Oba (ruler)

Oba ('King' in the Yoruba language) is a pre-nominal honorific for kings in Yorubaland. Traditional rulers with dynasties of Yoruba origin, across the modern republics of Benin, Nigeria, and Togo, frequently make use of it.

Examples of Kings that do this include Oba Ogunwusi of Ile-Ife, Oba Aladelusi of Akure and Oba Akiolu of Lagos and Oba Ewuare II of Benin. Although the Benin Kingdom is not located within Yorubaland, its Oba ruling dynasty traces its origin to Ile-Ife, the spiritual and historical center of the Yoruba culture.

The title is distinct from that of Oloye in Yorubaland, which is itself used in like fashion by subordinate titleholders in the contemporary Yoruba chieftaincy system.

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