11/11/2021
On a tour expedition to explore and learn about the White Cap Chiefs of Lagos.
There are four classes of Chiefs in Lagos, the Akarigberes, the Idejos, the Ogalades and the Abagbons.
The Akarigberes are the Royal Chiefs. Traditionally, the head of this class is the Eletu Odibo, who is also the Prime Minister of the government. The Akarigberes are the first class Chiefs. They are the administrative chiefs and their head, the Eletu Odibo, crowns the Oba. He also has the royal Oracle in his Palace.
Among this class of Chiefs are two royal Chiefs, the Onilegbale and Asajonor Oloja Ereko, these titles are reserved for two branches of the Descendants of the Royal house of Addo, the original ancestor of all the Obas of Lagos. The Onilegbale and Oloja Ereko are technically superior to the Eletu Odibo, but they have no functions attaching to their offices.
The Akarigbere Chiefs are:
1. Eletu Odibo
2. Eletu Ika
3. Eletu Awo
4. Eletu Iwase
5. Eletu Ijebu;
6. Ologun Igbesodi
7. Ologun Adodo
8. Ologun Atebo
9. Onilegbale
10. Asonjon Ereko
11. Ologun Agbaje
12. Erelu Kuti
13. The Ojon
14. The Ologun Ide
15. The Ologun Agan
The second class of Chiefs is the Idejos, the land owner of Lagos. They are the Descendants of the Olofin, the leader of the first class settlers of Lagos. They have no administrative duties. But each had power to allocate unoccupied land within his area to family heads, strangers or immigrants.
The Oba himself owned no land, but in large commercial land transactions with European firms for instance, application for land was usually made to the Idejo Chief concerned through the Oba who naturally received a share of the proceeds. The head of this class is the Olumegbon. This class of Chiefs includes:
1. Aromire
2. Oniru
3. Olumegbon
4. Oloto
5. Onisiwo
6. Ojora
7. Ojomu
8. Onibeju
9. Oluwa
10. Elegushi
11. Onigbanko
12. Onitona
13. Ilabirun
14. Oniba
15. Onitolo
16. Onilado
17. Oto-Oba
18. Janikin
19. Alawun
It is noteworthy that nine Idejo Chiefs have been elevated to Obaship over their respective domains. They are Elegushi, Oniru, Oloto, Janikin, Onilado, Alawun, Onisiwo, Oluwa, Onikoyi and Ojora. Six of them; Onisiwo, Elegushi, Oniru, Oloto, Onikoyi, Ojomi and Ojora are first class Obas. The Oba of Lagos remains the paramount ruler nonetheless.
The third class Chiefs is the Ogalades, headed by the Obanikoro. The controversy about what position the third class of Chiefs occupied in the traditional hierarchy was not resolved until 1959 when an ordinance declared that the Ogalades were third class Chiefs, the Idejos second and the Akarigbere first.
The Ogalades are the custodians of the nation's spirits, making sacrifices for the town and healing the sick. The Obanikoro is the special priest and physician of the Oba. The Ogalades were:
1. Obanikoro
2. Modile
3. Opeluwa
4. Onisemo
5. Asajon
6. Opeluwa
7. Alagbeji
8. Onimole
9. Alase
10. Osunba
11. Olopon
The Abagbons or War Chiefs form the fourth class of Chiefs. Their head is the Ashogbon. It is their duty to defend Lagos. They include:
1. Asogbon
2. Bajulaiye
3. Suenu
4. Salawe
5. Bajulu
6. Sasore
7. Shasi
8. Kakawa
9. Bashua
10. Obadina
11. Orisan
12. Ayeomosan
13. Oshodi Tapa
14. Oshodi Buku
15. Saba
16. Oluwo
17. Faji
18. Egbe
19. Salawe
20. Asesi
21. Oserun
22. Balogun Okolo
23. Iposu
24. Erelu
Each head of the various classes of Chiefs install members of his class of Chiefs. If there was a hierarchy of Chiefs in Lagos with reference to the importance of different classes of office, there was also another hierarchy with regard to seniority by date of installation into the Chief ship.
In conclusion, it is inherent that Lagos Obas and Chiefs have fused influences from different cultures, notable Bini, Yoruba, Tapa, Nupe, amongst others. These cultures are reflective in their names and dressing. It is a melting of different cultures.
Also, it is noteworthy that Lagos may have the largest number of Chiefs in Yoruba land with its four different classes of Chiefs.
Reference
~Isale-Eko descendants 2019 (Pages 11a, 11b and 11c)
~ High Chief Adesoji Ajayai-Bembe
Among the historical place visited were:
1. Iga Bajulaiye
2. Iga Ashogbon
3. Iga Suenu
4. Enu-Owa Central Mosque
5. Enu-Owa Methodist Church
6. Iga Obanikoro
