Oba

Oba (Yoruba: ọba, lit. 'King') is a pre-nominal honorific for kings in Yorubaland, and by extension the Kingdom of Benin. According to Yoruba mythology, the first oba was Oduduwa, the legendary progenitor of the Yoruba people. Many royal lineages claim descent from him, including that of the Ooni of Ife, Alaafin of Oyo, Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba of Benin, Olu of Warri and many others. Obas served as the spiritual, cultural, and sometimes political leaders of a town, city, or kingdom. In the present day Obas are highly respected figures who trace their lineage back to the earliest Yoruba kingdoms, particularly Ile-Ife, which is considered the spiritual and historical origin of the Yoruba. Although the Benin Kingdom is Edo and not located within Yorubaland, its Oba ruling dynasty traces its...