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Nigerian traditional rulers often derive their titles from the rulers of independent states or communities that existed before the formation of modern
Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...
. Although they do not have formal political power, in many cases they continue to command respect from their people and have considerable influence in their community. Though their bearers usually maintain the monarchical styles and titles of their sovereign ancestors, both their independent activities and their relations with the central and regional governments of Nigeria are closer in substance to those of the high
nobility Nobility is a social class found in many societies that have an aristocracy. It is normally ranked immediately below royalty. Nobility has often been an estate of the realm with many exclusive functions and characteristics. The character ...
of old Europe than to those of actual reigning monarchs. Cited here is a list of traditional rulers in Nigeria.


Pre-colonial period

Modern Nigeria encompasses lands traditionally occupied by highly diverse ethnic groups with very different languages and traditions. In broad terms, the southeast was occupied mainly by Igbo, the
Niger Delta The Niger Delta is the delta of the Niger River sitting directly on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean in Nigeria. It is located within nine coastal southern Nigerian states, which include: all six states from the South South geopolitic ...
by Edo and Igbo related people, the southwest by
Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...
and related people and the north by Hausa and
Fulani The Fula, Fulani, or Fulɓe people ( ff, Fulɓe, ; french: Peul, links=no; ha, Fulani or Hilani; pt, Fula, links=no; wo, Pël; bm, Fulaw) are one of the largest ethnic groups in the Sahel and West Africa, widely dispersed across the region. ...
people, with a complex intermingling of different ethnic groups in the Middle Belt between north and south. In total there were (and are) more than 200 distinct ethnic groups. Before the arrival of the British in the late 19th century, the history of the area was turbulent, with periods when empires such as those of Oyo,
Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the nort ...
, Kanem-Bornu and Sokoto gained control over large areas, and other periods when the states were more fragmented. Although political structures differed widely between different ethnic groups, it was common for each town or collection of towns to have a recognized ruler, who might in turn be subordinate to the ruler of a larger polity. Thus the Sokoto caliphate was divided into emirates, with the emirs loosely subordinate to the Sultan of Sokoto, although at times acting as independent rulers.


Colonial era

Europeans had long traded with the coastal states, primarily exchanging cotton and other manufactured goods for slaves and palm oil products at centers such as
Calabar Calabar (also referred to as Callabar, Calabari, Calbari and Kalabar) is the capital city of Cross River State, Nigeria. It was originally named Akwa Akpa, in the Efik language. The city is adjacent to the Calabar and Great Kwa rivers and c ...
, Bonny and
Lagos Lagos (Nigerian English: ; ) is the largest city in Nigeria and the second most populous city in Africa, with a population of 15.4 million as of 2015 within the city proper. Lagos was the national capital of Nigeria until December 1991 fo ...
. The
Niger Coast Protectorate The Niger Coast Protectorate was a British protectorate in the Oil Rivers area of present-day Nigeria, originally established as the Oil Rivers Protectorate in 1884 and confirmed at the Berlin Conference the following year. It was renamed on 12 ...
was established in 1891 holding a small area along the coast. During the period 1879–1900 the
Royal Niger Company The Royal Niger Company was a mercantile company chartered by the British government in the nineteenth century. It was formed in 1879 as the ''United African Company '' and renamed to ''National African Company'' in 1881 and to ''Royal Niger C ...
made a concerted effort to take control of the interior, using disciplined troops armed with the
Maxim gun The Maxim gun is a recoil-operated machine gun invented in 1884 by Hiram Stevens Maxim. It was the first fully automatic machine gun in the world. The Maxim gun has been called "the weapon most associated with imperial conquest" by historian ...
, and making treaties of "protection" with the local rulers. The company's territory was sold to the British government in 1900, with the southern region merged with the Niger Coast Protectorate to become the
Southern Nigeria Protectorate Southern Nigeria was a British protectorate in the coastal areas of modern-day Nigeria formed in 1900 from the union of the Niger Coast Protectorate with territories chartered by the Royal Niger Company below Lokoja on the Niger River. The ...
and the
Northern Nigeria Protectorate Northern Nigeria ( Hausa: ''Arewacin Najeriya'') was a British protectorate which lasted from 1900 until 1914 and covered the northern part of what is now Nigeria. The protectorate spanned and included the emirates of the Sokoto Caliphate ...
remaining separate. In 1914 the two were merged into the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria, with roughly the same boundaries as the modern state of Nigeria. The first British High Commissioner for Northern Nigeria, Lord
Frederick Lugard Frederick John Dealtry Lugard, 1st Baron Lugard (22 January 1858 – 11 April 1945), known as Sir Frederick Lugard between 1901 and 1928, was a British soldier, mercenary, explorer of Africa and colonial administrator. He was Governor of Hong ...
, tried to rule through the traditional rulers, and this approach was later extended to the south. Lugard's successor
Hugh Clifford Sir Hugh Charles Clifford, (5 March 1866 – 18 December 1941) was a British colonial administrator. Early life Clifford was born in Roehampton, London, the sixth of the eight children of Major-General Sir Henry Hugh Clifford and his wife ...
left this system in place in the north, where the emirate system had long traditions, but introduced a legislative council with some elected members in the south, relegating the traditional rulers to mainly symbolic roles. Over time, the relationship between the colonial administration and the traditional rulers evolved. For example, the Tiv people, at the time the fourth largest ethnic group in the country, had always been extremely decentralized and therefore had no paramount ruler. The British created the office of ''Tor Tiv'' in 1947, appointing Makere Dzakpe as the first holder of this title, in order to have a "traditional ruler" to speak for the Tiv people.


