Ijesha (Ijesa/Ilesa) People: The Ancient Militaristic As Well As Adept Trading Yoruba People Who Forms The Large Subdivision Of The Yoruba People Inwards Brazil As Well As The Caribbeans
The Ijesha (Ijesa)are ancient militaristic, agriculturalists in addition to proficient trading Yoruboid-speaking people that cast a sub-ethnic of the larger Yoruba people of West Africa, peculiarly Nigeria in addition to Benin. The Ijesa are predominantly from the urban center in addition to surroundings of Ilesha (Ilesa) in addition to the historic Kingdom of Ilesha inwards the same area. Ijesa people forms the largest chunk of sub-Yoruba ethnic grouping that were shipped into slavery inwards Americas in addition to the Caribbeans.
Ijesa people celebrating their Iwude Owa Obokun Festival, at Osun State inwards Nigeria. Courtesy Nigerian Festivals
The Ijesha territory is adjoined yesteryear the Ekiti on the east, the Igbomina to the north, the Ife to the south, in addition to the Oyo in addition to Ibolo to the west. The urban center of Ilesa was described yesteryear Rev. Williams Howard Clark inwards 1854 as: "For its cleanliness, regularity inwards breath in addition to width, in addition to the straightness of its streets, the ancient urban center of Ilesa far surpasses whatever native town I receive got seen inwards dark Africa."
Ijesa women celebrating their Iwude festival at Ilesa inwards Osun State, Nigeria
Ijesa people are said to receive got migrated from Ile Ife, the cradle of Yoruba people, to produce their Ilesaland (which is i of the oldest Yorubaland) inwards its present-day location inwards Osun State. According to tradition, Owa Ajibogun or Owa (“King”) who was i of the xvi sons of the deity Oduduwa founded Ilesha. The criterion version of tradition alongside the Ijesa themselves traces the root of the Ijesas province to a younger boy of Oduduwa called Obokun (Owa's ancestor), inwards commemoration of an occasion on which he fetched body of body of water H2O to cure his father's blindness. Obokun so settled inwards what was to piece of job Ijesaland. He found, similar other founding heroes, pre-existing political structures including a confederacy of 5 towns inwards the Obokun area. Obokun himself is so key to the Ijesas that they telephone telephone themselves Omo Obokun (Children of Obokun).
Samuel Johnson, the keen Yoruba Historian also averred: "There is also a legend that when the nations began to disperse from Ile Ife in addition to members of the Royal Family were appointed kings in addition to rulers inwards various places, a immature in addition to brave scion of the theater was appointed the outset Owa or manly individual monarch over the Ijesas, simply he returned to the Alafin in addition to complained that his territory was equally good small, in addition to his subjects few, the sire thereupon ordered a large packet of sticks to live brought to him, in addition to these sticks he converted into human beings for the Owa, inwards monastic tell to growth the issue of his subjects. Hence to this twenty-four hours the Ijesas are ofttimes termed yesteryear their neighbours " Qmo igi " (offspring of sticks !)"
The Ijesha people used to receive got a large territory simply lost roughly portions of it to their neighbours during various conflicts in addition to wars of the nineteenth in addition to preceding centuries. The province was ruled yesteryear a monarch bearing the championship of Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland. The province of Ilesa consisted of Ilesa itself in addition to a issue of smaller surrounding cities. The people of Oke-Ako, Irele, Omuo-Oke utter a dialect similar to Ijesha.
Some of the pop 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 in addition to many others.
Ijesa women inwards their traditional costume at a political gathering
The Ijesa are the traders in addition to line of piece of job organisation icons alongside the Yoruba people; really goodness inwards commerce in addition to receive got cutting a niche for themselves equally the architects of 'Osomaalo' line of piece of job organisation inwards Nigeria. As described inwards the mass yesteryear Omole (1991) the appellation was originally considered equally a term of abuse to characterize the aggressive Ijesa fabric traders. The give-and-take ‘Osomaalo’ is tied to the procedure of debt collection. It way ‘I volition non sit down until I receive got collected my money,’ showing an inflexible conclusion to succeed inwards the human face upwards of all odds. This popular trading method allows customers to pay for goods inwards installments.
Ijesa armed services prowess is summed upwards inwards this state of war vocal "Ijesha ree arogun yooo..ye so'gbodo fowo kan omo obokun ri a......" "An old Yoruba community, Ilesha was an of import in addition to major armed services centre inwards the campaigns against Ibadan, sixty miles (97 km) west-Southwest inwards the 19th-century Yoruba civil wars. H5N1 leading fellow member of a confederacy known equally the Ekitiparapo important 'Ekiti together'. This combined forces of the Ijesa in addition to Ekiti was formed to struggle for the independence of their people. The town has a memorial to Ogedengbe, an Ijesa warrior-leader who died inwards 1910. Ogedengbe played a vital role during the kiriji state of war of the 19th century, which prevented Ilesa in addition to other towns from beingness conquered in addition to dominated yesteryear Ibadan in addition to other powerful regions.
Ijeshaland is rich inwards GOLD (Largest deposit inwards Nigeria) - Igun, Itagunmodi etc; FELDSPAR - Erin Ijesa, Igangan; MARBLE - Esa Oke, Ijeda, Iloko; TIN ORE - Imesi Ile; KAOLIN - Iperindo; TALC - Ilesa, Iperindo; in addition to MICA - Ilesa, Iperindo.
