IJESAS are indeed very phenomenal, they are exceptionally enriched and endowed with well structured, quintessential Traditions and Customs. Their life’s very rich tapestries are woven around sensitive though discreet culture and a charismatic royalty. Ijesa traditions and customs are connected with their economic principles and social interactions—the Osomalos.
Every Ijesa is proud to be called Ijesa, and this can be noticed in how genuinely and passionately they love their language—–ka ri o ran. Each family, each community, street, town or village in Ijesaland has its own peculiar history, a well preserved story and highly valued panegyric and poetic tributes in form of “ORIKI”. For instance when someone is praised as “Omo otapete, omo ota gogoro…”, you can easily suggest where he or she comes from if you are a true born Ijesa. The person from Okesa will instantly raise his or her ears at the mentioning of the poetic tribute, “Omo itawara Okesa ke jo ni l’ese bi eina…”.
In Ijesaland, if you don’t know the history of your family, you are considered a very unfortunate bastard. “Ki omode ba ba itan, o ye ke le ba aroba. Aroba ganaan, Baba itan ni”. So, it’s a disgrace for you to be called by your father’s name, yet you don’t know who your father is, where he comes from and what unique attributes he has in your street, home town and in Ijesaland.
When you are asked, “Omo ye si o re..”, or “ye so bi o n’ile e ?”, you should proudly beat your chest and mention it, ” emi ni Omo o ni han binu si, Omo Eki l’ade Ugbo, Eki la J’agun. Omo Olose meji tako-tabo…”.
In the past 4 months, precisely since December 29, 2024, we have been updating the good people of Ijesaland and general public with the mandatory activities for the ascension of His Imperial Majesty, Owa Clement ADESUYI HAASTRUP to the throne of Owa Obokun Adimula and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland. The traditional and customary duties and rites began with his visit to Igbo Ikin where he was made a Looja, that’s a Duke before he was elected by the Afobajes otherwise called Agba Ijesas. On the 21st of April, 2025, His Imperial Majesty Owa Obokun Adimula completed the 90 days spiritual rejuvenation and traditional Royal Initiations at IPEBI within the Courtyards of Ogboni of Ilesa.
IPEBI is a crucial seclusion period mandatory for newly elected Kings in Yoruba land to be observed before he can successfully ascend the throne. In Ijesaland, this unique period of isolation allows the new Owa Obokun Adimula to observe certain and peculiar ancestral rituals that will prepare him for the spiritual responsibilities of leadership. As practiced and duly observed by his ancestors, Owa Clement ADESUYI HAASTRUP, Ajimoko 111, spent the whole 90 days without skipping any mandatory activity. Each day was well programmed and structured to accommodate visitors, receive blessings and connect Kabiyesi to his ancestors. The 90 days seclusion was established and aimed at achieving divine mandate and encounters, entrenching and solidifying Owa’s legitimacy all over Ijesaland, preserving the customs and beliefs of the entire kingdom, as well as guiding and preparing him for a peaceful and prosperous reign through prayers, sacrifices and other rituals.
It’s important to state that Ijesaland was established by Owaluse, a grandson of Ajibogun Ajaka Owa Obokun Onida Arara, who was a descendant of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba people. It is generally believed that the city-state of Ilesa, the capital of Ijesaland, was founded around 1250 by Owaluse. And, since then, Ijesaland has remained one and indivisible and the Ijesas have maintained compatibilities and harmonic relationships in all ramifications.
At exactly, 12:35 am on the 22nd of April, 2025, Owa Clement ADESUYI HAASTRUP departed the Courtyards of Ogboni of Ilesa trekking amidst enthusiastic crowd of traditional priests, Emese, Omode Owa, Iwole, Elegbaaji, High Chiefs and some inquisitive members of the public. He was escorted by Ogboni to the designated boundary between Owa’s Palace and Ogboni’s Ereja. He must never pass through the road again, it’s forbidden. There Ogboni proudly handed Kabiyesi Owa Obokun Adimula over to “Aleshi” who led him through Ita-Obalogun to Odo Iro where the process of “Iwesu” was observed. Iwesu is a combination of significant rites including washing of Owa’s head before the Crown is placed on his head and the Staff of Authority is placed in his hand. Immediately, the process of Iwesu is completed, he will appear before the Ijesas for the first time with a Crown on his head and the staff of authority and then match majestically from “Odo Iro” to “Aragaan”.
One of the important aspects of the activities that took place during the night was the display of cognitive skills by the “Onilu Owa”, Owa’s traditional musicians. They displayed their dexterity communicating with the drums in Ijesa language, and talking with the drums, mimicking the moods of that moment, and using the chord progression with rhythmic punctuations…..” L’aye Ajimoko, ire, ire la n wa, ire “.