Independent Nigeria

With independence in 1960, followed by alternating democratic and military governments, the status of the traditional rulers evolved even further. In the north, the emirs finally lost power to the government administration, though said administration was often staffed by traditional notables. Where rulers had previously acquired office strictly through inheritance or through appointment by a council of elders, the government now increasingly became involved in the succession. In some cases, the government has merged or split traditional domains. For example, there had been two rulers of the
Efik people The Efik are an ethnic group located primarily in southern Nigeria, and western Cameroon. Within Nigeria, the Efik can be found in the present-day Cross River State and Akwa Ibom state. The Efik speak the Efik language which is a member of the Be ...
in the area around
Calabar Calabar (also referred to as Callabar, Calabari, Calbari and Kalabar) is the capital city of Cross River State, Nigeria. It was originally named Akwa Akpa, in the Efik language. The city is adjacent to the Calabar and Great Kwa rivers and c ...
, but in December 1970 it was agreed to combine the office into a single one that was to be held by a ruler known as the ''Obong''. When
Yobe State Yobe is a state located in northeastern Nigeria. A mainly agricultural state, it was created on 27 August 1991. Yobe State was carved out of Borno State. The capital of Yobe State is Damaturu; and it's largest and most populated city is Poti ...
was created there were just four emirates, but in January 2000 the state governor
Bukar Abba Ibrahim Bukar Abba Ibrahim (1949) was governor of Yobe State in Nigeria from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. He also served as governor of the state from January 1992 to November 1993. He is a member of the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP). Background Ibr ...
restructured the state into 13. The government has maintained colonial classifications. Thus when
Kwara State Kwara State ( yo, Ìpínlẹ̀ Kwárà), is a state in Western Nigeria, bordered to the east by Kogi State, to the north by Niger state, and to the south by Ekiti, Osun, and Oyo states, while its western border makes up part of the interna ...
governor
Bukola Saraki Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, (born on 19 December 1962) is a Nigerian politician. He was the 13th President of the Senate of Nigeria from 2015 to 2019 and Chair of the 8th Nigeria National Assembly. He wa ...
appointed three new monarchs in August 2010, the new Emir of Kaiama was designated a first class traditional ruler while the Onigosun of Igosun and Alaran of Aran-Orin were designated third class monarchs. Traditional rulers today are still highly respected in many communities, and have considerable political and economic influence. Although they have no formal role in the democratic structure, there is intense competition for royal seats amongst the finite pool of eligible dynasts. The rulers can also award traditional or honorary titles within the
Nigerian chieftaincy system The Nigerian Chieftaincy is the chieftaincy system that is native to Nigeria. Consisting of everything from the country's monarchs to its titled family elders, the chieftaincy as a whole is one of the oldest continuously existing institutions ...
. These titles come with
ex officio An ''ex officio'' member is a member of a body (notably a board, committee, council) who is part of it by virtue of holding another office. The term '' ex officio'' is Latin, meaning literally 'from the office', and the sense intended is 'by right ...
positions in their "administrations", and wealthy businessmen and politicians often place great value in acquiring such titles. The rulers play useful roles in mediating between the people and the state, enhancing national identity, resolving minor conflicts and providing an institutional safety-valve for often inadequate state bureaucracies. One reason for their influence may be that the people of many ethnic groups have limited ability to communicate in the official English language, so the traditional ruler serves as an interpreter and spokesperson. By June 2010,
Akwa Ibom State Akwa Ibom State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered on the east by Cross River State, on the west by Rivers State and Abia State, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The state takes its name from the Qua Iboe ...
had 116 traditional rulers with official certificates from the state. They had received new cars on their appointment, among other perks. The chairman of the Akwa Ibom
council of Chiefs A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or natio ...
said that in return, the traditional fathers were responsible for preventing robberies and kidnappings in their domains.