Ijesaland is also the dwelling theater of the famous in addition to beautiful ERIN IJESHA (OLUMIRIN) WATERFALLS, a lavish acrobatic display of nature in addition to a proud Tourist Attraction Centre. The Waterfalls has Seven Levels in addition to the 7th degree is the peak of the falls, it hosts a short town where many of its inhabitants receive got lived for years such equally the Fresh Water Prawns. Only few visitors tin give notice climb beyond the minute level. The breeze at the falls is cool in addition to refreshing, the H2O flows alongside the rocks in addition to splashes downward with keen strength to the evergreen vegetation that surrounds it. This amazing waterfalls is definitely i of the many wonders of the world.
Erin Ijesha or the Olumirin Waterfall located in the Osun province of Nigeria is i of natural wonders of the world.
In Ijesaland, at that topographic point are also archeological tourist attraction venues such equally KIRIJI WAR MUSEUM - Imesi-Ile; AGIRIGIRI SHRINE - Ijebu-jesa; OGUN SHRINE - Ipole; OSUN SHRINE - Iponda; OWA-OBOKUN MILLENNIA PALACE - Ilesa; OBANLA PALACE - Ilesa.
Ijeshas prided themselves enormously on their national dish, pounded yam (iyan), in addition to their vehicle registration plate is LES for Ilesha, Osun (Ilesha).
Ilesa is dwelling theater to the famous Fajuke Family in addition to prestigious Ilesa Grammar School, a schoolhouse founded yesteryear Egbe Atunluse Ilesa in addition to alma mater to many Nigerians including a onetime Chief Justice of the Federation, Alfa Belgore, a onetime Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the onetime Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof Oye Ibidapo Obe, the onetime Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife, Prof Omole in addition to the electrical current Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Prof Isaac Adewole.
The Ijesas equally a dominion receive got no distinctive marks ; they are mostly plain-faced ; roughly families, however, are distinguished yesteryear having on each cheek 5 or six horizontal lines. They are closely drawn, in addition to much longer than whatever Oyo mark,
Language
Ijesa people utter a Central Yoruba dialect (Yoruboid language) that belongs to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication group. Ijesa dialect is akin to the adjoining Yagba, Igbomina, Ifẹ, Ekiti, Akurẹ, Ẹfọn, in addition to Ijẹbu areas that are classified nether Central Yoruba dialects of the larger Yoruboid languages.
History
Ijesa history has a varied accounts based on myth in addition to historical accounts. According to the outset line of piece of job organisation human relationship yesteryear Samuel Johnson the Ijesa people used to reside inwards Ile Ife prior to the reign of Sango. It is said that Ijesa people were "slaves were purchased in addition to located inwards the district of Ibokun ; at that topographic point they were tended equally cattle, nether the aid of Owaju, in addition to from them selections were made from fourth dimension to fourth dimension for sacrificial purposes; therefore the term Ijesa from Ije Orisa (the nutrient of the gods)." Johnson (1921) posited farther that "they never offered whatever resistance to this system, therefore the saying "Ijesa Omo Owaju ti ife opo iyk " (Ijesas children of Owaju, dependent acre to much sufferings).
I personally believe this item history accounts for large issue of Ijesa enslaved people of Ilesa getting shipped to slavery inwards South America especially Brazil, in addition to the Caribbeans.
Johnson (1921) recounted that "There is also a legend that when the nations began to disperse from Ile Ife in addition to members of the Royal Family were appointed kings in addition to rulers inwards various places, a immature in addition to brave scion of the theater was appointed the outset Owa or manly individual monarch over the Ijesas, simply that he returned to the alafin in addition to complained that his territory was equally good small, in addition to his subjects few, the sire thereupon ordered a large packet of sticks to live brought to him, in addition to these sticks he converted into human beings for the Owa, inwards monastic tell to growth the issue of his subjects. Hence to this twenty-four hours the Ijesas are ofttimes termed yesteryear their neighbours " Qmo igi " (offspring of sticks !)"
Current historical line of piece of job organisation human relationship based on Ijesa peoples ain tradition, which does non contradict Samuel Johnson`s line of piece of job organisation human relationship assert that their direct ancestor was Owa Ajibogun or Owa (“King”) who was i of the xvi sons of the deity Oduduwa. It is said that their nowadays urban center of Ilesa (Ilesha) inwards Osun State was "founded inwards c.1350 yesteryear Owaluse, a grandson of Ajibogun Ajaka (Ubiquitous Warrior) Owa Obokun Onida Arara, the most accomplished boy of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race of South-Western Nigeria in addition to Republic of Benin Republic." Ijesha, equally a historic town is i of the oldest settlements inwards Yorubaland. Other tradition alongside the Ijesa themselves also traces the root of the Ijesas province to a younger boy of Oduduwa called Obokun (Owa's ancestor), inwards commemoration of an occasion on which he fetched body of body of water H2O to cure his father's blindness. Obokun so settled inwards what was to piece of job Ijesaland. He found, similar other founding heroes, pre-existing political structures including a confederacy of 5 towns inwards the Obokun area. Obokun himself is so key to the Ijesas that they telephone telephone themselves Omo Obokun (Children of Obokun)
Whatever live the instance it tin give notice live clearly seen that the ancestors of Ijesa people migrated from Ile ife to their nowadays location inwards Osun State. Ilesha traditions grip that the site of Ilesha was already occupied yesteryear scattered settlements of an aboriginal population, the most of import beingness identified with today's Okesa, the long street running west-east along Ilesha's spine, whose leader is regarded equally the ancestor of Ogedengbe, The Obanla of Ijeshaland.
