𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗜𝗝𝗘𝗦𝗛𝗔 𝗣𝗘𝗢𝗣𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗬𝗢𝗥𝗨𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗗

The Ìjẹ̀ṣà 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:

"𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗱𝘁𝗵, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮"

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 'Òṣómàáló' business model. The word ‘Osomaalo’ 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.