Ilesa
| Ilesa | |
|---|---|
  Ilesa Location in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates: NG 7°37′0″N 4°43′0″E / 7.61667°N 4.71667°E | |
| Country |
 Nigeria |
| State | Osun State |
| Population (2007) | |
| • Total | 305.480 |
| • Estimate () | 647.500 |
| (metropolitan area) | |
Ilesa (Yoruba: Iléṣà) is a city located in the Osun State, south west Nigeria; it is also the name of a historic state (also known as Ijesha or Ijesa) centered on that city.[1] The state was ruled by a monarch bearing the title of Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland.[2] The state of Ilesa consisted of Ilesa itself and a number of smaller surrounding cities.[3]
The Ijesa, a term also denoting the people of the state of Ilesa, are part of the present Osun State of Nigeria, Osun State was part of old Oyo state.[4] Some of the popular towns of the Ijesa are Ibokun, Erin Ijesa, Ipetu Jesa, Ijebu Jesa, Esa-Oke, Ipole, Ifewara, Ijeda,Iloko, Iwara, Iperindo, Erinmo, Iwaraja, Idominasi, Ilase, Igangan, Imo, Eti-oni,Ibokun, Ibodi and many others.[5]
The Ilesa Monarchs
The state of Ilesa (Ile ti a sa which means a homeland we chose), Traditional Headquarters of Ijesaland and the capital of the first Local Council in Nigeria (Ijesa/Ekiti Parapo Council) named by the British Colonial Administrator on 21 June 1900 comprising the present day Ondo and Ekiti States of Nigeria. Founded c. 1350 by Owaluse, a grandson of Ajibogun Ajaka (Ubiquitous Warrior)Owa Obokun Onida Arara, the most accomplished son of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race of South-Western Nigeria and Benin Republic. The city described by Rev. Williams Howard Clark in 1854 as: For its cleanliness, regularity in breath and width, and the straightness of its streets, the ancient city of Ilesa far surpasses any native town I have seen in black Africa. POPULATION: 310,000 There are four royal houses amongst which accession to the throne is supposed to be rotated: Biladu, Bilagbayo, Bilaro and Bilayirere. Rulers have been as follows:
| Owa Ajibogun | - |
| Owa Owaka Okile | |
| Owa Obarabara Olokun Eshin | |
| Owa Owari | 1466 - 1522 |
| Owa Owaluse | 1522 - 1526 |
| Owa Atakunmosa | 1526 - 1546 |
| Yeyelagagba | 1588 - 1590 |
| Yeyegunrogbo | 1588 - 1590 |
| Owa Biladu I | 1652 - 1653 |
| Owa Biladu II | 1653 - 1681 |
| Yeyewaji | 1681 - |
| Owa Bilaro | 1681 - 1690 |
| Owa Bilayiarere | 1691 - 1692 |
| Owa Bilagbayo | 1713 - 1733 |
| Yeyeori | 1734 - 1749 |
| Ori Abejoye | 17.. - ... |
| Owa Bilajagodo "Arijelesin" | ... - ... |
| Owa Bilatutu "Otutu bi Osin" | 1772 - 1776 |
| Owa Bilasa "Asa abodofunfun" | 1776 - 1788 |
| Owa Akesan | 1788 - 1795 |
| Owa Bilajara | 1... - 1807 |
| Ogbagba | 1807–1813 |
| Obara "Bilajila" | 1813–1828 |
| Owa Odundun | 1828–1833 |
| Gbegbaaje | 1833–1839 |
| Ariyasunle (1st time) -Regent | 1839 |
| Owa Ofokutu | 1839–1853 |
| Ariyasunle (2nd time) -Regent | 1853 |
| Owa Aponlose | 1858 –1867 |
| Owa Alobe | 1867–1868 |
| Owa Agunlejika I | 1868 - 1869 |
| 1871 Vacant | 4 Jun 1870 - |
| Owa Oweweniye(1st time) | 1871–1873 |
| Vacant | 1873 |
| Oweweniye (2nd time) | 1873–1875 |
| Owa Adimula Agunloye-bi-Oyinbo "Bepolonun | 1875 - 1893 |
| Owa Alowolodu | Mar 1893 - Nov 1894 |
| Vacant | Nov 1894 - Apr 1896 |
| Owa Ajimoko I | Apr 1896 - Sep 1901 |
| Owa Ataiyero [Atayero] | 1901–1920 |
| Owa Aromolaran | 1920–1942 |
| Ajimoko "Haastrup" -Regent | 1942 - 10 Sep 1942 |
| Ajimoko II "Fidipote" | 10 Sep 1942 - 18 Oct 1956 |
| J. E. Awodiya -Regent | 18 Oct 1956 - 1957 |
| Owa Biladu III "Fiwajoye" | 1957 - Jul 1963 |
| .Ogunmokun... -Regent | Jul 1963 - 1966 |
| Owa Agunlejika II | 1966–1981 |
| Owa Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II | 1982 - ? |
Notable people
- T. M. Aluko OBE OON
- Samuel Olatunde Fadahunsi, Commander of the Order of Niger, CON and President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN)
- Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Former Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs and a Professor of Political Science
- Moses Olaiya, (aka Baba Sala) a frontline Comedian
- Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Governor of Osun State
Coordinates: 7°37′N 4°44′E / 7.617°N 4.733°E
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References
- ↑ "Osun 2014: Ijesa North Traditional Rulers Declare Support for Aregbesola". thisdaylive.com.
- ↑ "From Ancient to Modern Cities". thisdaylive.com.
- ↑ "Ajayi Emerges New King of Erinmo-Ijesha". thisdaylive.com.
- ↑ "Osun 2014: The Battle for Aregbesola’s Job". thisdaylive.com.
- ↑ "Yoruba Hometowns". google.com.