<P> Most of the city states were controlled by Obas (or royal sovereigns with various individual titles) and councils made up of Oloyes, recognised leaders of royal, noble and, often, even common descent, who joined them in ruling over the kingdoms through a series of guilds and cults . Different states saw differing ratios of power between the kingships and the chiefs' councils . Some, such as Oyo, had powerful, autocratic monarchs with almost total control, while in others such as the Ijebu city - states, the senatorial councils held more influence and the power of the ruler or Ọba, referred to as the Awujale of Ijebuland, was more limited . </P> <P> Yoruba settlements are often described as primarily one or more of the main social groupings called "generations": </P> <Ul> <Li> The "first generation" includes towns and cities known as original capitals of founding Yoruba kingdoms or states . </Li> <Li> The "second generation" consists of settlements created by conquest . </Li> <Li> The "third generation" consists of villages and municipalities that emerged following the internecine wars of the 19th century . </Li> </Ul> <Li> The "first generation" includes towns and cities known as original capitals of founding Yoruba kingdoms or states . </Li>

Among the yoruba the orishas are distinguished by which type of symbol