Ilesha became an of import in addition to major Yoruba armed services centre inwards the campaigns against Ibadan, sixty miles (97 km) west-Southwest inwards the 19th-century Yoruba civil wars. H5N1 leading fellow member of a confederacy known equally the Ekitiparapo important 'Ekiti together'. This combined forces of the Ijesa in addition to Ekiti was formed to struggle for the independence of their people.
In 1817 a long serial of civil wars began inwards the Oyo Empire inwards which hundreds of people died; they lasted until 1893 (when United Kingdom of Great Britain in addition to Northern Ireland intervened), yesteryear which fourth dimension the empire had disintegrated completely.
Modern Ilesha is a major collecting request for the export of cocoa in addition to a traditional cultural centre for the Ilesha (Ijesha) branch of the Yoruba people. Palm stone oil in addition to kernels, yams, cassava, corn (maize), pumpkins, cotton, in addition to kola nuts are collected for the local market. Local industries manufacture nails in addition to carpets, in addition to the town has a brewery; at that topographic point are also a recording society in addition to a publishing firm, in addition to the Supreme Oil manufacture at Ilesha. Several prominent quartzite ridges prevarication due east of Ilesha, in addition to gilded mining is an of import activity inwards the area, i.e The Iperindo Gold field.
Ilesha is a classic - though hardly a typical - instance of that ethnographic celebrity, the Yoruba town: a large, nucleated short town that is the centre of a kingdom in addition to itself the primary residence of an overwhelmingly agricultural population. Even when it was largely derelict owing to war, inwards 1886, Ilesha's population was estimated to live betwixt 20,000 in addition to 25,000 in addition to a figure of upwards to 40,000 may live appropriate for the pinnacle of its growth earlier the sack inwards 1870. Though this is non equally large equally the largest Oyo-Yoruba towns of the nineteenth century, its considerable size was non due,as theirs was, to really heavy recent immigration nether the affect of the wars.
It was the recognition of the need for the Ijesa to elevator upwards themselves yesteryear their ain bootstraps that led to the institution of the Ijesa Improvement Society, the outset modern pan-Ijesa socio-cultural group, inwards 1922. It was at a fourth dimension when the Ijesa non alone had problems with their British colonial overlords simply also with their ain local management nether the Owa Obokun who had since 1914 been constituted into a Sole Native Authority on the model of the Northern Nigeria Emirates, nether the Indirect Rule of System introduced yesteryear Sir Fredrick Lugard. This meant that the Ijesa had to debate non alone with a hostile unusual colonial ability simply with a despotic local management supported yesteryear that unusual colonial power. In this sort of unpleasant political climate, the best assist was self help.
The regulation of self help, which was elevated to a philosophy of activity yesteryear the aggressively individualistic Ijesa inwards the inter-war years, was to assist the socio-economic evolution of Ijesaland in addition to to brand the Ijesa really cautious towards, if non totally suspicious of all governments live it local, regional or national inwards the postal service state of war in addition to pre-independence era. This explains why the few commercial in addition to industrial establishments inwards Ijesaland today are owned largely yesteryear the Ijesa themselves. Indeed, with the exception of the recent Federal Government efforts to exploit the gilded deposits at Itagunmodi in addition to Igun inwards Atakumosa Local Government area, at that topographic point are virtually no government-sponsored commercial in addition to industrial undertakings inwards the whole of Ijesaland."
The Ilesa Monarchs
The province of Ilesa (Ile ti a sa which way a homeland nosotros chose), Traditional Headquarters of Ijesaland in addition to the uppercase of the outset Local Council inwards Nigeria (Ijesa/Ekiti Parapo Council) named yesteryear the British Colonial Administrator on 21 June 1900 comprising the nowadays twenty-four hours Ondo in addition to Ekiti States of Nigeria. F POPULATION: 310,000 There are iv imperial houses alongside which accession to the throne is supposed to live rotated: Biladu, Bilagbayo, Bilaro in addition to Bilayirere. Rulers receive got been equally follows:
Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in addition to Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Aromolaran, during the 2013 Iwude-Ijesha Festival, at Ereja Square, Ilesa, State of Osun on Sabbatum 28-12-2013
History of Yoruba people By Samuel Johnson
They resided at Ile Ife, i.e., prior to the reign of Sango. Human sacrifices were mutual inwards those days, in addition to inwards monastic tell to receive got victims produce to hand, it is said that a issue of slaves were purchased
in addition to located inwards the district of Ibokun ; at that topographic point they were tended equally cattle, nether the aid of Owaju, in addition to from them selections were made from fourth dimension to fourth dimension for sacrificial purposes ; therefore the term
Ijesa from Ije Orisa (the nutrient of the gods). They are described equally stumpy, muscular, in addition to sheepish-looking, with a marked desire of tidings : they never offered whatever resistance to this system,
therefore the saying "Ijesa Omo Owaju ti ife opo iyk " (Ijesas children of Owaju, dependent acre to much sufferings). There is also a legend that when the nations began to disperse from Ile Ife in addition to members of the Royal Family were appointed kings in addition to rulers inwards various places, a immature in addition to brave scion of the theater was appointed the outset Owa or manly individual monarch over the Ijesas, simply that he returned to the alafin in addition to complained that his territory was equally good small, in addition to his subjects few, the sire thereupon ordered a large packet of sticks to live brought to him, in addition to these sticks he converted into human beings for the Owa, inwards monastic tell to growth the issue of his subjects. Hence to this twenty-four hours the Ijesas are ofttimes termed yesteryear their neighbours " Qmo igi " (offspring of sticks !)
