The Second Osile of Oke-Ona Egba

A Glimpse into the History of an Early Oke-Ona Monarch

The history of Oke-Ona Egba is deeply rooted in the courage, resilience, traditions and institutions established by generations of our forebears.

Among the monarchs who occupy an important place in that history is Oba Sanyaolu Adebare I, recorded as the second Osile of Oke-Ona Egba in Abeokuta.

Following the reign of Oba Karunwi I, the first Osile to occupy the restored Osile throne in Abeokuta, Oba Sanyaolu Adebare I succeeded to the throne around 1900.

According to a historical record preserved in the Nigerian National Library repository, the succession of the Osile of Oke-Ona from 1897 is recorded as:

Oba Karunwi I — 1897–1899
Oba Sanyaolu Adebare I — 1900–1902
Oba Sokunbi Karunwi II — 1904–1918

This source specifically records Oba Sanyaolu Adebare I as reigning for two years, from 1900 to 1902 from Ganganojuda Ruling House.

One of the most remarkable details associated with Oba Sanyaolu Adebare I is his connection with Christianity.

Historical accounts identify him as a Christian monarch and state that, upon his death, he received a Christian burial conducted by Rev. Welbom of the Wesleyan Church.

This detail is historically significant because his reign occurred at a period when Christianity was becoming increasingly influential in Abeokuta and among the Egba people.

His story therefore provides an interesting window into the interaction between traditional Yoruba kingship and the emerging Christian influence in early twentieth-century Egba society.

Oba Sanyaolu Adebare I became Osile at a particularly important period in the history of Oke-Ona Egba.

The Osile institution had only recently been restored in Abeokuta with the installation of Oba Karunwi I in 1897.

Oba Sanyaolu Adebare therefore belonged to the earliest generation of Osile monarchs to occupy the throne in Abeokuta following that restoration.

His reign came at a time when Egba society was experiencing significant political, religious and social changes.

Traditional institutions were interacting with the colonial administration, missionary Christianity was expanding, and the old political order was gradually taking new forms.

After Oba Sanyaolu Adebare I, the Osile throne was subsequently occupied by Oba Sokunbi Karunwi II, who was crowned on Easter Monday, 4 April 1904, by Bishop Oluwole.

Historical accounts describe Karunwi II as the first educated Christian Oba in Egbaland.

It is important for historians and descendants to note that there is a discrepancy in published accounts concerning the length of Oba Sanyaolu Adebare I’s reign.

The Nigerian National Library record and other historical listings give 1900–1902, while the Lisabi Elite Association’s published history gives 1900–1920.

For the purpose of historical accuracy, Voice of Oke-Ona Egba adopts 1900–1902 as the presently better-supported date and he is from the GanGanojuda Ruling house.

Further examination of Oke-Ona palace records, traditional archives, missionary records and colonial documents may ultimately resolve this discrepancy.

At Voice of Oke-Ona Egba, we believe that history must be preserved, investigated and passed from one generation to another.

The story of Oba Sanyaolu Adebare I deserves further research, particularly concerning his ancestry, ruling house, family, circumstances of accession, activities during his reign, death and burial, and the historical records preserved by the Oke-Ona traditional institution.

If you possess old documents, photographs, palace records, family histories or oral traditions concerning Oba Sanyaolu Adebare I, we welcome them as part of our collective effort to document the history of Oke-Ona Egba.

Ìtàn wa ni ìdí wa.
Àṣà wa ni ìdánimọ̀ wa.
Ìran wa ni a ń kọ́ ìtàn fún.

VOICE OF OKE-ONA EGBA
Preserving Our History, Our Culture and Projecting Our Heritage

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