Ota Traditional Chiefs - Ogboni Chiefs

Ogboni Chiefs

These eight chiefs represent the Ogboni (or Osugbo) secret society. This group was responsible for maintenance of law and order in Ota before the advent of the police. Two of them, the Oluwo and the Lisa, also participate as Kingmakers.

• The Oluwo of Ota

The Oluwo is a highly placed position among Ota's chiefs. He conducts the inauguration ceremonies of the four quarter chiefs and is also responsible for performing traditional Yoruba rituals at the Ojudinobi grove. Following the installation of a new Olota, the Oluwo performs rituals for him on the third, ninth, seventeenth, and ninetieth days following his installation.

• The Apena of Ota
• The Lisa of Ota

The Lisa is one of the most important officers in the Ogboni secret society, and makes vital decisions in the day to day running of the group. Before the introduction of Western-style laws, he also played a major part of the justice system in Ota. The Lisa is chosen from the Idowu-Eleku family, and the head of the family presents candidates to a group of ten Kingmakers: the Ajana of Ijana, the Balogun, the Seriki, the Bada of Ijana, the Olori of Ijana, the Oluwo of Osugbo Itoki, the Apena of Osugbo Itoki, the Apena of Osugbo Itoki, the Oloregan of Osugbo Itoki, the Oganla of Ijana, and the Eletu of Ijana.

• The Ashipa of Ota
• The Odofin of Ota
• The Oloregan of Ota
• The Ashiwaju Oodua of Ota
• The Oluwo of Osugbo Itoki

The Oluwo of Osugbo Itoki is the chief priest of the secret society. He is also known as Olitoki. The Osugbo Itoki is located near the Esa night market in Ota. His duties include worshiping the edan and offering sacrifices.