Titles

As there are over 525 different languages native to Nigeria, there are many titles for traditional rulers. In the northern
Muslim Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...
states,
Emir Emir (; ar, أمير ' ), sometimes transliterated amir, amier, or ameer, is a word of Arabic origin that can refer to a male monarch, aristocrat, holder of high-ranking military or political office, or other person possessing actual or cer ...
is commonly used in the English language, but names in the local languages include Sarki, Shehu, Mai, Etsu and Lamido. In the Middle Belt of Nigeria, different titles are held. An example is the Aku Uka of the
Kwararafa Kororofa (Kwararafa in Hausa) was a multiethnic state and/or confederacy centered along the Benue River valley in what is today central Nigeria. It was southwest of the Bornu Empire and south of the Hausa States. They rose to prominence before ...
kingdom, traditional ruler of the Jukun, whose seat is in
Wukari Wukari is a Local Government Area in Taraba State, Nigeria. Its headquarters is in the town of Wukari on the A4 highway. The Donga River flows through the area and the Benue River forms a boundary with Nasarawa State to the northwest. It has an ...
,
Taraba state ) , image_map = Nigeria - Taraba.svg , map_alt = , map_caption = Location of Taraba State in Nigeria , coordinates = , coor_pinpoint = , coordinates_footnotes = , ...
. Agwam is used among the
Atyap people The Atyap people (Tyap: ''A̱tyap'', singular: ''A̱tyotyap''; Hausa exonym: ''Kataf'', ''Katab'') are an ethnic group found majorly in Zangon-Kataf, Kaura and Jema'a Local Government Areas of southern Kaduna State, Nigeria. They speak the Ty ...
s, Kpop among the
Ham Ham is pork from a leg cut of pork, cut that has been food preservation, preserved by wet or dry Curing (food preservation), curing, with or without smoking (cooking), smoking."Bacon: Bacon and Ham Curing" in ''Chambers's Encyclopædia''. Lo ...
; Agwom among the Adara,
Afizere The Afizere people (Other: ''Afizarek'', exonym: ''Jarawa'') are an ethnic group that occupy Jos East, Jos North, parts of Jos South and Mangu Local Government Areas of Plateau State and parts of Toro and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas o ...
, Bakulu and Gbong Gwom by the Berom in
southern Southern may refer to: Businesses * China Southern Airlines, airline based in Guangzhou, China * Southern Airways, defunct US airline * Southern Air, air cargo transportation company based in Norwalk, Connecticut, US * Southern Airways Express, M ...
Kaduna State Kaduna State ( ha, Jihar Kaduna جىِهَر كَدُنا; ff, Leydi Kaduna, script=Latn, ; kcg, Sitet Kaduna) is a state in northern Nigeria. The state capital is its namesake, the city of Kaduna which happened to be the 8th largest city in ...
and
Plateau State Plateau State is the twelfth-largest Nigerian state. It is in the centre of the country includes a range of hills surrounding the Jos Plateau, its capital, and the entire plateau itself. Plateau State is described as "The Home of Peace and To ...
. Tor is used by the Tiv and Oche by the Idoma of
Benue State Benue State is one of the North Central states in Nigeria with a population of about 4,253,641 in 2006 census. The state was created in 1976 among the 7 states created at that time.The state derives its name from the Benue River which is th ...
. Long and Ngolong are used by the
Goemai PUR:purpose SG:singular DEF:definite ADVZ:adverbializer S:subject (intransitive and transitive) pronoun IDEOPH:ideophone O:object pronoun CONS:consequence clause PAST.REM:remote past DIM:diminutive GEN:genitive INSIDE:inside Goemai (also Ankw ...
and Ngas, respectively, and Ponzhi is used by the Tarok, all of Plateau State. Oba is the title of the
