Ilesa or Ilesha ( ; or, locally, ) is a historic city located in Osun State, southwest Nigeria; it is also the name of the capital of a historic state-kingdom (also known as Ijesha) centred around that town as the capital. The state is ruled by a monarch bearing the title of His Imperial Majesty, the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland. The city of Ilesa consists of Ilesa itself and a number of surrounding cities.
The Ijesa, a term also denoting the people of the state of Ijeshaland, are part of the present Osun State of Nigeria. Although the historic state-kingdom is mainly placed within Osun State, it has towns and cities covering several south-western Nigerian states. Some of the popular towns of the Ijesa are Iwara, Odo-Ijesa, Ilaje, Igbogi, Ise-Ijesa, Ibokun, Erin Oke, Erin Odo, Ijeda-Ijesa, Ipetu Jesa, Ijebu-Jesa, Esa-Oke, Iwoye Ijesa, Esa Odo, Ipole Ijesa, Ifewara, Ipo Arakeji, Iloko Ijesa, Iperindo Ijesa, Erinmo Ijesa, Iwaraja Ijesa, Oke-Ana Ijesa, Idominasi, Ilase Ijesa, Igangan ijesa, Imo Ijesa, Alakowe Ijesa, Osu Ijesa, Eti Oni, Itaore, Itagunmodi, Iyinta, Itaapa, Epe Ijesa, Omo Ijesa, Eti-oni, Ibokun, Inila, Ijinla, Iloba Ijesa, Imogbara Ijesa, Eseun Ijesa, Iloo, Owena Ijesa, Ido Ijesa, Ido Oko, Ibala Ijesa, Ere Ijesa, Ilahun, Ibodi, Ijaaregbe, Ikinyinwa, Idominasi, Ilowa, and Ibodi.
The state of Ijeshaland was founded c.1300 by Ajibogun Ajaka Owa Obokun Onida Raharaha, the warlike youngest son of Yoruba progenitor Oduduwa. All kings of Ijeshaland are considered to be direct descendants of Oduduwa; who is believed to be the founder of the Yoruba people and is considered as a God-King.
Ilesa is known for its natural resources and minerals especially Gold, it is said the Ilesa and Ijeshaland at large according to geological studies . Ilesa has at the very minimum, 5 Billion US dollars' worth of Gold alongside the Ilesa Gold belt axis. However the number is expected to rise in value as significant exploration for commercially quantifiable Gold deposits only began in the last decade.
Oral history
According to the historian Samuel Johnson:
Odo - Ile {Logun Edu} was Oduduwa's Grandchild by Oduduwa's Eldest Daughter (Logun Edu's own son became the First Odole of Ijesaland - {Odole Nikunogbo} [Prime-Minister/Secretary of State of Ijesaland]
Institutions in Ilesa
Ilesa Grammar school
One of the grammar schools in Ilesa is Ilesa Grammar School. Its 90th anniversary was celebrated in 2024.
University of Ilesa University of Ilesa formerly known as College of Education, Ilesa, was established on March 31, 2022 by the former governor of Osun State Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola. It was upgraded to a University by Governor Ademola Adeleke who set up a review committee to ascertain the establishment of the institution.
College of Health Technology Among the schools in Ilesa is the College of Technology, which is located at Imelu in Ilesa.
Hospital in ilesa There are several Hospitals in ilesa city which are.
Wesley Guide hospital Ilesa, located in bolorunduro street Ilesa. Wesley Guide hospital (Obafemi Awolowo Teaching hospital located in oke Ayose Ilesa. Oba Adenle Memorial hospital living petals medical center.
Colonial assessment The village was described by the Rev. William Howard Clark in 1854 in the following manner: "For its cleanliness, regularity in breadth and width, and the straightness of its streets, the ancient village of Ilesa far surpasses any native town I have seen in black Africa."
The Ijesa Monarchs There are four royal houses amongst which accession to the throne is supposed to be rotated: Biladu, Bilagbayo, Bilaro and Bilayirere. Rulers, under the title of Owa Obokun Adimula, have been as follows:
+Owa Ajibogun 1150- 1255Owa Owaka Okile 1260-1358Owa Obarabara Olokun Eshin 1360-1459Owa Owari 1466 - 1522Owa Owaluse 1522 - 1526Owa Atakumosa 1526- 1546Owa Obokun Oge-1572-1587Owa Obokun Bilayi- Arere1588- 1590Owa Obokun- Yeyeladegba(Female) 1646 - 1652Owa Obokun -Yeyegunrogbo(Female) 1652-1653Owa Obokun Biladu I 1653- 1681Owa Obokun Biladu II - Owa Obokun Bilaro1681-1690Owa Obokun Waji(female) 1691-1692Owa Obokun Waiye (female)1692-1693Owa Obokun Waiyero(female)1698-1712Owa Obokun Bilagbayo1713-1733Owa Obokun Ori-Abejoyo(female)1734-1749Owa Obokun Bilajagodo “Arijelesin"1749-1771Owa Obokun Bilatutu"Otutu bi Osin"1772-1776Owa Obokun Bilasa"Asa abodofunfun"1776-1788Owa Obokun Akesan1789-1795Owa Obokun Bilajara1796-1803Owa Obokun Odundun1804-1814Owa Obokun Obara1814-1832Owa Obokun Gbega-aje1832-1846Owa Obokun Ofokutu1846-1858Owa Obokun Aponlese1858-1867Owa Obokun Alobe1867-1868Owa Obokun Agunlejika 11868-1869Owa Obokun Owewe-niye 1869-1874Owa Obokun Adimula Agunloye-bi-Oyinbo "Bepolonun 1875 - 1893Owa Alowolodu Mar 1893 - Nov 1894 Owa Obokun Alowolodu1894-1895Owa Obokun Ajimoko 1April 1896- September 1901Owa Obokun Ataiyero[Atayero]1902-1920Owa Obokun Aromolaran 11920-1942Ajimoko "Haastrup" -Regent 1942 - 10 Sep 1942 Ajimoko II "Fidipote"1942-1956J. E. Awodiya -Regent 18 Oct 1956 - 1957Owa Obokun Biladu III "Fiwajoye" Ogunmokun 1111957-1963... -Regent Jul 1963 - 1966 Owa Obokun Agunlejika 111966-1981Owa Obokun Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II 1982-2024Owa Obokun Clement Adesuyi Haastrup 2024-
Notable people
Pa. Israel Olatunde Adedeji-Orolugbagbe, JP - [B.A (Hons) London] Erudite Scholar, Historian {Odole Nikunogbo Descendant}.
Royal High Chief Adebola Oyeleye Adedeji-Orolugbagbe, Odole-Owa IjesaLand Oyegbulu I {Odole Nikunogbo Descendant}.
Royal High Chief Adefioye Adedeji - Attorney and Banker - Risawe Opitan of Ilesa.{Owa-Obokun Atakunmosa Descendant).
T. M. Aluko OBE OON Akinloye Akinyemi: Nigerian major Samuel Olatunde Fadahunsi: Commander of the Order of Niger, CON and President of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) Kayode Eso: Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (an Odole Gidigbi Faloju descendant) Bolaji Akinyemi: Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and a professor of political science Moses Olaiya: comedian (also known as Baba Sala) Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola: Governor of Osun State
References
External links http://osun.gov.ng/about/major-towns/ilesa/