| Ilesa | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Pushpin Map: | Nigeria |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Nigeria |
| Coordinates: | 7.6167°N 4.7167°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Nigeria |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Osun State |
| Subdivision Type2: | South Western geopolitical zone |
| Seat: | The Royal Palace |
| Government Type: | Monarchy |
| Leader Title: | His Imperial Majesty, Owa Obokun Adimula |
| Leader Name: | Aromolaran II |
| Population Total: | 384,334 |
| Population As Of: | 2016 |
| Population Est: | 416,000 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2024 |
| Population Note: | (Metropolitan Area only)[1] |
| Blank Name Sec1: | National language |
| Blank Info Sec1: | Yoruba |
Ilesa (pronounced as /en/ ; pronounced as /yo/) 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 .[2] [3] [4] The state is ruled by a monarch bearing the title of His Imperial Majesty, the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland.[5] The city of Ilesa consists of Ilesa itself and a number of surrounding cities.[6] [7]
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.[8] [9] 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.[10]
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,[11] 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.[12]
Areas in Ilesa
According to the historian Samuel Johnson:
Odo - Ile was Oduduwa's Grandchild by Oduduwa's Eldest Daughter (Logun Edu's own son became the First Odole of Ijesaland - [Prime-Minister/Secretary of State of Ijesaland]
One of the grammar schools in Ilesa is Ilesa Grammar School. Its 90th anniversary was celebrated in 2024.[13]
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[14] [15] who set up a review committee to ascertain the establishment of the institution.[16]
Among the schools in Ilesa is the College of Technology, which is located at Imelu in Ilesa.[17] [18]
There are several Hospitals in ilesa city which are.
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."[21]
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:
| 1150- 1255 | |||
| Owa Owaka Okile | 1260-1358 | ||
| Owa Obarabara Olokun Eshin | 1360-1459 | ||
| Owa Owari | 1466 - 1522 | ||
| 1522 - 1526 | |||
| Owa Atakumosa | 1526- 1546 | ||
| Owa Obokun Oge- | 1572-1587 | ||
| Owa Obokun Bilayi- Arere | 1588- 1590 | ||
| Owa Obokun- Yeyeladegba(Female) | 1646 - 1652 | ||
| Owa Obokun -Yeyegunrogbo(Female) | 1652-1653 | ||
| Owa Obokun Biladu I | 1653- 1681 | ||
| Owa Obokun Biladu II | - | ||
| Owa Obokun Bilaro | 1681-1690 | ||
| Owa Obokun Waji(female) | 1691-1692 | ||
| Owa Obokun Waiye (female) | 1692-1693 | ||
| Owa Obokun Waiyero(female) | 1698-1712 | ||
| Owa Obokun Bilagbayo | 1713-1733 | ||
| Owa Obokun Ori-Abejoyo(female) | 1734-1749 | ||
| Owa Obokun Bilajagodo “Arijelesin" | 1749-1771 | ||
| Owa Obokun Bilatutu"Otutu bi Osin" | 1772-1776 | ||
| Owa Obokun Bilasa"Asa abodofunfun" | 1776-1788 | ||
| Owa Obokun Akesan | 1789-1795 | ||
| Owa Obokun Bilajara | 1796-1803 | ||
| Owa Obokun Odundun | 1804-1814 | ||
| Owa Obokun Obara | 1814-1832 | ||
| Owa Obokun Gbega-aje | 1832-1846 | ||
| Owa Obokun Ofokutu | 1846-1858 | ||
| Owa Obokun Aponlese | 1858-1867 | ||
| Owa Obokun Alobe | 1867-1868 | ||
| Owa Obokun Agunlejika 1 | 1868-1869 | ||
| Owa Obokun Owewe-niye | 1869-1874 | ||
| 1875 - 1893 | |||
| Mar 1893 - Nov 1894 | |||
| Owa Obokun Alowolodu | 1894-1895 | ||
| Owa Obokun Ajimoko 1 | April 1896- September 1901 | ||
| Owa Obokun Ataiyero[Atayero] | 1902-1920 | ||
| Owa Obokun Aromolaran 1 | 1920-1942 | ||
| Ajimoko "Haastrup" -Regent | 1942 - 10 Sep 1942 | ||
| Owa Obokun | Ajimoko II "Fidipote" | 10 Sep 1942 - 18 Oct 1956 | 1942-1956 |
| J. E. Awodiya -Regent | 18 Oct 1956 - 1957 | ||
| Owa Obokun Biladu III "Fiwajoye" Ogunmokun 111 | 1957-1963 | ||
| ... -Regent | Jul 1963 - 1966 | ||
| Owa Obokun Agunlejika 11 | 1966-1981 | ||
| 1982-2024 | |||
| Owa Obokun Clement Adesuyi Haastrup | 2024- |