Benin Kingdom The Kingdom of Benin, also known as the Edo Kingdom, or the Benin Empire ( Bini: ') was a kingdom within what is now southern Nigeria. It has no historical relation to the modern republic of Benin, which was known as Dahomey from the 17th c ...
's paramount ruler in
Edo State Edo, commonly known as Edo State, is a state located in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. As of 2006 National population census, the state was ranked as the 24th populated state (3,233,366) in Nigeria, However there was controversy ...
. Enogie (plural enigie) and Okao (plural ikao) are ascribed to his dukes and viceroys within the Benin Kingdom, while Odionwere is ascribed to his governors or senior elders. In practice, enigie are not installed in communities with ikao, as they are both traditional rulers and representatives of the Oba, charged with the administration of their respective communities. Onojie is used by the
Esan people The Esan people ( Esan: ''Ẹ̀bhò Ẹ̀sán'') are an ethnic group of southern Nigeria who speak the Esan language. The Esan are traditionally known to be agriculturalists, trado-medical practitioners, mercenary warriors and hunters. They cul ...
s to refer to their various rulers in
Edo State Edo, commonly known as Edo State, is a state located in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. As of 2006 National population census, the state was ranked as the 24th populated state (3,233,366) in Nigeria, However there was controversy ...
, while the Afamai people use Otaru and Okwokpellagbe. Other titles are also used. The
Itsekiri people The Itsekiri (also called the Isekiri, ''iJekri'', ''Itsekri'', ''Ishekiri'', or Itsekhiri) are one of the Yoruboid subgroup of Nigeria's Niger Delta area, Delta State. The Itsekiris presently number 2.7 million people and live mainly in the Wa ...
of
Warri Kingdom The Kingdom of Warri, Warri Kingdom or Iwere Kingdom, (Itsekiri: ''Oye Iwere'') was established in 1480, was part of the Nigerian traditional states ancestrally based in Ode-Itsekiri, Warri South LGA, Delta State, Nigeria with a palace erec ...
address their traditional ruler with the
Olu of Warri The Kingdom of Warri, Warri Kingdom or Iwere Kingdom, (Itsekiri language, Itsekiri: ''Oye Iwere'') was established in 1480, was part of the Nigerian traditional states ancestrally based in Ode-Itsekiri, Warri South, Warri South LGA, Delta State, ...
title. This is one of the oldest kingdoms in Nigeria. Among the Urhobos and Isokos of Delta State, the general title used is Ovie. Some clans use related titles however, such as Orodje, Orosuen, Ohworode, Odion-Ologbo, and Odio r'Ode. Obong is likewise used by the Efik,
Ibibio Ibibio may refer to: * Ibibio language * Ibibio people * Ibibio Sound Machine, an English electronic afro-funk band who sing in Ibibio See also * Ibiblio ibiblio (formerly SunSITE.unc.edu and MetaLab.unc.edu) is a "collection of collections" ...
and
Annang The Anaang (also spelled Annang) are a sub-ethnic group of the larger Ibibio people, whose land is primarily within 8 of the present 31 local government areas in Akwa Ibom State: Abak, Essien Udim, Etim Ekpo, Ika, Ikot Ekpene, Obot Akara, Oruk ...
peoples of Cross River and
Akwa Ibom State Akwa Ibom State is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria, bordered on the east by Cross River State, on the west by Rivers State and Abia State, and on the south by the Atlantic Ocean. The state takes its name from the Qua Iboe ...
s. Oba is also used by the
Yoruba people The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...
s to refer to their various rulers, though other titles such as Ooni, Alake, Alaafin, Awujale, Olomu, Akarigbo, Orangun, Olu'wo, Eleko, Soun, Olumushin and Eburu are also used, specific to the people and/or place ruled.


