Ìyál'ọ́jà
{{Short description|An important Yoruba female chieftaincy title}}
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{{Lang|yo|Ìyál'ọ́jà|italic=no}} (pronounced ee-yah-lo-ja) is a Yoruba word that literally translates to "Mother of the Market".{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zje-ezN86D4C&q=former+iyaloja+of+lagos&pg=PA107 |title=State, Local Governments and the Management of Markets in Lagos and Ibadan since the 1950s |date=April 2007 |isbn=9782811141752 |access-date=2018-07-02}} It has commonly been used to refer to a prominent traditional chieftaincy title among the Yoruba people.
History
Across various Yoruba markets and the states they belong to, an Iyaloja is usually democratically chosen by her constituents (and is thereafter confirmed by the oba) or single-handedly chosen by the oba himself. In rare situations, like the case of the Iyaloja of Lagos in 2013, the deceased Iyaloja can choose her successor before her death. {{Cite web |url=http://encomium.ng/tinubus-daughter-folashade-opens-up-on-iyalode-general-title/ |title=Tinubu's daughter, Folashade opens up on Iyalode-General title |last=admin |date=14 November 2013 |website=Encomium |access-date=2018-07-02}}
Research into the ancient culture and tradition of the Yoruba people has shown that despite the chieftaincy structure being largely patriarchal, the female titleholders Iyalode, Iyaloja and Iyalaje are three of the most important leaders in the system, figures whose opinions carried as much weight as those of the male chiefs.{{Cite web |url=http://www.codesria.org/IMG/pdf/GA_Chapter-6_ogundipe.pdf |title=Gender and Culture in Indigenous Films in Nigeria |last=Ogundipe |first=Ayodele |date=29 October 2004 |website=CODESRIA |access-date=2018-07-02}}{{Cite web |url=http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/2662/#.WzqH7NVKjIW |title= Share Women's political invisibility in Nigeria and need for Deliberate media agenda |date=13 July 2014 |website=Covenant University |access-date=2018-07-02}} An equivalent male title known as Babaloja, meaning Father of the Market, is also functionally a subordinate of the Iyaloja.{{fact|date=March 2023}}
List of “Iyalojas” in Lagos
Controversies
On 1 January 2017, the News Agency of Nigeria reported that the Iyaloja of Ibadan, Chief Labake Lawal, had been impeached for financial misconduct by the "Ibadan Joint Traders Association". The supposedly removed Iyaloja later played down her removal, explaining that only the traditional monarch, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, had the authority to appoint or replace the Iyaloja.{{Cite web |url=http://punchng.com/iyaloja-ibadanland-removed/ |title=Iyaloja of Ibadanland removed |date=1 January 2017 |website=The Punch |access-date=2018-07-03}} On 9 May 2017, after the appointment of Alhaja Iswat Abiola Ameringun as the new Iyaloja by the Olubadan, Chief Lawal described her removal as a show of ethnic bias and a reflection of a lack of due process as only the Olubadan-in-Council was capable of removing her.{{Cite web |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/05/confusion-ibadan-markets-two-claim-iyaloja-title/ |title=Confusion in Ibadan markets as two claim Iyaloja title |last=Ajayi |first=Ola |date=9 May 2017 |website=Vanguard |access-date=2018-07-03}} A new development ensued when most of the members of the traditional council disagreed with the decision from the Olubadan and posited that the removal of Chief Lawal did not represent the position of most of the cabinet members.{{Cite web |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/05/iyaloja-ibadan-traditional-council-divided-lawals-replacement/ |title=IYALOJA: Ibadan traditional council divided over Lawal's replacement |date=16 May 2017 |website=Vanguard |access-date=2018-07-03}}{{Cite web |url=https://guardian.ng/news/cabinet-members-disown-olubadan-over-imposition-illegal-stripping-of-iyaloja/ |title=Cabinet members disown Olubadan over imposition, illegal stripping of Iyaloja |last=Oluwalana |first=Sam |website=Daily Independent Newspaper |date=16 May 2017 |access-date=2018-07-03}} Further to this, Chief Labake Lawal sued the Olubadan, Olubadan-in-Council and the newly installed Iyaloja for "violating her right to natural justice", urging the court to declare the new appointment "null, void and of no legal effect".{{Cite web |url=http://dailypost.ng/2017/05/15/iyaloja-drags-olubadan-others-court-removal/ |title=Iyaloja drags Olubadan, others to court over removal |last=Ameh |first=Godwin |website=Dailypost |date=15 May 2017 |access-date=2018-07-03}}
In July 2013, it was reported that the daughter of former governor of Lagos State, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had been selected as the new Iyaloja of Lagos, pending the granting of official approval by the Oba of Lagos. This immediately caused a media storm, as critics argued that she wasn't qualified in terms of age and market experience. Others contended that it was a strategy by Chief Tinubu to acquire more power for his family among Lagosians.{{Cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201307011113.html |title=Nigeria: Mogaji's Successor - PDP Calls Tinubu a Despot |date=1 July 2013 |website=This Day |access-date=2018-07-03}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/11/knocks-kudos-iyaloja-generals-choice/ |title=Knocks Kudos for Iyaloja-General's choice |last=Ibiwoye |first=Dotun |date=5 November 2013 |website=Vanguard |access-date=2018-07-03}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/139536-lagos-acn-denies-reports-of-tinubu-appointing-daughter-as-market-leader.html |title=Lagos ACN denies reports of Tinubu appointing daughter as market leader |last=Ezeamalu |first=Ben |date=24 June 2013 |access-date=2018-07-03}} The market leader for Lagos Mainland local government opined that her appointment was a collective one and was not politically influenced.{{Cite web |url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/139839-how-tinubus-daughter-was-appointed-iyaloja-of-lagos.html |title=How Tinubu's daughter was appointed Iyaloja of Lagos |website=Premium Times |date=29 June 2013 |access-date=2018-07-03}} The Secretary General for Lagos Markets explained that her ascension was lawful, and in accordance with the market association's statutes. She also stated that she met the minimum requirement needed to be an Iyaloja.{{Cite web |url=http://www.informationng.com/2013/06/lagos-markets-secretary-general-why-tinubus-daughter-was-chosen-as-new-iyaloja.html |title=Lagos Markets Secretary General: Why Tinubu's Daughter was Chosen as New Iyaloja |website=Information Nigeria |date=29 June 2013 |access-date=2018-07-03}} It was also reported that Folashade was the choice of the late Iyaloja.{{Cite web |url=https://westernpostnigeria.com/life-remembered-alhaja-abibatu-mogaji-1917-2013/ |title=Life Remembered: Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji (1917-2013) |date=16 June 2014 |website=westernpostnigeria.com |access-date=2018-07-03}} Despite these apparent hindrances to her coronation, on 29 October 2013, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo was officially installed as the new Iyaloja. Those present at the ceremony included her stepmother, Oluremi Tinubu, the Oba of Lagos, and the Alake of Egbaland.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2013/10/29/markets-shut-for-new-iyaloja/ |title=Markets Shut For New Iyaloja |website=PM News |access-date=2018-07-03}}