Alara of Ilara-Mokin

Alara (Yoruba: Alárá) is the royal title of the king of Ilara-Mokin land in Nigeria. The Alara may be addressed as Oba, like rulers in other Yoruba kingdoms, or as His Royal Highness. Alara is also known to be unquestionable (Yoruba: kábíyèsí), with an authority that is said to be next to the gods (Yoruba: alásẹ ìkejì òrìsà).

History[]

The first Alárá of Ilara-Mokin was Ọbalúfọ̀n Modulua Olutipin, who was also known as Obalufon Ogbogbodirin. According to oral history. Ọbalufon left from an area in Ilé-Ìfẹ̀ called Ará (hence why Ilara is named Ilara, "Ilé Ará," "land of Ara") along with other people and fellow leaders such as Ajígun Ọlọ́fin. There, Ọbalufon established many settlements and towns in what is now the Ekiti region. Among those towns were Ìlárá. Upon Obalufon's departure, he placed his son Àyájọ́ on the throne as the second Alárá.

The name Alárá comes from the phrase, "oní Ará," meaning, "owner or leader of the Ará," referring to the original place where the people of Ìlárá-Mọ̀kín originated from. Kings of other towns in the Ekiti and surrounding regions also founded by Ọbalufon also use the title Alárá, such as Alárá of Arámọkọ-Èkìtì, Alárá of Ará (in Osun State).

Ruling Houses[]

Ilara-Mokin has two royal houses, Agbekorun and Afunbiokin ( houses, whom were originally one royal dynasty before being split by the descendants of Alara Agbekorun, Iyata I and Alara Afunbiokin, Agbesa I, who were likely brothers. The Kingship thus alternates between the two houses. The current monarch is a member of the Agbekorun House, and is a direct descendant of Oba Agbekorun.^[1]

Accession Process[]

A council of 9 or 12 chiefs called the Kingmakers, "Afọbajẹ," headed by the Obaala of Ilara-Mokin, have the traditional power to enthrone the king, with the aid of the Ifa. The Obaala or another Chief Ifa priest often performs the Ifa rituals needed to consult the god Ọ̀rúnmìlà regarding who was the best candidate to become King. The royal house that is due to rule presents a series of princes who become candidates to the throne. Once the Kingmakers select the King, he is put through a series of rituals based on the Ìṣẹ̀ṣe religion of the Yoruba people, before he is presented to the people and crowned.

Today[]

His Royal Highness, Oba Abiodun Aderemi Adefehinti is the king of Ilara-Mokin, he ascended the throne on 17 July 1998.

List of Alaras[]

^[2]^[3]^[4]

