Brief Royal history of the IJESA OBOKUN Kingdom.

Brief Royal history of the IJESA OBOKUN Kingdom.

Ajibogun Orunaja Aganiyeye Ekun founded Ijesaland around 1250 A.D. He is the progenitor of the Ijesa Obokun people and his memorial cenotaph is situated at the Ilesa city centre. He is the founder of the OWA rr4Obokun Adimula monarchical dynasty. and its ancient and modern imperial system. He is one of the sixteen children of Oodua / Oduduwa Olofin-Aye , forebear of the Yoruba nation. Before Oodua ‘s demise, many of his children had left their homestead, Ile-Ife – the cradle of Yoruba to form their kingdoms. The Oranmiyan dynasty formed the two great Empires of Benin and Oyo, which the IJESA OBOKUN Kingdom immensely benefited from..
Ajibogun’s greatness commenced from the tedious expedition of fetching the ocean waters for the healing of his father – Oodua’s old age blindness. On his return, he discovered that his siblings had gone with all their father’s belongings. In fury, he went to his father, Oodua Olofin-Aye and almost attempted to chop off his head, but only succeeded in cutting off some beaded string of Oodua’s “Ade Eleye”-: sacred crown. Oodua pronounced that out of all his children, he will be the only one, whose crown beads will not cover his face. This explains, why till date, ancient beaded crown bead strings does not cover the face of the Owa Obokun Adimula (Agunlejika, 2011). Oodua calmed him down and blamed his old age blindness, for been the reason why his siblings’; acted like they did.
Ajibogun in anger vowed to pursued his brothers and sisters.
But before his departure, Oodua blessed him and gave him that same crown “Ade Oodua Eleye Abalaye” with the “Ida Ajase or Ajasegun” -;Sword of Victory and Conquest. Oodua Olofin-Aye blessed him again. This explains why Odu Ifa in Ejiogbe and Obara meji recognized him as”Ajibogun Ajaka Onida “- Ajibogun, the Lord of Ajaka, who owns the effectual sword.

Oodua permitted Obokun Ajibogun to pursue his siblings, but appealed to him not to tamper with the life of anyone of them. He captured his brothers Alaaye, who ruled over Efon, Alara, who ruled over Aramoko, and Ajero, who ruled over Ijero. He subdued Igede, Ogotun and other places in North Eastern Yoruba land (Atayero, 1972, Agunlejika, 1996; 2011; Peel, 1983).
On sighting his blood brother Fagbamila Ajagunla (ORANGUN Ile-Ila and the progenitor of the Igbomina) at Oke Ede, close to Igbo Igbomina, which his brother (ORANGUN) found, Obokun Ajibogun turned back and made up his mind not to encroach on the territory of his blood brother. Both Owa Obokun Adimula and Orangun Ile-Ila made Oke Ede, between Esa-Oke and Okemesi their boundaries up till date. There exists close traditional and cultural ties between the IJESA Obokun Kingdom and the Igbomina kingdom till date. It is instructive to say that Owa Obokun Adimula shares blood maternal union with the Orangan Ile Ila, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Ado Bini / OBA of Benin (Atayero,1972; Aromolaran, 1992; Agunlejika, 1996 ; 2011).