This, of course, is a pure myth invented yesteryear their to a greater extent than wily neighbours to line of piece of job organisation human relationship for the notorious characteristics of the Ijesas generally, who are equally proverbially deficient inwards wit equally they are remarkably distinguished for animate beingness strength.
But i fact holds goodness downward fifty-fifty to our days, viz., that upwards to the recent full abolition of human sacrifice yesteryear the British Government (1893) the Ifes, who, far to a greater extent than than whatever other, were
addicted to the practice, ever preferred for the role to receive got an Ijesa victim to whatever other ; such sacrifices were considered to a greater extent than acceptable, the victims beingness the " nutrient of the gods."
This preference was the produce of to a greater extent than than i threatened rupture betwixt the Ifes in addition to their Ijesa allies during the recent xvi years' war, in addition to would sure enough receive got developed into opened upwards fights, but
for the Ibadan regular army vis-d-vis threatening them both.
The other line of piece of job organisation human relationship relates chiefly to the nowadays twenty-four hours Ijesas of Ilesa (the dwelling theater of the gods) the main town. According to this account, they hailed from the Ekitis ; or equally roughly would to a greater extent than correctly receive got it, they were the Ijesas from the neighbourhood of Ibokun who outset migrated to Ipole close Ondo, in addition to thence dorsum to Ilesa. It appears that a custom so prevailed of going out hunting for their manly individual monarch 3 months inwards the year, in addition to on i such occasion they found game so plentiful inwards the neighbourhood of Ilesa, the chmate really agreeable, the province well-watered, in addition to the Ijesas at that topographic point extremely simple, peaceful, in addition to unwarhke (probably the remnants in addition to descendants of the old sacrificial victims) whilst at dwelling theater they endured much oppression from their Owa, that they at that topographic point in addition to so conceived in addition to carried out the sentiment of settling on the spot at once, making it their home, in addition to of reducing into subjection the aboriginal inhabitants.
These objects were easily plenty accomplished ; simply they spared the principal chief, a kindly old gentleman who had an extensive garden plantation. He was called " Oba Ila," i.e., Okra king,
from his Okra plantation, in addition to he was placed adjacent inwards rank to the main of the marauders. That nickname is continued to the nowadays fourth dimension equally a championship Oba'la^ in addition to is conferred on the most distinguished main afterward the Owa of Ilesa. It would appear so that although the term Ijesa is retained yesteryear the people of that district, in addition to those who are ignorant of the root of the term convey roughly pride inwards it, yet it is evident that the nowadays inhabitants are non all of them the descendants of the aboriginal settlers, the " nutrient of the gods," simply are largely from the Ekitis yesteryear admixture ; the pure type Ijesas are straight off in addition to i time to a greater extent than met with at Ilesa in addition to neighbourhood.
This fact is farther shown yesteryear the desire of homogeneity alongside the principal chiefs of Ilesa at the nowadays day, for when the town was growing, the settlers did cast nearly for assist ; they sought for
wiser heads to assist them inwards the edifice upwards in addition to the direction of their country, e.g., from the Oyos or Yorubas Proper they had the Odgle from Irehe, the Esawe from Ora, the Saloro from Oyo (the ancient city), in addition to the Sorundi also from the same urban center — all these came with a large issue of followers ; from the Ondos, the 'Loro, in addition to the Salosi from I jama inwards the Ondo district ; from the
Ekitis, the Arapate from Ara, the Lejoka from Itaje ; in addition to lastly, the Ogboni from the white cap chiefs of Lagos, the alone i privileged to receive got on his headgear inwards the presence of the Owa. The Owa himself is equally nosotros receive got seen, a junior fellow member of the imperial theater of Oyo.
It is also said that when the town of Ilesa was to live set out a special messenger was sent to the alafin to inquire for the assist of i of the princes to lay out the town on the same innovation equally the ancient urban center of Oyo. That prince ruled for roughly years at Ilesa.
source:https://archive.org/stream/historyofyorubas00john/historyofyorubas00john_djvu.txt
http://www.jpanafrican.com/docs/vol3no5/3.5-3newRhythms.pdf
Ijesa people celebrating their Iwude Owa Obokun Festival, at Osun State inwards Nigeria. Courtesy Nigerian Festivals
The Ijesha territory is adjoined yesteryear the Ekiti on the east, the Igbomina to the north, the Ife to the south, in addition to the Oyo in addition to Ibolo to the west. The urban center of Ilesa was described yesteryear Rev. Williams Howard Clark inwards 1854 as: "For its cleanliness, regularity inwards breath in addition to width, in addition to the straightness of its streets, the ancient urban center of Ilesa far surpasses whatever native town I receive got seen inwards dark Africa."
