The Ooni
Arole Oduduwa · Paramount King of the Yoruba · 51st Ooni of Ife
First Among
Yoruba Kings
The Ooni of Ife is the spiritual and traditional ruler of Ile-Ife and the paramount monarch of the Yoruba people worldwide. The office traces an unbroken lineage directly to Oduduwa — the divine ancestor who descended from the heavens and created the first land.
The current ruler, His Imperial Majesty Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, is the 51st Ooni of Ife. He ascended to the throne in December 2015, succeeding Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II. He is counted first among Yoruba kings and is traditionally regarded as the Arole Oduduwa — the heir to Oduduwa's spiritual throne.
The Office of The Ooni
Chief Priest
The Ooni serves as Chief Priest and custodian of the holy city of all the Yorubas. He alone may perform certain sacred rites and is the intermediary between the Yoruba people and their ancestors.
The 401st Orisha
Ile-Ife is the city of 201 or 401 deities. The Ooni is traditionally considered the 401st Spirit (Orisha) — uniquely, the only one who speaks. His words carry the weight of both earthly authority and divine mandate.
Paramount King
The Ooni is counted first among all Yoruba kings. As Arole Oduduwa, he is the living representative of the divine progenitor of the Yoruba nation, and his blessing is sought at every major Yoruba ceremony and festival.