The ancient IJESA Obokun Kingdom cut across Ekiti, Akoko and Yagba. Ijesaland Chieftaincy structure drew a lot of inference and inclusiveness from the traditional governmental structure, practices and culture of Oyo and Benin. Symbolically, the two main gates that forms the entrances of the Aafin Adimula Royal Palace at Red 4 Ilesa were presumably facing Oyo, (known as the Owaluse Western gate), while the Eastern gate presumably faced Benin, (known as Atakunmosa gate). Symbolically, this depicts Oyo and Benin as major contributors to the the IJESA Obokun historical development,cultural traditional practices , traditions and politics. Ironically, Ijesaland strategically falls in between Oyo and Benin. These two great Empires made lasting impacts on Ijesaland.
According to Peel (1983) and Agbaje-Williams and Ogundiran (1992) they opined that the foundation of the Ijesaland took a form of dynastical migration from Ile-Ife to Igbadae, Ilowa (formerly known Ulogo), lbokun (formerly known as Ilugbin and later Ilemure).
These were IJESA Obokun power centres and seat of the crown, according to Peel (1983) “Ulu Alade”.
Owa Obokun Adimula Ajibogun ruled at Igbadae, Ilowa and translated at Ibokun.
,His son, Owa Obokun Owaka Okile (Owo Owa o ka Okile meaning the hand of our monarch could not hold the sword firmly). Cultural historians recounted that, he was very young, when he succeeded his father, Owa Obokun Adimula Owaka Okile at Ibokun.(then Ilugbin and later Ilemure) in 1260 and translated in.1350.
Owa Obokun Adimula Obarabara Olokunesin (father Laarooye Gbawolu, the first Owa later changed to Ataoja of Osogbo by Osun, the River goddess….). succeeded his father in 1360. After his demise in 1456. The Ifa divinity picked Prince Owaluse (son of an Oyo Princess to succeed his father but Owari, his usurper uncle refused staged a coup d’etat. Prince Owaluse escaped to Oyo (Atayero, 1972; ;Peel, 1983; Agunlejika, 1996; 2011). Owari reached an accord with Ogun, the pathfinder and god of warfare, Agriculture, iron and steel, that if Ogun could help him rule Ijesaland he will make Ogun the national deity of the IJESA (Agbaje-Williams and Ogundiran, 1992). This explains why Ogun is accorded the most important place in the Owa Obokun Adimula Pantheon. He ruled Ijesaland with iron fist and was abandoned at Ipole (formerly known as Ilekete) in 1522, where he forcefully moved Ijesa Obokun administrative headquarters.
The Ijesa Obokun people went to Oyo and brought back Owa Obokun Adimula Owaluse to reclaim his throne. After conquest, he established his seat of government at Ilesa in 1522 as an enduring IJESA Obokun Royal -city of the crown- “Ulu Alade” (Peel, 1983). After Owa Obokun Adimula Owaluse joined his ancestors in 1526. Atakunmosa was recalled home from Benin, where he sojourned. He had a great relationship with OBA Ehengbuda,, who Benin history recalled was a great warrior.
In Benin history, Atakunmosa was referred to as “Atakumarha”. In Benin, he was thought the ways of royalty, warfare, governance and administration of justice ( Peel, 1983; Agunlejika, 2011).
His predecessor, Owa Obokun Adimula Owaluse established the “Uwarefa” Agbanla Order, fashioned after the”Oyomes”in Oyo. Owa Obokun Adimula Owaluse also transformed and reshaped the IJESA Obokun government, which gave room to military supervision, which took after the Role of Ajaka,(the first Lemodu of Ilesa, and Chief Priest of Obokun) Ajibogun ‘s Commander in Chief of the IJESA Obokun Armed Forces.
Owa Obokun Adimula Atakunmosa succeeded Owaluse in1526. He consolidated the administrative and management structure put in place by his father, Owa Obokun Adimula Owaluse, most especially in Ijesa Chieftaincy, Regional Provincial Lordship of the “Eta Ule, Eta Oko” – the Uwarefa mefa – the Obaala (the JESA Obokun Prime Minister), four Regional Ogbonis of, Ibokun, Ijebu-jesa, Ipole and Ilesa. He enriched the IJESA Obokun Chieftaincy,, traditions and structured it with the experience he has gathered from the Benin Empire.
Owa Obokun Adimula Atakunmosa, father of Deji of Akure, enlarged the IJESA OBOKUN decision making process. He established the twenty Eight (members) Agba Ijesa group.. With composition of the six (6) highest traditional group – the Uwarefa – mefa, Agbanla Group which is supervised by the Obaala of Ilesa (the Prime Minister, the four Regional Ogbonis and the Obaodo, scribe of the group, The second group are the eleven (11) Aare Oke and Aare Odo administrative Chiefs, headed by the Odole of Ilesa and assisted by the Risawe of Ilesa.
The third group are the eleven Military war Commanders, headed by the Lejoka and assisted by the Loro. All these twenty Eight chiefs form the Agba Ijesa. Owa Obokun Adimula Atakunmosa brought public prominence and glamour to the Ogun festival in Ijesaland. Ogun Festival is jointly celebrated by three IJESA Obokun principal centers of Ibokun, Ipole and Ijebu-jesa, (for one month) with the grand finale at Ilesa.

