Orangun or á»ÂÃÂràngún of ÃÂlá is the title of the paramount ruler of one of the ancient Igbomina kingdoms, a sub group of the Yoruba people with its seat and capital located in Ila Orangun, central Yorubaland, presently in southwestern Nigeria.
The origin of the title can be traced to the mythology of a history of Oduduwa, the progenitor of Yoruba race whose child birth was not forthcoming as a king that was in dire need of an heir to the throne.
History has it that he was one of the seven grandchildren of Odùduwàspecifically, the fourth child in the roll of children. He inherited numerous crowns and beads from the father. He left Ile-Ife to found his own land with ÃÂdá-ÃÂgbó (a machete like tool that was used to clear bush paths while they were sojourning) and á»ÂÃÂpá á»ÂÃÂrẹÃÂrẹà( A royal symbolic staff). It had been foretold that wherever the staff is firstly placed consciously or by a mistake, would be their settlement and that was how they settled at their first abode, ÃÂlá-Kòló.
According to Yoruba oral history, the first ÃÂràngún was the first grandson of OdùduwÃÂ, the mythical ancestor of the Yoruba, who was king at Ile-Ife in ancient times. OdùduwàâÂÂs first grandson, the oldest son of Oduduwa's only son Okanbi, was named Fagbamila and nicknamed ÃÂràngún. The nickname is a contraction of á»ÂÃÂràn màgún, meaning "my situation is perfect", although an alternative but implausible etymology exists.
Odùduwàis said to have given a crown to each of his grandsons (some accounts say 16) and sent them off to found their own kingdoms.
The first ÃÂràngún was given a massive, curved cutlass called "Ogbo" by Odùduwàto clear his way in the forest but the main purpose of the "Ogbo" gift was the inherent power to lead the young prince to a suitable place to settle down and establish his own kingdom. This "Ogbo" is claimed by oral historians. as the source of the name "Igbomina" (from "Ogbo mi mo ona" or "Ogbo mo ona", a statement attributed to the original ÃÂràngún, meaning "My Ogbo knows the way", or "The Ogbo knows the way"), which the Yoruba sub-ethnic of northeastern Yorubaland (of ÃÂsun and Kwara States of Nigeria) are called.
This translation of Ogbo is only one interpretation; in standardized Yoruba, Ogbo in fact means Long Life, or Senior citizen, depending on where the accents are. Ada, is the yoruba word for cutlass, Ogbo mi mo ona would correctly translate to "My elder shows me the road".
In Ila Orangun, the historical capital of the Igbomina kingdom and Ila Local Government area of Osun State, the current Orangun is Oba Wahab Kayode Adedeji Oyedotun. He was crowned in 2003 following a five year long dispute between the princes eligiblefor the throne.
In Oke-Ila Orangun, a breakaway town and capital of Ifedayo, the current Orangun is Oba Adedokun Omoniyi Abolarin, of the Obasolo Ruling House, one of the four ruling houses among which the title rotates in Oke-Ila Orangun. He was installed on December 8, 2006.
For the first time in more than three centuries, the two Orangun reigning in both Oke-Ila and Ila are descendants of Arutu Oluokun, the younger prince who led the exodus of the youth from the united kingdom at Ila Yara about 500 years ago.