“Isepe Uroko d’eru b’oriro,Orisa j’owa d’arigbo”
At about 3 am, Kabiyesi, Owa Ajimoko 111, entered the Palace led by the “Iwole” for the first time through a specially fortified opening into the “IROKOJA”, that’s the Palace Groove. Only the his Iwole were allowed to enter into the Palace with him through the fortified entrance at “Aragaan”. The Chiefs and other entourage trekked back to the palace to wait for Kabiyesi at the front of “Okemese”. Traditions and customs mandate Kabiyesi to wash his legs at an ancient stream within “Irokoja”….”Omi kan teere ajoji ko we ese, ajoji ko ba we ese n’ibe a d’eni ebo”. He has nothing to do with that stream anymore in his lifetime, it’s forbidden. He spent more than an hour within the Palace Groove observing rites and prayers at “Ile Obokun”, “Ile Osayin”, “Ajorijo”, “Okemese”, and “Ile Esu Ode”.
At about 5:30 am, all the traditional protocols have been duly observed and diligently performed by the Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, Owa Clement ADESUYI HAASTRUP, Ajimoko bi Oyinbo, Akanni Aro, Owa Akorede. Immediately, he performed his first Royal duty by offering his special wishes and blessings upon Ijesaland and the entire people of his Kingdom. He then proceeded to the Courtyards of High Chief Loro of Ilesa, Chief Olamilekan Folorunso to rejoice with his Chief of Army Staff.
The following day, 23rd of April, 2025, Kabiyesi, Owa Clement ADESUYI HAASTRUP, proceeded to Ibokun in a large convoy and was received by Oba Loro of Ibokun. Tradition forbids him from passing through Ilowa, so he has to go through Osogbo to Ibokun. At Oba Loro Quarter, he received the Ancient Sword of Conquest and the biggest and most valued Crown which was handed over to him by Oodua-Olofin-Aye in Ile Ife.
It must be mentioned here that, Owaluse was a direct son of Owa Adimula Obarabara Olokunesin who ruled Ijesaland from Ilemure, now Ibokun. He left the Sword of Conquest and the Ancient Crown as a legacy of his reign in Ibokun so that each time Owa Obokun passes out, it’s the duty of Oba Loro of Ibokun who is the custodian of Ile Obokun in Ibokun to come to Ilesa and retrieve the sword and the Crown immediately from the Palace. And, when a new Owa emerges, the new Kabiyesi will come to Ibokun to also retrieve the Sword and the Crown.
On that same day, Owa Obokun Adimula proceeded to Ijebu Jesa to observe a significant “Lap Ceremony” by Ogboni of Ijebu-Jesa, otherwise called Elegboro. It will be recalled that Owa Adimula Ajibogun Orunaja Aganniyeye Ekun was accompanied by Agirigiri from Ijebu Ode where Ajibogun fetched the Sea Water that was used to cure his father, Oodua’s old age blindness. The role of Agirigiri from Ijebu Ode was that of helping Ajibogun to go through shortest ways to the Sea and back to Ile Ife. Ajibogun Orunaja Aganniyeye Ekun and Agirigiri journed together through the forest jungles to conquer many territories within the present Ijesaland and beyond. Agirigiri was very powerful having possessed a calabash of mysterious objects and command of spoken words, either to bless or to curse…..”Omo awure f’ase ba enu”.Owa Ajimoko 111, was at Ijebu Jesa to perform the “lap ceremony” for the second time. The first was when he went into the “Ile Orisa”to choose his own “Calabash of Fate”. And, by divine grace, he chose the Calabash of Honey, “Igba Oyin”. After, a night long rituals inside the “Ile Orisa” and which was performed by Alaye and other Priests, Owa Obokun Adimula was received by Ogboni of Ijebu-Jesa on his lap. Going to Ijebu Jesa to conclude the ceremony was to further reinforce ideals of Ijesa traditions and customs, and to sustain the unity and cordial relationships between Owa Obokun Adimula and Ogboni of Ijebu-Jesa…..”Ijebu Ogun, Ulesa ogbon, e si bi han se a ka ogbon kan mo ka ogun. Owa da ni pa, ki Ijebu Jesa mo mo”.
And, finally, as he returned to Ilesa, the Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, the custodian of traditions and customs of Ijesa Kingdoms, Owa Obokun Adimula, Owa Clement ADESUYI HAASTRUP, Ajimoko 111, made his first triumphant entry into the official residence of Owa Obokun Adimula in the Ancient Palace Square, Ilesa.
Baba yi o,
Olori Alade,
Orisa Keji.
Owa a m’uni, m’Aparo oko o ni,Owa a b’eni l’ori, fi iyoku ara ji ni,O pa Omo l’ekun, yeye re ya mi dupe ana.Owa Ogboluko, Erin lila a f’oniyan se ebo.
Owa, Omo ogongo Lila Yee ke gb’aguntan an mi,
Alaguntan se haa,
Uwo ni Omo o ni j’oni wi t’oni laafin.
Ogongo tun gbe Alaguntan je.
Written by Akinyele Akintola anfaani63@gmail.com, Ilesa.
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