Tenure	Incumbent	Notes
c.1400s	Founding of Ilara-Mokin
c.1400	Obalufon Modulua "Olutipin", Alara	Said to be the same person as Obalufon Alayemore, he founded many Ekiti towns. He led his family and a group of supporters from Ile Ife and founded a community which became Ilara-Mokin, before leaving to return to Ife. He placed his son, Ayajo on the throne.
c.1405-unknown	Ayajo, Alara	Son of Obalufon Modulua, became ruler of Ilara after his father returned to Ile-Ife.
unknown	Ogbolumodu-Ifa, Alara	Likely a son or male relative of Ayajo, succeeded him to the throne
unknown	Olugbo, Alara	Likely a son of Ogbolumodu-Ifa
unknown	Eyinmirin, Alara	Likely a son of Olugbo
unknown	Itakiti Owunrin, Alara	Likely a son of Eyinmirin
unknown	Araya Gbokun, Alara	Son of Itakiti Owunrin
unknown	Ariyinbole, Alara	Son of Araya Gbokun
unknown	Ogbarugbode Alara	Son of Ariyinbole
unknown	Ogidi Loogun (Oke bi orun-o-si), Alara	Son of Ogbarugbode
unknown	Otiti (Elewo Oogun), Alara	Son of Ogidi Loogun
unknown	Atakoro ni Gbaun, Alara	Son of Otiti
unknown	Ogidigidi Loogun, (Ateri Iroko Mudako), Alara	Possibly the same as Oba Ogidi Loogun, or a descendant
unknown	Oboye Leekan, Alara	son of Ogidigidi Loogun
unknown	Adeyeye I, Alara	Son of Oboye Leekan, Ancestor of Oba Adeyeye II, Solomon Adubi Ojopagogo
unknown	Esunmirin Egbeke, Alara	Son of Adeyeye I
1700s	Adetomiluyi, (Alataoji Ori), Alara	Son of Esunmirin
early 1800s	Apeloye bi Awukale, Alara	Son of Adetomiluyi
c. 1815 - c.1820	Ajiperi Igbodo, Alara	Son of Apeloye bi Awukale, likely the most recent common ancestor of the two royal houses, Agbekorun and Afunbiokin.
c. 1815 to c. 1870	Agbekorun (Iyata I), Alara	Son of Ajiperi Igbodo, brother of Afunbiokin, and progenitor of one of the current royal houses of Ilara-Mokin, Agbekorun. He rose to the throne at the age of 3 after the sudden death of his father, and ruled for 55 years before dying at the age of 58 and succeeded by his brother. He is an ancestor of the current Alara. Possibly the monarch that migrated the people of Ilara to their present location
c. 1870 - c. 1880	Afunbiokin (Agbesa), Alara	Likely a son of Ajiperi Igbodo and a brother of Agbekorun, is the progenitor of the other royal house of Ilara-Mokin, Afunbiokin/Afinbiokin. The monarch during the Kiriji War.
c. 1880 - c. 1895	Agunsoyebiioyinbo, Alara	Name means "One who rises to the throne like a white man," likely a King during the mid to late 1800s, a son or grandson of Agbekorun.
c. 1895- c. 1910	Osuntuyi (Odundun Asodedero), Alara	Ruled around the time of Odundun I of Akure, a member of the Afinbiokin Royal House and a son or grandson of Afunbiokin, Agbesa I. Likely the monarch during the advent of British colonialism
c. 1910 - c. 1925	Opokiti ni Baba Akaye jo biowo, Alara	Member of the Agbekorun royal House
c. 1925- c. 1945	Okerukusoro (Okérùkùṣorọ̀), Agunlokobioyinbo, Alara	Member of the Afinbiokin royal House
c. 1945 - c.1950	Adamu Aladegbohungbe (Arojojoye Adeletejiteji), Alara	Member of the Agbekorun royal House. He was sent into exile for declaring himself to be a crowned monarch and equating himself with the Deji of Akure, the Oba Adesida I a more powerful monarch in the region.
c. 1955 - 1995	Solomon Adubi Ojopagogo, Afunbiokin Adeyeye II, Alara	First Christian Alara, born in c. 1925, rose to the throne in c. 1955 after the exile of Oba Adamu Aladegbohungbe, ruled till about 1995, member of the Afinbiokin Royal House
1998–present	Abiodun Aderemi Adefehinti, Agbekorun II, Alara	Descendant of Agbekorun, member of the Agbekorun Royal House, rose to the throne upon the death of Oba Adeyeye II and was crowned on July 17, 1998, and is the current King.

References[]

^ "King's profile – Ilara".
^ "Programme for launch of fund for an ultramodern palace in commemoration of the 10th coronation anniversary of H.R.H. Oba Abiodun Aderemi Adefehinti J.P. Agbekorun II Alara of Ilara-Mokin". Egbe Omo Ilara-Mokin. 2008-07-19.
^ "PAST KINGS & CABINETS – Ilara".
^ "Osolo and Iralepo as Minor Obas Under the Deji of Akure".

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[1] "King's profile – Ilara".

[10th_coronation_anniversary_of_H.R.H._Oba_Abiodun_Aderemi_Adefehinti-2] "Programme for launch of fund for an ultramodern palace in commemoration of the 10th coronation anniversary of H.R.H. Oba Abiodun Aderemi Adefehinti J.P. Agbekorun II Alara of Ilara-Mokin". Egbe Omo Ilara-Mokin. 2008-07-19.

[3] "PAST KINGS & CABINETS – Ilara".

[4] "Osolo and Iralepo as Minor Obas Under the Deji of Akure".

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