Ijesa women celebrating their Iwude festival at Ilesa inwards Osun State, Nigeria
Ijesa people are said to receive got migrated from Ile Ife, the cradle of Yoruba people, to produce their Ilesaland (which is i of the oldest Yorubaland) inwards its present-day location inwards Osun State. According to tradition, Owa Ajibogun or Owa (“King”) who was i of the xvi sons of the deity Oduduwa founded Ilesha. The criterion version of tradition alongside the Ijesa themselves traces the root of the Ijesas province to a younger boy of Oduduwa called Obokun (Owa's ancestor), inwards commemoration of an occasion on which he fetched body of body of water H2O to cure his father's blindness. Obokun so settled inwards what was to piece of job Ijesaland. He found, similar other founding heroes, pre-existing political structures including a confederacy of 5 towns inwards the Obokun area. Obokun himself is so key to the Ijesas that they telephone telephone themselves Omo Obokun (Children of Obokun).
Samuel Johnson, the keen Yoruba Historian also averred: "There is also a legend that when the nations began to disperse from Ile Ife in addition to members of the Royal Family were appointed kings in addition to rulers inwards various places, a immature in addition to brave scion of the theater was appointed the outset Owa or manly individual monarch over the Ijesas, simply he returned to the Alafin in addition to complained that his territory was equally good small, in addition to his subjects few, the sire thereupon ordered a large packet of sticks to live brought to him, in addition to these sticks he converted into human beings for the Owa, inwards monastic tell to growth the issue of his subjects. Hence to this twenty-four hours the Ijesas are ofttimes termed yesteryear their neighbours " Qmo igi " (offspring of sticks !)"
The Ijesha people used to receive got a large territory simply lost roughly portions of it to their neighbours during various conflicts in addition to wars of the nineteenth in addition to preceding centuries. The province was ruled yesteryear a monarch bearing the championship of Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland. The province of Ilesa consisted of Ilesa itself in addition to a issue of smaller surrounding cities. The people of Oke-Ako, Irele, Omuo-Oke utter a dialect similar to Ijesha.
Some of the pop 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 in addition to many others.
Ijesa women inwards their traditional costume at a political gathering
The Ijesa are the traders in addition to line of piece of job organisation icons alongside the Yoruba people; really goodness inwards commerce in addition to receive got cutting a niche for themselves equally the architects of 'Osomaalo' line of piece of job organisation inwards Nigeria. As described inwards the mass yesteryear Omole (1991) the appellation was originally considered equally a term of abuse to characterize the aggressive Ijesa fabric traders. The give-and-take ‘Osomaalo’ is tied to the procedure of debt collection. It way ‘I volition non sit down until I receive got collected my money,’ showing an inflexible conclusion to succeed inwards the human face upwards of all odds. This popular trading method allows customers to pay for goods inwards installments.
Ijesa armed services prowess is summed upwards inwards this state of war vocal "Ijesha ree arogun yooo..ye so'gbodo fowo kan omo obokun ri a......" "An old Yoruba community, Ilesha was an of import in addition to major armed services centre inwards the campaigns against Ibadan, sixty miles (97 km) west-Southwest inwards the 19th-century Yoruba civil wars. H5N1 leading fellow member of a confederacy known equally the Ekitiparapo important 'Ekiti together'. This combined forces of the Ijesa in addition to Ekiti was formed to struggle for the independence of their people. The town has a memorial to Ogedengbe, an Ijesa warrior-leader who died inwards 1910. Ogedengbe played a vital role during the kiriji state of war of the 19th century, which prevented Ilesa in addition to other towns from beingness conquered in addition to dominated yesteryear Ibadan in addition to other powerful regions.
General Ogedengbe Agbogungboro, The Commander-in-Chief of the Ekiti-parapo Army - The Yorubaland Kiriji War of 1877-1892
Ijeshaland is rich inwards GOLD (Largest deposit inwards Nigeria) - Igun, Itagunmodi etc; FELDSPAR - Erin Ijesa, Igangan; MARBLE - Esa Oke, Ijeda, Iloko; TIN ORE - Imesi Ile; KAOLIN - Iperindo; TALC - Ilesa, Iperindo; in addition to MICA - Ilesa, Iperindo.
Ijesaland is also the dwelling theater of the famous in addition to beautiful ERIN IJESHA (OLUMIRIN) WATERFALLS, a lavish acrobatic display of nature in addition to a proud Tourist Attraction Centre. The Waterfalls has Seven Levels in addition to the 7th degree is the peak of the falls, it hosts a short town where many of its inhabitants receive got lived for years such equally the Fresh Water Prawns. Only few visitors tin give notice climb beyond the minute level. The breeze at the falls is cool in addition to refreshing, the H2O flows alongside the rocks in addition to splashes downward with keen strength to the evergreen vegetation that surrounds it. This amazing waterfalls is definitely i of the many wonders of the world.
