Imesi-Ile: More than just a peace treaty site

A section of the community

M ANY great and historic towns whose history is enough to fill an encyclopedia, whose beautiful culture is their heritage; whose predilection for excellence is the watchword on which they were founded, permeate the entire African continent, especially the Western region of Nigeria. There and towns and cities as old as the ancient Oyo, as powerful as the historic Ile-Ife. One of such cities is the ancient Imesi-Ile. Imesi Ile in Nigeria (general) (region) is located in Nigeria – about 204 mi (or 328 km) South-West of Abuja, the country’s capital town. A brief description of the historic town reveals that it is located on a hilly landscape – a semi plateau, in the Ijesha area of Yorubaland. It is about 23 miles (37 kilometers) north-east of Ilesha, and about 19 miles (31 kilometers) from Osogbo, the Osun State. It is one of the principal towns in Ijeshaland, and administratively in Obokun local government of Osun State.

Historically, the town is believed to have been created sometime around the 11th or 12th century (one of the oldest settlements in Yoruba land) as revealed by many landmarks and historians. While the present site of the town was recorded to have been settled by the Nupe people of old, the original Nupe settlers eventually moved towards the northern part of Nigeria, leaving only a few remnants of their descendants behind. The earliest of the settlers that came and founded the present Imesi-Ile were the Oloja, the Odunmorun, and the Eye. The Oloja and the Odunmorun patriarchs, being half brothers from Ondo, are held in positions of pre-eminence till today in Imesi. Even though the Eye family is almost extinct or aligned with other families in the town, the homestead remains till today and still enjoys the acknowledgement and respect of the community tradition.

The ambient temperature, favourable weather and hospitable people have attracted many settlers to the town. Imesi-Ile is almost entirely surrounded by hills of various altitudes; the hills are numerous, sometimes magnificent, giving the town its picturesque look and famously cool weather’. Also due to its commercial influence and popularity, many Yoruba settlers from a variety of Yoruba towns including Igbajo, Ila-Orangun, Iresi, Otan, Esa-Oke, Okemesi, Ile-Ife, Efon-Alaiye, Ijero-Ekiti, Ido-Ekiti and other Ekiti towns, Oyo-Alaafin, Benin and others have settled there. The Imesi-Ile is historic for its masquerade festival. This annual festival has earned the noble town its popularity and fame among the Yoruba populace. Imesi-Ile abounds in cultural events, celebrating one festival or another, most prominent being the annual Egungun (masquerade) festival, with the grand Egungun (Ladunnwo) emerging every other year . This is usually an all town events with indigenes of Imesi-Ile within Nigeria and abroad coming home for celebration. On a different note, the contributions of these Egunguns during the Kiriji was noteworthy.

Apart from Ladunwo who could help in maintaining law and order as well as protecting the territory from invaders, Iyekiye also plays the same role. The Egungun festival, as it is fondly called, has attracted attention from all over the world, across Europe Asia and the Americas. It is believed that essence of the festival is basically to remind the citizens that the masquerades are the reincarnates of their departed fathers and also to reinforce the belief that there is a thin line of demarcation between the living and the dead. The traditional egungun festival has given the community and it’s immediate environs a vantage economic climate and growth for national development. The evening of the festival is also the day of their traditional washing of the masks known as OMI ASO outing by the masquerades. It is the time to sing the age-long traditional song which runs thus: ‘O to ka rodo ka re je,O to karodo kare mumi awo o,Iyefun mo nile awo nrodo ni Iyefun’ As part of the activities in the celebration is well articulated sensitisation and activities on genital mutilation.

This is usually an all town event packaged with lot of activities which is in form of both entertainment and important family rights originating from ancestral belief. The latter is another pointer that establishes how ardent the people of Imesi Ile are in the practice of traditional and custom rights. Some families of significant percentage still practice traditional rights contrary to human rights, which include female genital mutilation, some tribal incisions among others. On the other hand, entertainment which is basically cultural attract interested indigenes of Imesi-Ile within Nigeria and abroad coming home for celebration. Traditional religions have been (and still is) practiced in Imesi-Ile before Christianity was introduced to Imesi-Ile in 1900 by the Methodist Missionaries. Moreover, there is a handful of Muslims in the town and all these live together in perfect harmony. It should also be noted that while violent conflicts, turmoil, destruction and death had been and are still being engineered and sustained in many parts of Africa using political, cultural or religious plurality as excuses. Imesi-Ile is a good example of how the people’s Imesi-Ile Progressive Association and the Church have organized local people in very constructive cooperative community development ventures with impressive achievements over a century.

The paramount ruler of the town, The Owaooye and the Chiefs most especially Obaala,Eminle and Obaloja are saddled with the responsibility of the administration of the city. History will not forget the efforts of great men and women that ensured the firm standing of this ancient town, who upheld its dignity and glory all of whom are self-made model and true patriots. From the first Chairman of IPU, The late Chief A.O. Makanjuola (Otun Owa of Imesi-Ile) and Senator L.T. Olamijulo – the longest serving IPU Chairman (1938-1962), to the likes of Oba Ajiboye (Ariyo-won-ye), Pa William Ojo , Chief J.I. Bifarin, Chief (Engineer) J.A. Olaniyan, Chief J.O. Awoyomi (Aragba-migo!), Chief S.A Ajanaku, Chief D.O.Oguntoye, Pa P.F. Familusi, Pa J.O. Fakolade, Mr. J. Olu Ojo, The Right Rev. Famonure, Pa (Pastor) Olufemi, Pa I.O. Ajiboye, Pa Omoyeni, Pa J.A Adeogba, Dr. S.O. Fasokun, Engineer Lanre Fakolade, Honorable Oluwole Siyanbola, Chief Mrs. Wura Ojo (Nee Itagbemi of the famed Elizade Motors), and many others of blessed memories. These forerunners served the town with relentless and absolute patriotism.