In Nigeria, the monarchy system is patriarchy in nature where only men can become kings and rulers of the society while the women are given supportive and less prominent positions.
Though this is the case across all tribes in the country, there are a few exemptions to this rule as we unveil some female monarchs in Nigeria. Most times, they are referred to as Regents, but they act the same role as a male king would do. They attend the council of kings meeting at the local level, state level, and federal level.
Despite being females, this set of monarchs are expected to dress as men and not women because the position they occupy is meant to be masculine.Not many people believe that women can rule as substantive monarchs in Yorubaland. Almost all Yoruba towns forbid a woman from being Oba. Although women are made Regents in some Yoruba towns, they are rarely crowned substantive traditional rulers.
Regency is a situation embedded in some Yoruba culture whereby an interim king, mostly female, is crowned pending the period when another king, male, will be selected. Females are preferred Regents because it is believed that they will want to be relieved of the position as soon as possible so they can settle down and go ahead with their marital obligations.
A Regent must be a daughter of the late king. Normally, Regents are not supposed to occupy the position for more than six months but it’s been discovered that some have stayed in the position for ages.Regents cannot get pregnant while on the throne neither can they marry if unmarried before ascending the throne. But in the case of the male regent, it is believed that he might not want to vacate the throne when the time is up for him to do so.
Like the conventional monarchs, they often come decked in traditional Agbada, Buba and Sokoto and wear round-headed caps in attractive designs. They wield the familiar royal horsetail and are normally graced by humble and adoring subjects who call them Kabiyesi.
Most of these Regents who are females and are fleeting occupiers of the exalted throne of a traditional ruler or Oba are very popular across towns and communities in Ondo and Ekiti States. They carry the common title of Regents. Like in Ondo, there are about 7 prominent Regents ruling their different towns while in Ekiti,From Igbona-Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area to Erio-Ekiti in Ekiti west and Awo-Ekiti, in Irepodun-Ifelodun Local Government Area, about 12 Regents are currently holding the fort, even if temporarily, as kings on the thrones of their fathers, occasionally giving orders, settling disputes, attending community and state functions and filling other spaces within the communities as needs often compel. On this list is HRM Moyinoluwa Olubunmi Falowo. She is a regent at Ibule in Ifedore local government area Ondo State. She is a graduate of Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) where she studied Microbiology. HRM Falowo became a regent in April 2019 after the demise of her father. She is to reign as king until the kingmakers select a new king to rule over the affairs of the community. HRM Taiwo Oyebola Agbona is another young regent, she was crowned in 2017 to temporarily take the throne of her ancestors until the kingmakers choose a male king through the guidance of their ancestors.
We gathered that the Regent was chosen due to the fact that she is the first girl child. She was crowned to take the throne after, the Alaaye of Aaye Oba Agbona Orimori 11, passed and joined his ancestors on May 4, 2017.She is a graduate of Achievers University in Owo where she studied medical laboratory science. HRM Tinuade Babalola Adejuiyegbe is the Oluborapa of Ibroropa in Akoko, Ondo state. She became a regent on February 23, 2015, shortly after her father, Oba Emmanuel Ayowole Adejuyigbe’s demise. As at the time she became as the Regent, she was a teenager and an undergraduate at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo state studying public administration. She graduated in 2018 and observed the mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2019 as the first monarch to do so. She is in her early 20s.
HRM Elizabeth Olayinka Tolani Orogun is the regent of Akunu Akoko in Ondo State. What of the ebony complexioned regent, HRM Adekemi Omorinbola? She is a traditional ruler and the Asin of Iwara-Oka Akoko,Ondo State. She was a teenager, a secondary school student when she ascended the throne of her father on January 9, 2010. She later moved on with her education to study psychology at the Ekiti State University even as a monarch.Regent Omorinbola is the last-born of the family of six daughters but was chosen by the oracle to lead the community after the demise of her father. She is about one of the longest serving Regents in Ondo.
HRM Regent Princess Damilola Falegan is a Regent to the throne of Irese, Onirese of Irese kingdom, Ifedore local government area of Ondo State. Regent Falegan will be turning 27 in November 11. Regent Tejumade Falade Adeboye is the Odopetu of Akure kingdom. She ascended the throne shortly after she got married. She is married And also a fashion designer.
Olowo Moyinoluwa was 24 years old when she was crowned Onibule of Ibulesoro, in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State. Her father was the immediate past Oba. She is likely to be the only female traditional ruler in the state.
Moyinoluwa is a graduate of Microbiology, from Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa. Her ascension was in strict compliance with culture and tradition. She is the first daughter of her mother who was second wife of Oba Joseph Fowole. Her father, who was thelate king who married two wives, of which Moyinoluwa’s mother happened to be the second wife. Her stepmother gave birth to male children who are older than her. As the customs demand, the king’s first son is the crown prince while his first daughter is the crown princess.The first son of her stepmother was made the crown prince while she was made the crown princess as the first daughter. Being the crown prince is not a guarantee to becoming the king as the decision lies with the family and the kingmakers who consult the oracle on the choice of candidates brought to them. The family presented her name and the kingmakers, after due consultation with the oracle, approved her selection. Regent of Igbona Ekiti in Ikole Local Government area of the state who is also the protem Chairman of the no fewer than twelve Regents presently on the throne of their ancestors across Ekiti State is Princess (Dr) Adebunmi Osadahun, the other Regents in Ekiti State are Princess Adejoke Adetoyinbo, (Erio Ekiti); Princess Adesina Adefunke, (Awo-Ekiti); Princess Ademide George, (Ayede-Ekiti); Princess Arowosegbe Adefunke (Erijiyan-Ekiti), Princess Yewande Dada (Ilogun-Ekiti), Princess Adenike Olabode (Araromi Oke-Ekiti); Princess Adedoyin Ayeoba, (Ijurin-Ekiti); Princess Olufunlola Ademidun, (Temidire-Ekiti); Princess Olawumi Adeola, (Iluomoba Ekiti) and Princess Tinuade Ogunbiyi, (Oke-Ako-Ekiti).
-TAYO OYEDIJI