Erin Ijesha or the Olumirin Waterfall located in the Osun province of Nigeria is i of natural wonders of the world.
In Ijesaland, at that topographic point are also archeological tourist attraction venues such equally KIRIJI WAR MUSEUM - Imesi-Ile; AGIRIGIRI SHRINE - Ijebu-jesa; OGUN SHRINE - Ipole; OSUN SHRINE - Iponda; OWA-OBOKUN MILLENNIA PALACE - Ilesa; OBANLA PALACE - Ilesa.
Ijeshas prided themselves enormously on their national dish, pounded yam (iyan), in addition to their vehicle registration plate is LES for Ilesha, Osun (Ilesha).
Ilesa is dwelling theater to the famous Fajuke Family in addition to prestigious Ilesa Grammar School, a schoolhouse founded yesteryear Egbe Atunluse Ilesa in addition to alma mater to many Nigerians including a onetime Chief Justice of the Federation, Alfa Belgore, a onetime Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the onetime Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos, Prof Oye Ibidapo Obe, the onetime Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife, Prof Omole in addition to the electrical current Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan, Prof Isaac Adewole.
Ijesa people drumming in addition to dancing at Iwude festival
Ijesa Tribal MarksThe Ijesas equally a dominion receive got no distinctive marks ; they are mostly plain-faced ; roughly families, however, are distinguished yesteryear having on each cheek 5 or six horizontal lines. They are closely drawn, in addition to much longer than whatever Oyo mark,
Language
Ijesa people utter a Central Yoruba dialect (Yoruboid language) that belongs to the larger Niger-Congo linguistic communication group. Ijesa dialect is akin to the adjoining Yagba, Igbomina, Ifẹ, Ekiti, Akurẹ, Ẹfọn, in addition to Ijẹbu areas that are classified nether Central Yoruba dialects of the larger Yoruboid languages.
History
Ijesa history has a varied accounts based on myth in addition to historical accounts. According to the outset line of piece of job organisation human relationship yesteryear Samuel Johnson the Ijesa people used to reside inwards Ile Ife prior to the reign of Sango. It is said that Ijesa people were "slaves were purchased in addition to located inwards the district of Ibokun ; at that topographic point they were tended equally cattle, nether the aid of Owaju, in addition to from them selections were made from fourth dimension to fourth dimension for sacrificial purposes; therefore the term Ijesa from Ije Orisa (the nutrient of the gods)." Johnson (1921) posited farther that "they never offered whatever resistance to this system, therefore the saying "Ijesa Omo Owaju ti ife opo iyk " (Ijesas children of Owaju, dependent acre to much sufferings).
I personally believe this item history accounts for large issue of Ijesa enslaved people of Ilesa getting shipped to slavery inwards South America especially Brazil, in addition to the Caribbeans.
Johnson (1921) recounted that "There is also a legend that when the nations began to disperse from Ile Ife in addition to members of the Royal Family were appointed kings in addition to rulers inwards various places, a immature in addition to brave scion of the theater was appointed the outset Owa or manly individual monarch over the Ijesas, simply that he returned to the alafin in addition to complained that his territory was equally good small, in addition to his subjects few, the sire thereupon ordered a large packet of sticks to live brought to him, in addition to these sticks he converted into human beings for the Owa, inwards monastic tell to growth the issue of his subjects. Hence to this twenty-four hours the Ijesas are ofttimes termed yesteryear their neighbours " Qmo igi " (offspring of sticks !)"
Current historical line of piece of job organisation human relationship based on Ijesa peoples ain tradition, which does non contradict Samuel Johnson`s line of piece of job organisation human relationship assert that their direct ancestor was Owa Ajibogun or Owa (“King”) who was i of the xvi sons of the deity Oduduwa. It is said that their nowadays urban center of Ilesa (Ilesha) inwards Osun State was "founded inwards c.1350 yesteryear Owaluse, a grandson of Ajibogun Ajaka (Ubiquitous Warrior) Owa Obokun Onida Arara, the most accomplished boy of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race of South-Western Nigeria in addition to Republic of Benin Republic." Ijesha, equally a historic town is i of the oldest settlements inwards Yorubaland. Other tradition alongside the Ijesa themselves also traces the root of the Ijesas province to a younger boy of Oduduwa called Obokun (Owa's ancestor), inwards commemoration of an occasion on which he fetched body of body of water H2O to cure his father's blindness. Obokun so settled inwards what was to piece of job Ijesaland. He found, similar other founding heroes, pre-existing political structures including a confederacy of 5 towns inwards the Obokun area. Obokun himself is so key to the Ijesas that they telephone telephone themselves Omo Obokun (Children of Obokun)
Whatever live the instance it tin give notice live clearly seen that the ancestors of Ijesa people migrated from Ile ife to their nowadays location inwards Osun State. Ilesha traditions grip that the site of Ilesha was already occupied yesteryear scattered settlements of an aboriginal population, the most of import beingness identified with today's Okesa, the long street running west-east along Ilesha's spine, whose leader is regarded equally the ancestor of Ogedengbe, The Obanla of Ijeshaland.
