Ilesa

Ilesa,Osun Nigeria
Ilesa,Osun Nigeria

Location in Nigeria

Coordinates: 7°37′0″N 4°43′0″E / 7.61667°N 4.71667°E
Country Nigeria
State Osun State

Ilesa (Yoruba: Iléṣà) is a city located in the south west of 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,Iboku, Erin-Ijesa, Ibodi and many others.[5][6][7]

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:

Rulers (title Owa Obokun)
Bilagbayo ... - 17..
Ori Abejoye 17.. - ...
Bilajagodo "Arijelesin" ... - ...
Bilatutu "Otutu bi Osin" ... - ...
Bilasa "Asa abodofunfun" ... - ...
Akesan c.1800
Bilajara 1... - 1807
Ogbagba 1807–1813
Obara "Bilajila" 1813–1828
Odundun 1828–1833
Gbegbaaje 1833–1839
Ariyasunle (1st time) -Regent 1839
Ofokutu 1839–1853
Ariyasunle (2nd time) -Regent 1853
Ponlose 1853–1867
Alobe 1867–1869
4 Jun 1870 Agunlejika I 1869 -
1871 Vacant 4 Jun 1870 -
Oweweniye (1st time) 1871–1873
Vacant 1873
Oweweniye (2nd time) 1873–1875
Sep 1892 Adimula Agunloye-bi-Oyinbo "Bepolonun" 1875 -
Lowolodu Mar 1893 - Nov 1894
Vacant Nov 1894 - Apr 1896
Ajimoko I Apr 1896 - Sep 1901
Ataiyero [Atayero] 1901–1920
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
Biladu III "Fiwajoye" 1957 - Jul 1963
.Ogunmokun... -Regent Jul 1963 - 1966
Agunlejika II 1966–1981
Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II 1982 - ?

Notable people

Coordinates: 7°37′N 4°44′E / 7.617°N 4.733°E

References

External links