Chief Isiaka Adegoke Adebayo was formally installed as the Mọgaji of Ilé-Ayẹyẹ, Ayẹyẹ, Ìbadan, by His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, the Olubàdàn of Ìbàdànland.
The ceremony, which took place on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the Olubàdàn Palace, Oke-Arẹmọ, was performed in the presence of the Olubadan-in-Council and witnessed by dignitaries from across the state and beyond.
The installation signifies a return of traditional leadership to Ilé-Ayẹyẹ, which has not had a Mọgaji since 1973.
In Ìbàdàn’s traditional system, every family compound, known as Ilé, has a Mọgaji, a family head who is recognized by the Olubàdàn and considered eligible to ascend the royal throne in future, according to the unique Olubàdàn succession structure.
Speaking to the press at the ceremony, Akógun Ṣẹ́gun Òbé, the Olori Ẹbi (Head of the Family) of Ilé-Ayẹ́yẹ́ and former Secretary-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), provided historical context to the legacy of Ayẹ́yẹ́:
“Our progenitor, Ayẹ́yẹ́, was a brave warrior from Ọ̀yọ́-Ilé who chose to remain in Ìbàdàn after the Owu War of 1810. The city was originally a war camp, formed by warriors from Ọ̀yọ, Ifẹ, and Ijẹbu who settled here after their campaigns,” he said.
He explained that the emergence of Ìbàdàn as a city evolved from this war camp, where the warriors later appointed Mayẹ, the leader of the Ifẹ warriors, as Baalẹ (the first head of the settlement), due to the numerical strength of the Ifẹ faction.
“Among the key figures in that historic settlement were warriors like Mayẹ, Ẹgẹ, Labọsinde, Oluyole, Ogidi, and our own Ayẹ́yẹ́. It was Ayẹ́yẹ́ who started the Ayẹ́yẹ́ Market that still exists today within our compound,” Akógun Òbé added.
The last person to hold the title of Mọgaji of Ilé-Ayẹ́yẹ́ was Chief Yussuf Mogbọnjubọla, who was installed in the early 1950s and passed away on January 23, 1973. Since then, the position remained vacant for over 50 years until Chief Adebayọ’s installation.
Chief Isiaka Adebayọ, who hails from the Adebayọ section of the Ayẹ́yẹ́ Dynasty, joins a lineage consisting of four family branches: Mogbọnjubọla, Òbé, Adebayọ, and Alarape. He is also a prominent member of the Ibadan House of Lords, a respected affiliate of the CCII.
The new Mọgaji, in his brief remarks, pledged to uphold the values of his forebears and to work for the progress of the Ayẹ́yẹ́ Compound and Ìbàdànland as a whole:
“I am deeply honoured by this responsibility. I will serve with integrity and ensure that the legacy of our ancestors, especially Baba Ayẹ́yẹ́, is preserved and celebrated. This is not just a title but a call to community service and cultural stewardship.”