Ooni
/ˈoʊ.ni/noun
A Yoruba royal title for the traditional ruler of Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
Did you know?The Ooni of Ife is traditionally regarded as the spiritual custodian of Ile-Ife, one of Yoruba civilization’s most sacred ancestral centers.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial period
Yoruba
Ọọ̀ni
“Traditional title of the ruler of Ile-Ife”
Ancient Yoruba tradition
Yoruba
Ilé-Ifẹ̀
“Ile-Ife, the sacred ancestral city associated with the origin of humanity”
19th Century
English
Ooni
“English rendering of the Yoruba royal title”
20th Century
English
Ooni of Ife
“The traditional monarch and spiritual head of Ile-Ife”
Modern English
English
Ooni
“A recognized title and proper noun for the ruler of Ile-Ife”