In Nigeria, the monarchy system is patriarchy in nature where only men can become kings and rulers of the society while the women are given supportive and less prominent positions.
Though this is the case across all tribes in the country, there are a few exemptions to this rule as NEWSGIST unveils some female monarchs in Nigeria. Most times, they are referred to as regents, but they act the same role as a male king would do. They attend the council of kings meeting at the local level, state level, and federal level.
Despite being females, this set of monarchs are expected to dress as men and not women because the position they occupy is meant to be masculine.
Regency is a situation embedded in some Yoruba culture whereby an interim king, mostly female, is crowned pending the period a male king will be selected.
Females are preferred as regents because it is believed that they will want to be relieved of the position as soon as possible so they can settle and go ahead with their marital obligations.
A regent must be a daughter of the late king. Normally, regents are not supposed to occupy the position for more than six months but it’s been discovered that some have stayed in the position for ages.
Regents cannot get pregnant while on the throne neither can they marry if unmarried before ascending the throne. But in the case of the male regent, it is believed that he might not want to vacate the throne when the time is up for him to do so.
NEWSGIST presents seven regents found in Nigeria below:
1. HRM Moyinoluwa Olubunmi Falowo
She is a regent at Ibule in Ifedore local government area Ondo state. She is a graduate of Ondo state University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH) where she studied microbiology.
HRM Falowo became a regent in April 2019 after the demise of her father. She is to reign as king until the kingmakers select a new king to rule over the affairs of the community.
2. HRM Taiwo Oyebola Agbona
Regent Taiwo Oyebola Agbona was crowned in 2017 to temporarily take the throne of her ancestors until the kingmakers choose a male king through the guidance of their ancestors.
NEWSGIST gathered that the regent was chosen due to the fact that she is the first girl child. She was crowned to take the throne after the Alaaye of Aaye Oba Agbona Orimori 11, passed and joined his ancestors on May 4, 2017.
She is a graduate of Achievers University in Owo where she studied medical laboratory science.
3. HRM Tinuade Babalola Adejuiyegbe
Tinuade Babalola Adejuiyegbe is the Oluborapa of Ibroropa in Akoko, Ondo state. She became a regent on February 23, 2015, shortly after her father, Oba Emmanuel Ayowole Adejuyigbe’s demise.
As at the time she became a regent, she was a teenager and an undergraduate at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo state, studying public administration. She graduated in 2018 and observed the mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2019 as the first monarch to do so. She is 22 years old.
4. HRM Elizabeth O.T. Orogun
HRM Elizabeth Olayinka Tolani Orogun is the regent of Akunu Akoko in Ondo state.
5. HRM Adekemi Omorinbola
She is a traditional ruler and the Asin of Iwara-Oka Akoko, Ondo state. She was a teenager and a secondary school student when she ascended the throne of her father on January 9, 2010. She later moved on with her education to study psychology at the Ekiti State University even as a monarch.
Regent Omorinbola is the last-born of the family of six daughters but was chosen by the oracle to lead the community after the demise of her father.
6. HRM Regent Princess Damilola Falegan
She is a regent to the throne of Irese, Onirese of Irese kingdom, Ifedore local government area of Ondo state.
Regent Falegan recently turned 25 on November 11, 2020.
7. Regent Tejumade Falade Adeboye
She is the Odopetu of Akure kingdom. She ascended the throne shortly after she got married. She celebrated her first wedding anniversary on November 9.
She is a fashion designer.
