Adebonojo

History

Structurally the Ijebu Native Administration was divided into six districts under district heads. Four of the district heads were crowned, namely (their towns in parentheses), the Akarigbo (Sagamu), Dagburewe (Idowa), Olowu (Owu), and Ajalorun (Ijebu-Ife). The other two were the Bale of Ijebu Igbo and the Olisa, the chief next to the Awujale in Ijebu Ode.

Awujale

At the head of the administration was the Awujale, who was designated the Native Authority and invested with statutory executive and legislative powers. He was assisted by a Judicial Council comprising the district heads. In addition to its executive and legislative duties, the Judicial Council functioned as a superior court to the Native Courts, which were presided over by designated town rulers within each court's area of jurisdiction. The administration was run under the overall supervision of the local British officials

The Adebonojo family hail from the Dagburewe Royal family of Ijebu Idowa, a prominent village in Ijebu province, Ogun State Nigeria. The Adebonojo family are from the Yoruba tribe of southern Nigeria.

Unlike a number of similar names in Nigeria like Adebanjo, Adebisi, etc., there is only one Adebonojo family who all descend from the lineage of Oba Dagburewe Adebonojo, the Dagburewe of Ijebu Idowa.

Dagburewe

Oba Dagburewe of Ijebu Idowa was a sanitary inspector in the early 1920s; he was a very educated man who resided in Ijebu Ode. His surname at the time was Bonojo and he lived on the famous Bonojo Street of Ijebu Ode. His mother was from Ijebu Idowa while his father was from Ijebu Ode. On the death of the previous Dagburewe, the people of Ijebu Idowa wanted an individual who was educated and was familiar with the colonial governors at the time to ascend to the throne, because Ijebu Idowa was one of the most influential Ijebu communities.

Mr. S Bonojo was seen as a befitting individual to ascend to the throne, even though his claim to it was via his maternal links. On his ascension Mr S Bonojo added the Ade (crown) to his surname therefore bringing about the Adebonojo family name. On his ascension to the throne, he became Oba Dagburewe Adebonojo, with far reaching powers across Ijebuland and would regularly sit over court proceedings. Oba Dagburewe wore a beaded crown [1] this crown was of significant spiritual relevance and had been passed down from the 17th century. Oba Dagburewe died in the mid-1950s and was survived by four wives and a total of 13 children. The title, Dagburewe still survives till date as a first class kingship, though diminished in stature due to the decreasing responsibilities of today's governmental setup. The present Dagburewe of Idowa is Oba Yunusa Adekoya who has two wives and children with grandchildren.