leyo and only reigned for one year, between 1716 and 1717.Following the demise ofGbedegbede in 1717,Lamele succeeded him and reigned for 15 years before he died in 1731.In 1731,Iganmude who was a grandson ofOkuta ascended the throne following the demise ofLamele. He created Sokoti and Losare quarters during his regime and later died in 1748.Olowolaiye, a grandson ofOkuta became the ruler following the death of Aganmude. He reigned for 11 years, from 1748 to 1759.Following the death ofAganmude in 1759, another grandson ofOkuta calledJogunde ascended the throne. He reigned for 18 years, from 1759 to 1777.Thereafter, Terere who was a grandson ofLuju ascended the throne following the demise ofJogunde in 1777. He established theEku festival in memory ofOwu war before his death in 1786.He was succeeded by his first son calledAjisowo who reigned between 1786 and 1802.
Following the demise ofAjisowo in 1802,Arobiete who was a descendant ofFoyi ascended the throne and reigned for 9 years.After the death ofArobieke in 1811Iyanlola a son ofJogunde ascended the throne and reigned for 3 years, between 1811 and 1814.Thereafter,Odunola also known asOjagodolokun, a descendant ofLamele ascended the throne in 1814 after the death ofIyanlola. He reigned for 3 years, from 1814 to 1817. He was succeeded by his eldest son known asJilu. His nameJilu was coined from the fact that he enjoyed drumming. He reigned for 5 years.Following the demise ofJilu in 1826, he was succeeded byOlowolakun who ruled for 7 years, from 1826 to 1833.[13]
Oba Akingbohungbe, Osemawe of OndoThe most pivotal figure from this family was Oba Jimosun Akingbohungbe, who ruled as the Osemawe from 1901 to 1925. His reign was during the early period of British colonial rule in Nigeria.
Oba Rufus Adesokeji Aderele (Tewogboye 11), son of Oba Tewogboye 1 ascended the throne after the dethronement Oba Fidipote 11. He was an educated Oba, adequately experienced in the system of governance and reigned from 1942-1974. He is the father of his royal highnessPrince Ademola Olugbade Aderele; who served Nigeria as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on various missions, including representing the Nigerian Government as its first Nigerian High Commissioner to Thailand.