A BRIEF HISTORY OF ATAOJA OF OSOGBO CONTINUES...

The Matanmi Family's Reign

During the reign of Oyipi, some members of the Matanmi family ascended the throne. Oladejobi Oladele Matanmi I ruled from 1854 to 1864, and Atanda Olukaye Olugbeja Matanmi II ruled from 1903 to 1917.

In 1920, the people of Osogbo rose against the forceful successors of Lahanmi (Oyipi) and insisted that a rightful heir from the royal lineage be installed as the Ataoja of Osogbo. The descendants of both Larooye and Sogbodede held a meeting to resolve the crisis. It was agreed that ascension to the throne would rotate between two groups: Lahanmi/Matanmi (female section) and Sogbodede (male section).

Modern Era and Chieftaincy Declarations

Kolawole Alabi, a great-grandchild of Sogbodede, was installed as Ataoja in 1920 and ruled until 1933. Samuel Oyedokun (from Lahanmi/Matanmi) succeeded him. After Oyedokun, Samuel Adeleye Adenle from the Sogbodede lineage ascended the throne in 1944 and ruled until 1975. Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi III ascended the throne in 1976 from the Lahanmi/Matanmi lineage and reigned until 2010.

In 1957, the customs and traditions regulating the selection and installation of Ataoja were codified into a chieftaincy declaration, creating two ruling houses: Lahanmi/Matanmi and Sogbodede. During Oba Oyewale Matanmi's reign, the 2005 Amended Chieftaincy Declaration was made, creating five houses: Matanmi, Laro, Oyipi, Lajomo, and Sogbo. This declaration did not reflect the true customs and traditions regarding the selection to the throne of Ataoja.

Comparing the 2005 declaration with the 1957 declaration reveals significant disparities. Lajomo has never been a ruling house under the customs and traditions for selecting the Ataoja of Osogbo. Matanmi and Oyipi hail from the female ruling house (Lahanmi/Matanmi), while Laro is a wrongly used name for the male ruling house (Sogbo).