16/06/2023
๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ข๐ฃ๐๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐.
The รjแบนฬแนฃร are a group within the Yoruba Nation of West Africa. Ilesha is the largest town and historic cultural capital of the ancient Ijesha kingdom, ruled by an Oba known locally as the Owa Obokun Adimula. The Ijesha inhabit a forested region in the heart of the Yoruba country west of the long Effon ridge which separate the Ijesha from the Ekiti to their east. They also border the Igbomina to the north, the Ife to the south, the Oyo and Ibolo to the west.
The Ijesa cultural area presently covers 6 LG councils in Osun state, namely; Atakumosa east, Obokun, Atakumosa west, Oriade, Ilesha west and Ilesha east. Some of the Ijesha towns include; Ilesha, Esa Oke, Ibokun, Iwaraja, Ijebu-Ijesha, Iperindo, Ipetu Ijesha, Ikeji Arakeji, Iloko Ijesha, Erin Ijesha, Oshu, Otan ile, Ijeda, Idominasi, Imesi ile, Ilashe, Esa odo, Ibode & Ifewara. There are some other towns outside of these local governments which have historic Ijesha ties such as: Osogbo, Igbajo, Otan Ayegbaju, Iresi and Ada in Osun as well as Oke Imesi in Ekiti.
Ilesha itself was founded in 1250 by Owaluse, a grandson of Ajibogun Ajaka Onida Arara who settled first at Igbade, then Ibokun and Ipole to Ilowa and eventually Ilesha. The city was described by Rev. William Howard Clark a British man who toured Yorubaland from 1854-1858 thus:
"๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ป๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐, ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ด๐๐น๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ต ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐ฑ๐๐ต, ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ป๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ถ๐๐ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐, ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐น๐ฒ๐๐ฎ ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐๐ป ๐ ๐ต๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฏ๐น๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ณ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ"
The royals line of Ilesha descent from Oba Oduduwa, and 39 Owa have reigned since the time of Ajibogun the first king. The Ijesa are the traders and business icons amongst the Yoruba people; very good in commerce since ancient times as long distance traders in fabric and kola nuts. They have carved a niche for themselves amongst the Yoruba as the architects of 'รแนฃรณmร รกlรณ' business model. The word โOsomaaloโ is tied to the process of debt collection. It means; "I will squat/I will not sit till I have collected my money" showing an inflexible determination to succeed in the face of all odds. They produced one of the foremost female professors, first lawyer in Nigeria and first Millionaire; Sapara Williams & Esan Candido Da Rocha, as well as legal luminaries and politicians like Justice Kayode Eso, Justice Olatunde Ilori & the Cicero Chief Bola Ige.
Ijeshaland is rich in Gold (Largest deposit in Nigeria). Iperindo, one of seven principal gold bearing locations around Ilesha alone holds more than 1million ounces of gold which is worth more than $1B and is fast becoming one of the new frontiers for gold mining in the subregion & globally led by Thor explorations.
Source: The Yoruba Nation CH on Twitter.