In Yoruba culture, traditional titles have historically served dual purposes: to honour prestige and to govern communities. However, a contemporary analysis by Associate Professor Aderonke Adegbite, an expert in law and community development, highlights a growing concern. The proliferation of purely ceremonial titles, such as the Okanlomo, risks diluting the authority of functional offices that are crucial for protection and unity.
The Core Challenge: Ceremonial vs. Functional Authority
The central issue lies in the distinction between titles that celebrate culture and those that carry governance power. Historically, Obas and chiefs were custodians of land, arbiters of justice, and coordinators of welfare. Their authority was tied to a specific geographical jurisdiction, typically a Local Government Area (LGA) or town. Today, titles like Okanlomo Odùduwà, Okanlomo Yoruba, and other town-specific Okanlomos are largely ceremonial. Any king can wake up and name anyone anything, but a title not linked to the king's geographical jurisdiction is, at best, fictional.
Professor Adegbite argues that while these honors celebrate prestige, they carry no territorial or governance authority. Multiplying them across regions confuses the public and erodes respect for offices that actually protect and unify Yoruba communities. Functional authority must remain exclusive and non-duplicable, operating strictly within defined LGAs.
Examples of Functional Governance and Modern Realities
The piece cites clear examples of functional traditional systems. The Olubadan of Ibadan ascends through a strict 22-line succession based on seniority, ensuring continuity and safeguarding the people. Similarly, the historic Aare Ona Kakanfo title was tied to the defence of the old Oyo kingdom. Crucially, that vast kingdom no longer exists in its historical form. Attempts to claim such a title for "all Yoruba land" today undermine its legitimacy, create rivalry, and confuse lines of authority, as its functional power is now specific to the new Oyo kingdom's jurisdiction.
The analysis makes a stark modern declaration: No king in Nigeria presently has functional powers beyond the local governments that constitute their kingdoms. Therefore, a functional title relating to all Yoruba land can no longer be conferred by a single monarch.
The Path Forward: Sanction, Gazette, and Preserve
For the system's survival, Professor Adegbite proposes clear solutions. Ceremonial titles like Okanlomo may continue for cultural pageantry but must not interfere with functional offices. Contemporary functional titles overseeing Yoruba land must be decided and sanctioned by the Yoruba council of Obas to ensure legitimacy and prevent duplication.
Furthermore, active gazetting by state governments through governors and Houses of Assembly is essential. This legal recognition protects jurisdiction and prevents the misuse of authority. The survival of Yoruba kingship in modern Nigeria depends on recognizing the difference between prestige and power, enforcing clear jurisdictions, and prioritizing community protection over symbolic competition.
This call, dated 31 December 2025, is framed not merely as reform but as an imperative for institutional preservation, social cohesion, and the continued development of Yoruba land.