It is instructive to note that Owa Obokun Adimula Atakunmosa’s offspring was used to delineate the IJESA Obokun Royal Ruling houses: Biladu, Bilagbayo, Bilayi Arere / Uyi Arere and Bilaro / Oluodo as affirmed in 1958 Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland’s Chieftaincy Declaration and reaffirmed and proclaimed in 1966.
It is noteworthy that Owa Adimula remains the pivot on which Ijesaland revolves. Furthermore, Forty nine (49) Princes and Princesses have been blessed by Providence to be made Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland but forty one (41) made it through the mandatory “place of seclusion and tutelage at the Ogboni of Ilesa’s court. The Forty One royals are referred to as recorded Owa Obokun Adimula, because they indeed reign over Ijesaland and there exists Royal records of their reigns.
Thus OWA CLEMENT ADESUYI HAASTUP, AJIMOKO III, THE OWA OBOKUN ADIMULA AND PARAMOUNT RULER OF IJESALAND, becomes the Forty ninth Owa Obokun Adimula, and the Forty first recorded Owa Obokun Adimula and the Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland.

The second stage of IJESA Obokun cover that of war expedition and warlords. The period encompassed the effective leadership dictated by the barrel of the gun.One can not but mention great IJESA Obokun heroes, who displayed gallantry and patriotism in the Kiriji /Yoruba internecine war. Seriki Ogundamola Orisariyibi Ogedengbe Agbogungboro, the Commander in Chief of the Ekiti/IJESA Parapo Allied Forces and his lieutenants,Fabunmi Oraralada of Okemesi, Risinkin Obe,, Omooba Okunade Arimoro, Ogunmodede, Fapohunda, Jowojori Onigbogi, Ogunlae Dahunduro and host of other IJESA, Ekiti and Igbomina patriots fought the overzealous and overambitious Ibadans to a stand still. The Ibadans was led by Aare Latosa, at Imesi Ipole now Imesi-Ile Kiriji theatre of war operations.. Ogedengbe led the Ijesa, Ekiti and Igbomina Allied Forces to save the whole Yoruba nation from the dominance of the Ibadans.

Today, in the absence of wars, intra or inter ethnic dominance, Ijesas, through self realization, decisiveness and assertiveness discovered the way to go in the emerging Nigeria Nation. They realized earlier that economic dominance and prosperity is way out (Peel, 1983). With the abolition of the Imo hill top North Eastern District and merging Ijesaland with the Oyo Province and her long allies the Ekitis, with the Ondo Province in January of 1914, Nigeria’s year of amalgamation. The year, 1914 marked the turning point of the Ijesa Obokun history.
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The Ijesas ventured into the “Osomaalo” trade. With dynamic exploit in sole entrepreneurial business acumen and high transactional ability, they spread like wild fire into the nooks and crannies of Yoruba Land and later into Nigeria’s cities and inter lands. Today, Osomaalo trade has gone beyond the shores of Nigeria. It has gone international. Osomaalo trade model became popular and the hire purchase sales skills and dynamics became one of IJESA Obokun contributions to the world of trade, commerce, industry and banking.
IJESA Osomaalo trade migrants saw the prospects of Western education very early. They sent their children and wards to school.
It is their practice to visit home at least twice a year, to contribute to the development of their homestead in terms of contributing to community projects, family commitments and self projects. The emergence of the cocoa trade boosted their economic prospects. And a lot of Osomaalo traders took a dive into cocoa trade and reaped massively.
The Apostle Ayo Babalola revival of the 1930’s greatly entrenched and propagated Christianity in Ijesaland till date.
The Ilesa riots of 1941 remains a watershed in IJESA Obokun history. It was a gate was to party politics and the flourishing business foundation of Republicanism and self assertiveness in the IJESA Obokun society.
Before then was the period of flourishing business of the Syrians and Lebanese known as “Koraa” in Adeti Area of Ilesa. It was a glamorous time in Ijesa Obokun history, when Ilesa became the centre of commerce and trade for the whole of North Eastern Yorubaland.
With the Fortune of greater tomorrow been sealed at the dawn of Nigeria’s independence in 1960, Ijesa Obokun people strategized and their earlier sacrifices and venture into the acquisition of Western education paid off and they occupied various positions in public and private sectors of the Nigeria’s
economy.
Among the freed slaves from Brazil and Sierra Leone, who settled in Lagos were some Ijesas that contributed immensely to the commerce, trade, industry, professional vocations and academics growth of Nigeria,. Prominent among them is Chief Candido Joao Da Rocha (1860 – 1959), the Lodifi of Ilesa, one time richest man of his time. He went back home to establish the first Roman Catholic Church at Oke Padi,at Ifofin area of Ilesa. Mr Christopher Sapara Williams- Nigeria’s first Lawyer. Other Ijesa Obokun sons and daughters,who have excelled in various fields of human endeavours are Dr T.M Aluko, the first Nigerian Chartered Engineer and Town Planner, Dr Olabisi Ugbebor, first Nigerian female Doctorate holder in Mathematics, Dr ( Grace Nzeogwu, first female Medical Doctor in Nigeria, Dr E.A Ifaturoti,, the first Geologist in Nigeria and host of others,too numerous, who have made history.
At this time of an history making event such as this. We must rededicate ourselves to supporting our Kabiyesi Alayeluwa Owa Clement Adesuyi Haastup Ajimoko III, Owa Obokun Adimula and the Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland for the great task ahead