Ilesha became an of import in addition to major Yoruba armed services centre inwards the campaigns against Ibadan, sixty miles (97 km) west-Southwest inwards the 19th-century Yoruba civil wars. H5N1 leading fellow member of a confederacy known equally the Ekitiparapo important 'Ekiti together'. This combined forces of the Ijesa in addition to Ekiti was formed to struggle for the independence of their people.
In 1817 a long serial of civil wars began inwards the Oyo Empire inwards which hundreds of people died; they lasted until 1893 (when United Kingdom of Great Britain in addition to Northern Ireland intervened), yesteryear which fourth dimension the empire had disintegrated completely.
Modern Ilesha is a major collecting request for the export of cocoa in addition to a traditional cultural centre for the Ilesha (Ijesha) branch of the Yoruba people. Palm stone oil in addition to kernels, yams, cassava, corn (maize), pumpkins, cotton, in addition to kola nuts are collected for the local market. Local industries manufacture nails in addition to carpets, in addition to the town has a brewery; at that topographic point are also a recording society in addition to a publishing firm, in addition to the Supreme Oil manufacture at Ilesha. Several prominent quartzite ridges prevarication due east of Ilesha, in addition to gilded mining is an of import activity inwards the area, i.e The Iperindo Gold field.
Ilesha is a classic - though hardly a typical - instance of that ethnographic celebrity, the Yoruba town: a large, nucleated short town that is the centre of a kingdom in addition to itself the primary residence of an overwhelmingly agricultural population. Even when it was largely derelict owing to war, inwards 1886, Ilesha's population was estimated to live betwixt 20,000 in addition to 25,000 in addition to a figure of upwards to 40,000 may live appropriate for the pinnacle of its growth earlier the sack inwards 1870. Though this is non equally large equally the largest Oyo-Yoruba towns of the nineteenth century, its considerable size was non due,as theirs was, to really heavy recent immigration nether the affect of the wars.
It was the recognition of the need for the Ijesa to elevator upwards themselves yesteryear their ain bootstraps that led to the institution of the Ijesa Improvement Society, the outset modern pan-Ijesa socio-cultural group, inwards 1922. It was at a fourth dimension when the Ijesa non alone had problems with their British colonial overlords simply also with their ain local management nether the Owa Obokun who had since 1914 been constituted into a Sole Native Authority on the model of the Northern Nigeria Emirates, nether the Indirect Rule of System introduced yesteryear Sir Fredrick Lugard. This meant that the Ijesa had to debate non alone with a hostile unusual colonial ability simply with a despotic local management supported yesteryear that unusual colonial power. In this sort of unpleasant political climate, the best assist was self help.
Yoruba chieftains inwards their traditional dress
The regulation of self help, which was elevated to a philosophy of activity yesteryear the aggressively individualistic Ijesa inwards the inter-war years, was to assist the socio-economic evolution of Ijesaland in addition to to brand the Ijesa really cautious towards, if non totally suspicious of all governments live it local, regional or national inwards the postal service state of war in addition to pre-independence era. This explains why the few commercial in addition to industrial establishments inwards Ijesaland today are owned largely yesteryear the Ijesa themselves. Indeed, with the exception of the recent Federal Government efforts to exploit the gilded deposits at Itagunmodi in addition to Igun inwards Atakumosa Local Government area, at that topographic point are virtually no government-sponsored commercial in addition to industrial undertakings inwards the whole of Ijesaland."
HRM Oba (Dr) Adekunle Aromolaran, Owa-Obokun of Ijeshaland HRM, Oba (Dr) Adekunle Aromolaran, Owa-Obokun of Ijeshaland inwards his palace, awaiting the arrival of dignitaries
The Ilesa Monarchs
The province of Ilesa (Ile ti a sa which way a homeland nosotros chose), Traditional Headquarters of Ijesaland in addition to the uppercase of the outset Local Council inwards Nigeria (Ijesa/Ekiti Parapo Council) named yesteryear the British Colonial Administrator on 21 June 1900 comprising the nowadays twenty-four hours Ondo in addition to Ekiti States of Nigeria. F POPULATION: 310,000 There are iv imperial houses alongside which accession to the throne is supposed to live rotated: Biladu, Bilagbayo, Bilaro in addition to Bilayirere. Rulers receive got been equally follows:
| 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 - November 1894 |
| Vacant | Nov 1894 - April 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 - xviii October 1956 |
| J. E. Awodiya -Regent | 18 October 1956 - 1957 |
| Biladu III "Fiwajoye" | 1957 - Jul 1963 |
| .... -Regent | Jul 1963 - 1966 |
| Agunlejika II | 1966–1981 |
| Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II | 1982 - ? |
Deputy Governor State of Osun, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori; Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in addition to Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Aromolaran, during the 2013 Iwude-Ijesha Festival, at Ereja Square, Ilesa, State of Osun on Sabbatum 28-12-2013
History of Yoruba people By Samuel Johnson
They resided at Ile Ife, i.e., prior to the reign of Sango. Human sacrifices were mutual inwards those days, in addition to inwards monastic tell to receive got victims produce to hand, it is said that a issue of slaves were purchased
in addition to located inwards the district of Ibokun ; at that topographic point they were tended equally cattle, nether the aid of Owaju, in addition to from them selections were made from fourth dimension to fourth dimension for sacrificial purposes ; therefore the term
Ijesa from Ije Orisa (the nutrient of the gods). They are described equally stumpy, muscular, in addition to sheepish-looking, with a marked desire of tidings : they never offered whatever resistance to this system,
therefore the saying "Ijesa Omo Owaju ti ife opo iyk " (Ijesas children of Owaju, dependent acre to much sufferings). There is also a legend that when the nations began to disperse from Ile Ife in addition to members of the Royal Family were appointed kings in addition to rulers inwards various places, a immature in addition to brave scion of the theater was appointed the outset Owa or manly individual monarch over the Ijesas, simply that he returned to the alafin in addition to complained that his territory was equally good small, in addition to his subjects few, the sire thereupon ordered a large packet of sticks to live brought to him, in addition to these sticks he converted into human beings for the Owa, inwards monastic tell to growth the issue of his subjects. Hence to this twenty-four hours the Ijesas are ofttimes termed yesteryear their neighbours " Qmo igi " (offspring of sticks !)
