According to the cherished oral tradition of the Owu people, Ajíbọ̀sìn, the first Olowu of Owu, was the son of Ìyúnadé, a granddaughter of Odùduwà, the revered progenitor of the Yoruba people. This maternal lineage places Ajíbọ̀sìn within the royal house of Odùduwà and affirms the legitimacy of the Owu monarchy from its very inception.
Owu tradition further maintains that Odùduwà personally entrusted Ajíbọ̀sìn with the establishment of the Owu Kingdom and installed him as its pioneer monarch. To ensure the stability of the new kingdom, he appointed the Ìwàrẹ́fà—the six principal chiefs—to accompany the young monarch as guardians of the kingdom, custodians of tradition, military commanders, and administrators of the emerging state.
This genealogy is of profound significance in Owu historical consciousness. It reflects not only a familial connection to the house of Odùwà but also the constitutional and spiritual legitimacy of the Olowu dynasty. Through Ajíbọ̀sìn, the Owu Kingdom traces its royal heritage directly to the founding lineage of Yorubaland, a tradition that has been preserved across generations through oral history, royal customs, and the enduring institution of the Olowu.
Owu l’akoda
-Chief Abiodun Lasile, DL, MnbR
Orunto Baalufe, Owu Kingdom, Abeokuta