Gallery

File:Sa'adu Abubakar -Sultan of Sokoto.jpg,
Sa'adu Abubakar Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar ( ar, محمد سعد أبو بكر), CFR (born 24 August 1956) is the 20th Sultan of Sokoto. As Sultan of Sokoto, he is considered the spiritual leader of Northern Nigeria's Muslims, the majority of the nation's popula ...
, Sultan of Sokoto and Sarkin Musulmi of Nigeria, current Co-Chair of the National Council of Traditional Rulers File:Ooni Ogunwusi Enitan Adeyeye.jpg,
Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Oba (ruler), Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; (''Ọjájá II'') (born 17 October 1974) is the 51st and current List of rulers of Ife, Ooni of Ife. He is the Nigerian traditional rulers, traditional ruler/monarch of the Yoruba people, Yoruba Lis ...
,
Ooni of Ife The Ooni of Ile-Ife (Ọọ̀ni of Ilè-Ifẹ̀) is the traditional ruler of Ile-Ife and the spiritual head of the Yoruba people. The Ooni dynasty existed before the reign of Oduduwa which historians have argued to have been between the 7th-9 ...
, current Co-Chair of the National Council of Traditional Rulers File:Afrikaabteilung in Ethnological Museum Berlin 29.JPG,
Idia Idia was the mother of Esigie, who reigned as Oba (king) of the Edo people from 1504 to 1550 Historians do know that Idia was alive during the Idah war (1515-1516) because she played a role that led to a great Benin victory. It has been arg ...
,
Queen Mother A queen mother is a former queen, often a queen dowager, who is the mother of the reigning monarch. The term has been used in English since the early 1560s. It arises in hereditary monarchies in Europe and is also used to describe a number of ...
of
Benin Benin ( , ; french: Bénin , ff, Benen), officially the Republic of Benin (french: République du Bénin), and formerly Dahomey, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east, Burkina Faso to the north ...
File:Mohammed el- Amin el-Kanemi 1826.jpg,
Muhammad al-Amin al-Kanemi Shehu al-Hajj Muhammad al-Amîn ibn Muhammad al-Kânemî ( ar, محمد الأمين بن محمد الكانمي) (1776–1837) was an Islamic scholar, teacher, religious and political leader who advised and eventually supplanted the Sayfawa dy ...
, Shehu of Borno File:Oduduwa groove where Oduduwa is believed to have descended.jpg,
Oduduwa Oduduwa was a Yoruba divine king. According to tradition, he was the holder of the title of the ''Olofin'' of Ile-Ife, the Yoruba holy city. He ruled briefly in Ife, and also served as the progenitor of a number of independent royal dynasties ...
, Ooni of Ife File:Adeniji Adele.jpg, Sir
Adeniji Adele Oba Sir Musendiku Buraimoh Adeniji Adele II, KBE (13 November 1893 – 12 July 1964) was the Oba (King) of Lagos from 1 October 1949 to 12 July 1964. Life Adele was born in Lagos in 1893 to Buraimoh Adele and Moriamo Lalugbi. His grandfather ...
K.B.E.,
Oba of Lagos The Oba of Lagos, also known as the Eleko of Eko, is the traditional ruler ( Oba) of Lagos. The Oba is a ceremonial Yoruba sovereign with no political power, but is sought as a counsel or sponsor by politicians who seek support from the residen ...
File:Ogiame Atuwatse III, The Olu of Warri.jpg,
Ogiame Atuwatse III Ogiame Atuwatse III (born 2 April 1984) is a Nigerian traditional king, paramount ruler of the Kingdom of Warri, and the 21st Olu of Warri. He was born Utieyinoritsetsola Emiko, also known as Tsola Emiko on 2 April 1984 to Olu Atuwatse II, the 19 ...
,
Olu of Warri The Kingdom of Warri, Warri Kingdom or Iwere Kingdom, (Itsekiri language, Itsekiri: ''Oye Iwere'') was established in 1480, was part of the Nigerian traditional states ancestrally based in Ode-Itsekiri, Warri South, Warri South LGA, Delta State, ...
File:His_Majesty_Nnaemeka_Achebe_2.jpg, Alfred Achebe,
Obi of Onitsha The Obi of Onitsha is the traditional leader of Onitsha, Anambra State, southeast Nigeria. The post of the Obi is recognized by the state and federal governments of Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naij ...
File:Odemo Akisanya After Being Ordained.JPG,
Samuel Akisanya Samuel Akisanya, (1 August 1898 – January 1985) was a Nigerian trade unionist and nationalist based in Lagos, Nigeria during the colonial era, one of the founders of the Nigerian Youth Movement. He was also the Oba of Isara, an office which ...
, Odemo of Isara File:Oba Akenzua II, 1936 0327.0008.jpg,
Akenzua II Ọmọ n'Ọba n'Ẹdo Uku Akpọlọkpọlọ, Akenzua II (7 January 1899 – 11 June 1978) was the Oba of Benin (traditional leader of the Edo people, in Nigeria) from 1933 until his death in 1978. Akenzua II was enthroned as Oba of Benin in ...
