The Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Dr. Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, Ige Olakulehin I has installed Chief Isiaka Adegoke Adebayọ as the Mọgaji Ile-Ayẹ́yẹ́, Ayẹ́yẹ́.
The installation, which took place on Monday, 16th June 2025 at the Olubàdàn’s Palace, Oke-Arẹmọ, Ìbàdàn was performed in the presence of the Olubadan-In-Council and attended by dignitaries from all walks of life.
In Ìbàdànland, every compound has a Mogaji who may rise to become the Olubàdàn in the future in accordance with the Olubàdàn ascendancy.
Speaking with our reporter, the Olori Ẹbi of Ile-Ayẹ́yẹ́, Akọgun ‘Ṣẹ́gun Òbé, said Ayẹ́yẹ́, their ancestor, was a warrior from Ọ̀yọ́-Ilé (Old Ọ̀yọ́). He was one of the prominent warriors who opted to stay in Ìbàdàn after the Owu war in 1810.
Obe, a former Secretary General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) and former Secretary to the Local Government (1999-2002) of Ibadan North Local Government, going down memory lane, said after the Owu War, the warriors from Ifẹ, Ọyọ and some from Ijẹbu who fought in the war did not go back to their towns but opted to stay in Ibadan. Initially, they did not have the intention of starting a town, they just used the place as a hideout and camp where they normally came back to after their various expeditions. It was a war camp. Later the camp grew and a city evolved.
They eventually picked Mayẹ, the head of the warriors from Ifẹ to be the overall head or Baalẹ. The choice of Mayẹ at the time was made possible because the warriors from Ifẹ were more than others from other towns. The most prominent names of the warriors in Ibadan at that time were – Mayẹ, Ẹgẹ, Labọsinde, Ọ̀rọ́, Ṣingùnsin and Ogidi (who were warriors from Ifẹ and Ijẹbu), while the warriors from Ọyọ and Osun were Oluyedun, Oluyole, Babalola (Baba Fijabi), Ọdẹrinlọ (Baba Tanpe), Ọpẹagbe, Lakanlẹ, Toki, Olupoyi, Onibudo and Ayẹyẹ. Lamọdi is the head of the Ẹgba warriors that resides in Ibadan at that time.
It was Ayẹ́yẹ́ that started the Ayẹ́yẹ́ Market that is still at Ayẹ́yẹ́ Compound up till today. Mọgaji Yussuf Mogbọnjubọla was the last Mọgaji of Ilé Ayẹ́yẹ́. He became Mọgaji in the early 1950s and died on the 23rd January 1973. Since then, Ilé Ayẹ́yẹ́ have not had another Mọgaji up till now when Mọgaji Isiaka Adegoke Adebayo was installed on Monday 16th June 2055. The Ayẹ́yẹ́ Dynasty consists of four sections; Mogbọnjubọla, Òbé, Adebayọ and Alarape. The new Mọgaji is from the Adebayọ Section of The Ayẹ́yẹ́ Dynasty. He’s a member of the prestigious Ibadan House of Lords (An affiliate Club Member of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes – CCII).