We are expressing our profound gratitude and eternal appreciation to these illustrious IJESA OBOKUN sons and daughters, who through their hard earned money identified with us in the publication of the book, EXEGESIS OF IJESA OBOKUN CULTURE AND TRADITIONS., which by the grace of GOD will on paperback and online across the world soon.
(1) DR OLAJIDE AOGO
(2) ASIWAJU YINKA FASUYI
(3) CHIEF FEMI OSOBUKOLA
(4) PASTOR (PRINCE) –
OLUWASEUN
ADERIBIGBE
(5) BAR. BEN ADEDAMOLA
ADEDEJI.
(6) PROF. AMOS ADUROJA
(7) H.R.M OBA ISAAC
ADEYEBA, THE AKINLA
ERIN- IJESA
(8) H.R.M OBA AKEEM.
OGUNGBANGBE, THE
OWALOKO OF ILOKO-
IJESA.
(9) PRINCE ADESEGUN
OGUNMOKUN
(10) PRINCE ADENIRAN
AYODELE ALUKO
(11) PA BABA JIDE
JAYEOBA
(12) BAR. (PRINCE) ROTIMI
AGUNLEJIKA
(13) PRINCE ADEGBOYEGA
AGUNLEJIKA
(14) MRS MOPELOLA
TITILAYO KARIUNWI
(NEE AKINBOLAGBE)
(15) DR (MRS) OLUBUKOLA
ARINOLABODE
SHOPEJU (NEE
ASHAOLU)
(16) CHIEF OBASOLA
JOHNSON OSUNKE YE
(17) MR ABIMBOLA
OLAYIWOLA
(18) HON. FOLARIN
FAFOWORA
(19) DR (MRS) MARGARET
OLAJUMOKE OMODARA
(20) YEYE OBA DR (MRS)
DEBBIE AJEWOLE
(21) THE ARIMORO ROYAL
FAMILY
(22) MR SOLA ALAKA
(23) MR SUNDAY ADEWUSI.
ALMIGHTY GOD will continue to bless and honour you, as you honoured Ijesaland with your substance.
(C) Adeoye Agunlejika, 2025..
ComfortHez Books
References.
Agunlejika, A, (1996) The Great Feet in the Sand of Time. Biography of His Imperial Majesty, Alayeluwa OBA PETER Adeniran Olatunji Agunlejika II, the Owa Obokun Adimula and the Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland. (1966 – 1981). Lagos, ComfortHez Books.
Agunlejika, A (2011) IJESA Chronicles: An Histriographic Tribute. Lagos, ComfortHez Books
Atayero S.A (1972) A short History of the Ijesa, Part One. Ilesa, Atayero Press.
Agbaje-Williams B and Ogundiran, A (1992) Cultural Resources in Ijesaland. Ilesa, IJESA Cultural Foundation, Aafin Adimula.
Peel, J.D.Y( Ijrshas and Nigerians: The Incorporation of A Yoruba Kingdom, 1890s-1970s. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.