,
Oba of Benin The Oba of Benin is the traditional ruler and the custodian of the culture of the Edo people and all Edoid people. The then Kingdom of Benin (not to be confused with the modern-day and unrelated Republic of Benin, which was then known as Dah ...
File:Jaja of Opobo.jpg, Jaja, Amanyanaboh of
Opobo Opobo is a community in Rivers State, in the South South region of Nigeria. The kingdom was founded in 1870 by Jubo Jubogha, popularly known as JaJa, an Igbo man who owned slaves. The native language of Opobo is the Ibani language that is spoken ...
File:Statue of Chjef Nana of Koko and Palace.jpg,
Nana Olomu Nana Olomu (also spelled ''Olumu'') (1852–1916) was an Itsekiri chief and merchant from the Niger Delta region of southern Nigeria. He was the fourth Itsekiri chief to hold the position of Governor of Benin River. B Background to conflict with ...
, Paramount Chief of the
Itsekiri The Itsekiri (also called the Isekiri, ''iJekri'', ''Itsekri'', ''Ishekiri'', or Itsekhiri) are one of the Yoruboid subgroup of Nigeria's Niger Delta area, Delta State. The Itsekiris presently number 2.7 million people and live mainly in the Wa ...
File:Image of Emir Muhammad Sanusi II of Kano.jpg,
Muhammadu Sanusi II Sanusi Lamido Sanusi (Ajami: سنوسي لاميط سنوسي, ''Muhammadu Sanusi na biyu''; born 31 July 1961), known by the religious title Khalifa Sanusi II (Ajami: خليفة السنوسي), is a spiritual leader in the Tijanniyah Sufi ord ...
,
Emir of Kano Emir (; ar, أمير ' ), sometimes transliterated amir, amier, or ameer, is a word of Arabic origin that can refer to a male monarch, aristocrat, holder of high-ranking military or political office, or other person possessing actual or ceremo ...
File:Aderemi Adesoji.jpg, Sir
Adesoji Aderemi Oba Sir Titus Martins Adesoji Tadeniawo Aderemi (Atobatele I), alias Adesoji Aderemi, (15 November 1889 – 3 July 1980), was a Nigerian political figure and Yoruba traditional ruler as the Ooni (King) of Ife (or ''Ilé-Ifẹ̀'', as it is p ...
K.C.M.G. The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III. It is named in honou ...
, Ooni of Ife File:Yoruba Shango.jpg,
Shango Shango (Yoruba language: Ṣàngó, also known as Changó or Xangô in Latin America; and as Jakuta or Badé) is an Orisha, a deity in Yoruba religion. Genealogically speaking, Shango is a royal ancestor of the Yoruba as he was the third Alaafin ...
,
Alaafin Alaafin, or ''The Owner of the Palace'' in the Yoruba language, is the title of the emperor of the medieval Oyo empire and present-day Oyo town of West Africa. He ruled the old Oyo Empire which extended from the present day Benin republic to Ni ...
of Oyo File:Eze Nri Obalike.jpg, Obalike,
Eze Nri The following is a list of rulers of Nri. The title of the ruler of Nri is ''Eze Nri''. He held religious and political authority over the Kingdom of Nri. The Nri culture is believed to stretch back to at least the 13th century, with a traditiona ...
of
Nri NRI or Nri may refer to : * Kingdom of Nri, an Igbo kingdom that flourished between the 10th century and early 20th century * National Radio Institute, a now defunct post-secondary vocational correspondence school * National Resources Inventory * N ...
(ringing the royal bell) File:Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi of Borno.jpg,
Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba Al Amin El-Kanemi Shehu Of Borno (born 13 May 1957) is the Shehu, or Nigerian traditional rulers, traditional ruler, of the Borno Emirate in northeast Nigeria. Career Shehu Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi (son of Shehu ...
, Shehu of Borno File:Igwe nnewi.jpg, Orizu III,
Igwe Igwe (meaning ''"Sky"''), is a royal title or method of addressing traditional rulers that control autonomous communities in Igboland. In other words, Igbos approximate the term to the HRH style. An Igwe is therefore defined as a holder of a titl ...
of
Nnewi Nnewi is a commercial and industrial city in Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria. It is the second largest and second most populous city in the southern part of the country. Nnewi as a metropolis has one local government area, which is Nnewi North ...
(with the elaborate headress) File:Ori Olokun.jpg,
Olokun Olokun (Yoruba: Olókun) is an orisha spirit in Yoruba religion. Olokun is believed to be the parent of Aje, the orisha of great wealth and of the bottom of the ocean. Olokun is revered as the ruler of all bodies of water and for the authority ov ...
