JOMULAJA OF ONDO KINGDOM: Appreciations and Season’s Greetings!
To the glory of God, we concluded the third and final lap of our chieftaincy installation protocols, as Jomulaja of Ondo Kingdom, yesterday, December 17, 2024. It was preceded by the First ‘Efun Oyè’ ceremony, held on September 20, 2024. This involved the delivery of the first ‘efun oyè’ to us at home, by the emissaries of the Òsemàwé and Paramount Ruler of Ondo Kingdom, to announce our preferment as the next Jomulaja. The Second ‘Efun Oye’ delivery, also a colourful ceremony to proclaim the date chosen for the formal installation, took place on December 1, 2024.
As I noted in the post-installation Reception Programme, Ondo Kingdom is the domain of the Ondo Èkímògún people of Ondo State, Nigeria; at the core of which is Ondo City. The Èkímògún are indigenous to Ondo East and Ondo West Local Government Areas (LGA), but have significant presence in a couple of contiguous LGA. The Ondo marked the 500th year of the recorded history of their monarchy in 2010.
At the head of the traditional monarchical leadership structure is the Òsemàwé. Next to him are the six High Chiefs (Èghàre), who also serve as the kingmakers – Lisa, Jomu, Odunwo, Sasere, Adaja and Odofin. They are followed by the Oílè Ùkulè, who are seven in number – Orunto, Arogbo, Logbosere, Odofindi, Sagwe, Sara, and Olotu Omoba. Other categories of traditional chieftaincies are Òtù (also regarded as part of the larger Oílè Ùkulè), Elegbé, and Ìjámà. There are also the Olójà category, and honourary chiefs.
In the female category are the five Opoji (female high chiefs), under the Lobun of Ondo Kingdom – Lisa-Lobun, Jomu-Lobun, Orangun-Lobun, Sasere-Lobun, and Adafin-Lobun.
In the Òtù chieftaincy category are Logbosere, Salaja, Jomulaja, Sumo, and Samo, in that hierarchical order; followed by a long lineup of more than 100 other very distinguished chieftaincy titles. Salaja, Jomulaja, Sumo, and Samo – in this order of importance, are the Àgbàkè (high chiefs) of Òtù, headed by Logbosere.
Everyone in this great pantheon of chiefs is assigned general, and in some cases, specific responsibilities relating to securing order, and development in the Kingdom, by the Òsemàwé Palace.
I cannot thank Àbáìyé, His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr) Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, CFR, Jilo III, Òsemàwé and Paramount Ruler of Ondo Kingdom, enough, for considering me worthy of the high office of Jomulaja. I also use this medium to appreciate our High Chiefs, for the honour.
The good people of Ondo Kingdom turned out in their numbers at the installation ceremonies, on December 9, 2024. I am most grateful for this. Same goes our family members, senior citizens, friends and professional colleagues, at home and in the Diaspora, for their boisterous participation in the entire installation protocols. Many others conveyed their good wishes through personal contacts, phone calls, text messages, and letters. Amongst these were Governors Babagana Umara Zulum, FNSE, mni, of Borno State; and Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, of Ogun State.
I am particularly grateful to His Excellency, Professor Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, OFR, GCON, former Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations (UN), and President of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly, who chaired the post-installation Reception. Ditto, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa, an elder statesman and former Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Federal University, Lafia, and immediate past Secretary of Afenifere, who was the guest of honour. For obvious reasons, His Excellency, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, CON, former Governor of Ondo State, and his adorable wife, Olukemi Mimiko, served as the chief hosts.
I cannot thank Dr. Toyin Falola enough. The Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair Professor in the Humanities at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas, USA, did an amazing treatise on the Jomulaja title, and our suitability for same at these times. The piece has since gone viral (https://toyinfalolanetwork.org/professor-femi-mimiko-following-an-eagle-to-ondo/).
To be sure, all of these activities – associated with our entrance into the very vortex of our community’s traditional governance structure – are directed at reimaging our very rich African culture. And this, is a key element in the decoloniality conversation, which is sorely needed for properly situating and canalizing our development aspirations as a people. These of course, also dovetail into enhancing the possibilities for wholesome development at the level of our local communities.
As the year 2024 steadily inches to an end, I urge you to please accept my best wishes and that of my dear wife, Ògbégbá Jomulaja, Barrister Bosede Mimiko, for a peaceful and blessed New Year.
‘Merci beaucoup’!
Femi Mimiko, PhD, mni,
Jomulaja of Ondo Kingdom.
December 18, 2024.
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