This, of course, is a pure myth invented yesteryear their to a greater extent than wily neighbours to line of piece of job organisation human relationship for the notorious characteristics of the Ijesas generally, who are equally proverbially deficient inwards wit equally they are remarkably distinguished for animate beingness strength.
But i fact holds goodness downward fifty-fifty to our days, viz., that upwards to the recent full abolition of human sacrifice yesteryear the British Government (1893) the Ifes, who, far to a greater extent than than whatever other, were
addicted to the practice, ever preferred for the role to receive got an Ijesa victim to whatever other ; such sacrifices were considered to a greater extent than acceptable, the victims beingness the " nutrient of the gods."
This preference was the produce of to a greater extent than than i threatened rupture betwixt the Ifes in addition to their Ijesa allies during the recent xvi years' war, in addition to would sure enough receive got developed into opened upwards fights, but
for the Ibadan regular army vis-d-vis threatening them both.
The other line of piece of job organisation human relationship relates chiefly to the nowadays twenty-four hours Ijesas of Ilesa (the dwelling theater of the gods) the main town. According to this account, they hailed from the Ekitis ; or equally roughly would to a greater extent than correctly receive got it, they were the Ijesas from the neighbourhood of Ibokun who outset migrated to Ipole close Ondo, in addition to thence dorsum to Ilesa. It appears that a custom so prevailed of going out hunting for their manly individual monarch 3 months inwards the year, in addition to on i such occasion they found game so plentiful inwards the neighbourhood of Ilesa, the chmate really agreeable, the province well-watered, in addition to the Ijesas at that topographic point extremely simple, peaceful, in addition to unwarhke (probably the remnants in addition to descendants of the old sacrificial victims) whilst at dwelling theater they endured much oppression from their Owa, that they at that topographic point in addition to so conceived in addition to carried out the sentiment of settling on the spot at once, making it their home, in addition to of reducing into subjection the aboriginal inhabitants.
These objects were easily plenty accomplished ; simply they spared the principal chief, a kindly old gentleman who had an extensive garden plantation. He was called " Oba Ila," i.e., Okra king,
from his Okra plantation, in addition to he was placed adjacent inwards rank to the main of the marauders. That nickname is continued to the nowadays fourth dimension equally a championship Oba'la^ in addition to is conferred on the most distinguished main afterward the Owa of Ilesa. It would appear so that although the term Ijesa is retained yesteryear the people of that district, in addition to those who are ignorant of the root of the term convey roughly pride inwards it, yet it is evident that the nowadays inhabitants are non all of them the descendants of the aboriginal settlers, the " nutrient of the gods," simply are largely from the Ekitis yesteryear admixture ; the pure type Ijesas are straight off in addition to i time to a greater extent than met with at Ilesa in addition to neighbourhood.
This fact is farther shown yesteryear the desire of homogeneity alongside the principal chiefs of Ilesa at the nowadays day, for when the town was growing, the settlers did cast nearly for assist ; they sought for
wiser heads to assist them inwards the edifice upwards in addition to the direction of their country, e.g., from the Oyos or Yorubas Proper they had the Odgle from Irehe, the Esawe from Ora, the Saloro from Oyo (the ancient city), in addition to the Sorundi also from the same urban center — all these came with a large issue of followers ; from the Ondos, the 'Loro, in addition to the Salosi from I jama inwards the Ondo district ; from the
Ekitis, the Arapate from Ara, the Lejoka from Itaje ; in addition to lastly, the Ogboni from the white cap chiefs of Lagos, the alone i privileged to receive got on his headgear inwards the presence of the Owa. The Owa himself is equally nosotros receive got seen, a junior fellow member of the imperial theater of Oyo.
It is also said that when the town of Ilesa was to live set out a special messenger was sent to the alafin to inquire for the assist of i of the princes to lay out the town on the same innovation equally the ancient urban center of Oyo. That prince ruled for roughly years at Ilesa.
source:https://archive.org/stream/historyofyorubas00john/historyofyorubas00john_djvu.txt
http://www.jpanafrican.com/docs/vol3no5/3.5-3newRhythms.pdf
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