, Queen Consort of Ife File:Nachtigal Umar Borno.jpg,
Umar ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb ( ar, عمر بن الخطاب, also spelled Omar, ) was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr () as the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate o ...
, Shehu of Borno File:Bida Durbar 2019.jpg,
Yahaya Abubakar Yahaya Abubakar rtd GCFR is a traditional ruler who was born to the family of Alhaji Abubakar Saganuwa Nakordi Nupe/brother to the 11th Etsu Nupe Late Malam Musa Bello and his mother Hajiya Habiba Bantigi Ndayako daughter of the 9th Etsu Nupe an ...
,
Etsu Nupe The Bida Emirate is a traditional state in Nigeria, a successor to the old Nupe Kingdom, with its headquarters in Bida, Niger State. The head of the state is the Etsu Nupe, considered the leader of the Nupe people. History The old Nupe Kingdo ...
of
Bida Bida is a Local Government Area in Niger State, Nigeria and a city on the A124 highway which occupies most of the area. The LGA has an area of and a population of 188,181 at the 2006 census. The postal code of the area is 912. The city Bida i ...
File:Kúmókụn - Ajimoko I.jpg, Ajimoko I, Owa of
Ijesha The Ijesha (written as Ìjẹ̀ṣà in Yoruba orthography) are a sub-ethnicity of the Yorubas of West Africa. Ilesha is the largest town and historic cultural capital of the Ijesha people, and is home to a kingdom of the same name, ruled by an ...
land File:His Majesty, Eze Chukwuemeka Eri.jpg, Chukwuemeka Eri, Eze Eri of
Aguleri Aguleri meaning Agulu nwa Eri (Agulu-Eri). This is because according to their traditional lores, Agulu is the son of Eri , son of Jacob. Lawrence Ozeh is an internet entrepreneur, in his essay, he opined that Aguleri is the cradle of Igbo peopl ...
File:A. E. Allagoa.jpg,
Ezeolisa Allagoa His Majesty Ambrose Ezeolisa Allagoa (24 August 1914 – 17 February 2003) was King of Nembe Kingdom from 1980 until his death. He is also by birth related to the Ossomari royal family through his grandmother Omu Okwei (the merchant queen of ...
, Amanyanaboh of
Nembe Nembe is a Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Nembe in the east of the area at The people of Brass, Nembe and Southern Ijaw Councils of Bayelsa State have bemoaned their neglect by oil companies ...
File:Olowo Folagbade.jpeg,
Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III, CFR, SAN (June 26, 1941 – April 17, 2019) was the traditional ruler of Owo (Olowo of Owo), Ondo State, Nigeria. He was the eldest son of the late Olowo of Owo, Sir Olateru Olagbegi (1910–1998). He succeeded ...
, Olowo of Owo (in the vest of red coral beads) File:King-duke.jpg, Eyamba IX, Obong of
Duke Town Duke Town, originally known as Atakpa is an Efik people, Efik city-state that flourished in the 19th century in what is now southern Nigeria. The City State extended from now Calabar to Bakassi in the east and Oron (state), Oron to the west. Altho ...
File:The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III and Oba Jimoh Olajide Titiloye, the 13th Olu of Igboora.jpg,
Lamidi Adeyemi Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III (15 October 1938 – 22 April 2022) was the Alaafin, or traditional ruler, of the Yoruba town of Oyo and rightful heir to the throne of its historic empire. Early life and ancestry Alaafin Adeyemi III was born Lam ...
, Alaafin of Oyo (on the right) and Jimoh Olajide Titiloye, Olu of
Igboora Igbo-Ora is a city and the headquarters of Ibarapa Central, Oyo State, south-western Nigeria, situated north of Lagos. In 2006 the population of the town was approximately 72,207 people. In 2017 the population is estimated to be around 278,514 p ...
File:KingOgbidiOkojie.JPG,
Ogbidi Okojie Ogbidi Okojie, Onojie (king) of Uromi (1857 – 3 February 1944), was a ruler of the Esan people in what is now Edo State in Nigeria, still remembered for his opposition to British rule. Biography According to Uromi lore, he was born in the ...
, Onojie of
Uromi Uromi,the real word is Urọnmhun meaning "this is my abode ",or my enclave is a city located in north-eastern Esan, a sub -ethnic group of the Benin in Edo state, Nigeria. At various points in Uromi's history, the city and people have been an ...
and part of his extensive
harem Harem (Persian: حرمسرا ''haramsarā'', ar, حَرِيمٌ ''ḥarīm'', "a sacred inviolable place; harem; female members of the family") refers to domestic spaces that are reserved for the women of the house in a Muslim family. A hare ...
