How The KUKU Family Got Their Surname

• Awujale Reveals How The KUKU’s Got Their Surname

The Kuku family is very popular in Ijebu-Ode. There is hardly any Ijebu person who has not heard the name Kuku before. At every Ojude Oba, the family usually takes part in the horse riding aspect of the Festival. It is Olorogun Dr. Sonny Kuku who normally leads his family into the main boull of Awujale’s Pavillion to pay homage to the King after Ile-Iya.

Why is the Kuku family very popular?

In a recent interview, Olorogun Dr. Sonny Kuku revealed why he thinks the Kuku family is so popular across Ijebu-Ode. “I think it is God and our ancestors” he said. “Our ancestors were the most famous military people in Ijebuland. One of our great ancestors fought many battles for the Ijebuland. He was the richest businessman too. There was no standing army for the Ijebuland, but these businessmen had Slaves and Soldiers that defended their caravan whenever they were on business trips, so the richer you were, the bigger your army. Whenever there was any form of attack, these big men were usually called upon to come and help with their soldiers. And more importantly, he was a Muslim cleric. He made Islam very popular in Ijebuland. The history behind this was that he was initially a Christian but when he wanted to do baptism, he was told someone like him couldn’t be baptised because he had many wives. Kuku was not ready to send any of his wives away so he later embraced Islam which allows a man to marry more wives. It was said that the day Kuku was turbaned a Muslim, thousands converted alongside him. He exerted so much influence in the early days of Islam in Ijebuland that it was called Kuku’s religion. So when you have the financial resources, the military powers and so much of religious influence, you have got it all. The now famous and glamorous Ojude Oba festival which is now on the global stage started with this great man, Kuku.”

How is he taking his new honour, Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland?

“It is another heavy responsibility, but I am not strange to heavy responsibilities. Luckily, I have had fantastic predecessors who have done so well, so my dream is to probably surpass their exploits, that will be a big plus. However, there are so many things to be done in Ijebuland to boost its socio-economic development. Ijebu is falling behind in the country. Many of these big states now were provinces like Ijebu but because we have not gotten that lucky to be a state, we have not really harnessed our resources. My leadership will be deployed towards infrastructural development, commerce, and industries.”

At the last installation of Olorogun (Dr.) Sonny Kuku as the Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona revealed a lot about the Kuku family in Ijebu-Ode.

Olorogun (Dr.) Sonny Kuku is from that illustrious Kuku family that has become very popular today in Ijebu-Ode. So popular is the Kuku family that it has become synonymous with Ijebu Ode.

The family is noted or Bravery. The family is noted for Wealth and Riches. And it is a horse riding family that usually takes part in the annual Ojude Festival. Every year Olorogun Sonny Kuku usually leads his family at Ojude Oba to pay homage to Kabiyeesi along with other Balogun/Horse Riding families. And his family usually wins.

But not many people know that Kuku wasn’t their original name. It was the circumstances of that era that made the family change their name to Kuku. How?

On how the name Kuku came about Kabiyeesi said the progenitor  of the Kuku family, his name was  Oduenyingbo Bello, The name Kuku stuck because before his birth in the past his mother had given birth to my children who did not survive.

So when Oduenyingbo was born they said in Ijebu ka Kuku ma wo, ka kuku ma wo, bi o ma ku ni o, bi o ma ye ni ooo, ka kuku ma wo. That was how the name was corrupted to Kuku meaning bo ya o ma ku, bo ya ko ni ku. And it has not changed since then.

Kabiyesi now said Oduenyingbo Bello, later known as Kuku, was the 1st Kuku and that the 2nd Kuku is the new also had sickle cell problem. About 5 children were born before him and they died. He was the only one that survived. That is why Kabiyeesi said the 2nd Kuku. And that is why they named him Folorunsho. It is like an Abiku name, meaning we are looking up to God, whether God will make him survive or not. We thank God he survived.

Today, he is 80. Today he is Ogbeni Oja.

One good thing about the Kuku family is that they decided not to abandon that name.

This is about the 4th generation of Kuku. They all still stick to that name. And that is why they can lay claim to the fact that they constitute or 1/3 or 1/5 or one quarter of Ijebu-Ode. Since eighteen something they have been bearing that name.

The Ogbeni Oja title is one that is highly reserved for men who are extraordinary in their calling. It literally translates as “leader of commerce and Industry”. In practice, the title has attained great significance in the society which is more like a prime minister.

The place of Commerce and Industry in the historical accounts of the evolution and establishment of Ijebu Kingdom cannot be underemphasised. In fact, credible history has proclaimed Ijebu eminence in African Commerce, and particularly during colonial adventures in the continent.

The title of Ogbeni Oja is proclaimed to be as old as Ijebu Ode which is said to be the political, commercial and cultural capital of Ijebuland. The Ogbeni Oja is solely chosen by the Awujale having done his due diligence and put some factors into consideration. It is not a title that can be given to just anybody but someone of significant influence in the society.

The holder of Ogbeni Oja chieftaincy title enjoys prominence over any other chief in the palace of the Awujale, and the title is the highest that a male freeborn of Ijebu can aspire to hold. The Ogbeni Oja acts for the Awujale during interregna. He holds the title at the pleasure of the Awujale.

Before the emergence of Dr. Sonny Kuku as the new Ogbeni Oja, recent history has it that, the two men who have held the title were accomplished men of immense means. The first Ogbeni Oja was the late Chief Adeola Odutola, an Ijebu icon who is no doubt among the nobility in Yorubaland. After his demise, he was succeeded by Otunba Bayo Kuku, another wealthy and successful businessman.

After the demise of Otunba Bayo Kuku, the conversation around who would be made the next Ogbeni Oja has been topical and generated a lot of heated debate among the Ijebu people. But the choice of Dr. Sonny Kuku has put all the heated debate at last to rest as they believe he is capable of holding the title looking at his antecedents and accomplishments.

Dr. Sonny Folorunsho Kuku, Chairman of Eko Hospitals Plc and an Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR), boasts an impressive array of achievements, including serving as the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council for the University of Lagos Alumni Association. Holding the titles of Olorogun of Ijebu Ode and Chairman of Awujale Council of Chiefs, Kuku’s contributions to the community are widely recognized.

Now that he has attained the much-coveted Ogbeni Oja title, it is the belief of the Ijebu people that their community would undergo great transformation as Dr. Kuku’s wealth of experience would be handy in ensuring this.

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has charged the newly installed Ogbeni Oja of Ijebuland, to use his title to foster unity, peace, economic development and educational advancement of Ijebuland.

Governor Abiodun stated this in his Goodwill Message which was represented by his Deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele at the conferment of the big title on Dr Sonny Kuku. He extolled the accomplishment of the new Ogbeni Oja, in the medical field and his philanthropic endeavours. This he said are clear indications of the positive impact he can bring to Ijebuland.

The Governor added that, the Ogbeni Oja title is a call to service and championing the aspirations of the people of Ijebu, explaining that it’s not a ceremonial title but a position that requires more responsibilities as the highest title that can conferred on any individual of Ijebu extraction, informing that the Ogbeni Oja is the Chairman of kingmakers and all matters concerning the palace of the Awujale rest on his shoulders.

He expressed confidence in Dr. Kuku that his tenure would bring about prosperity and peace to the wellbeing of the people of Ijebuland, affirming that his commitment to excellence coupled with a profound sense of responsibility has positioned him as a beacon for others to follow.

Mr. Governor however urged the people to reflect on the endearing values that has sustained the Ijebu communities through generations, unity, resilience and commitment to the common goal has been the cornerstone of the many successes of Ijebuland.