File:Ibrahim Jibril - 2018 (cropped).jpg,
Ibrahim Usman Jibril Ibrahim Usman Jibril CON (born January 27, 1958) is a Nigerian traditional ruler and administrator. He is the 12th Emir of Nasarawa Emirate and He was the Minister of State for Environment between 2015 and 2018 in the President Muhammadu Buhari ...
, Emir of
Nasarawa Nasarawa is a Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Nasarawa, located at 8°32'N 7°42'E, with a population of 30,949 (as of 2016). The local government area has an area of 5,704 km and a populat ...
File:Ojomo_Oluda.jpeg, Kofoworola Oladoyinbo Ojomo, Ojomo Oluda of
Ijebu, Owo Ijebu is a town in Owo, a local government area of Ondo State, south-western Nigeria. The transmission of courtly culture flowed in both directions between Ijebu and Owo kingdoms from the seventeenth century till date. Oral tradition claimed that ...
(in red) in the company of some of his fellow chiefs File:King Koko in His War Canoe.png, William Koko, Amanyanaboh of Nembe in his war canoe (seated under the umbrella) File:Efunroye Tinubu.jpg,
Efunroye Tinubu Efunroye Tinubu ( 1810 – 1887), born Ẹfúnpọ̀róyè Ọ̀ṣuntinúbú, was a powerful Yoruba female aristocrat, merchant, and slave trader in pre-colonial and colonial Nigeria. She was a politically and economically influential figure in ...
,
Princess Consort Princess consort is an official title or an informal designation that is normally accorded to the wife of a sovereign prince. The title may be used for the wife of a king if the more usual designation of queen consort is not used. More informal ...
to Oba
Adele Ajosun Oba Adele or Adele Ajosun (died 1837) reigned twice as Oba of Lagos; first, from c1811 to 1821, and a second time from 1835 to 1837. His father was Oba Ologun Kutere and his siblings were Obas Osinlokun and Akitoye, thus the Ologun Kutere line h ...
of Lagos and Paramount Chieftess of
Egbaland The Egba people are a subgroup of the Yoruba people, an ethnic group of western Nigeria, a majority of whom are from the central part of Ogun State that is Ogun Central Senatorial District. Ogun Central Senatorial District comprises six local g ...
File:Adedotun Gbadebo.jpg,
Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III (born 14 September 1943) is the current Alake of Egba, a clan in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He has ruled since 2 August 2005. Early life Gbadebo was born on 14 September 1943, into the Laarun Ruling House. He is a grandson of ...
, Alake of Egbaland File:Osemawe ii.png, Fusika Adedapo Adeduro, Osemawe of
Ondo Ondo may refer to: Japan * Ondo, Hiroshima * Ondo (music), a style of folk music * ''Ondo'' class oiler, ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy Nigeria * Ondo City * Ondo State * Roman Catholic Diocese of Ondo * Ondo Kingdom (c. 1510–1899) People ...
File:The National Archives UK - CO 1069-64-34 (cropped).jpg,
Ovonramwen Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (ruled 1888–1897), also called Overami, was the Ọba (king) of the Kingdom of Benin up until the British punitive expedition of 1897. Born circa 1857, he was the son of Ọba Adọlọ. He took the name Ovọnramwẹn ...
, Oba of Benin and his wives Queen Egbe (on the left) and Queen Aighobahi (on the right)


See also

*
History of Nigeria The history of Nigeria can be traced to the earliest inhabitants whose remains date from at least 13,000 BC through early civilizations such as the Nok culture which began around 1500 BC. Numerous ancient African civilizations settled in the reg ...
*
List of Nigerian traditional states There are many traditional states in Nigeria. A partial list follows. Although the traditional rulers no longer officially have political power, they still have considerable status in Nigeria and the power of patronage. Except where otherwise n ...
*
Nigerian chieftaincy The Nigerian Chieftaincy is the chieftaincy system that is native to Nigeria. Consisting of everything from the country's monarchs to its titled family elders, the chieftaincy as a whole is one of the oldest continuously existing institutions ...
* Nigerian heraldry *
Royal regalia in Nigeria The Royal regalia are the attributes of power of the monarchs of the traditional states in Nigeria. History Modern Nigeria is a federation, composed of a plethora of governorates and kingdoms. Some of the latter had a huge significance in the h ...


References


Further reading

* * * {{Nobility by nation Politics of Nigeria Monarchs Tribal chiefs