Because of its unique location and its natural hills and caves within the mountains covering several miles; it was an easy choice for protections during wars in the historic past.
[3] They had with them bronze implements, wooden bows and arrows which could not cope with the giant trees, dense forest, and wild animals of those days.
[4] Imesi-ile received her formal original name, Oke-mesin, between the 10th and 11th century AD, when Owa Ooye Saga, a prince of the Olofin of Ile-ife migrated and joined the other families.
[6] He was succeeded by Losin who had to contend with threats of wars and invasions plus fear of insurrection by powerful subjects within his domain, among whom was Agba-ogo who was very skilled in clairvoyancy.
[6] At the spot where he disappeared, according to William Ojo, “…a strong brass chain emerged from the earth recoiling to the length of 10 or more feet on the surface of the ground.
[6] After his passing, his successor, Orifioye, refused to adopt the Owa title ‘…mindful of the imprecations levelled at it by the last holder and so they agreed to call the new Oba “The Oloja-Oke of Okemesi” … ‘[6] It was Oloja-oke Orifioye’s son named, Agodogbomokun, who led the secession from Imesi-ile with sixty-seven men and a dog to the present Okemesi in Ekiti state.
[6] He was wicked, short tempered and unprincipled, such that unsuspecting of plans against him he was called out of the palace to view a strange object outside the town’s gateway towards Igbajo.
[7] The formation was as follows: Ekiti coalition moved ammunitions through to Imesi-ile and first attacked Igbajo, who refused to support the confederates but pledged allegiance to Ibadan.
These confederates formed alliance determined to overrun Oyo tribes right to Ibadan farms at river Oba.
On September 23, 1886, all the warring parties except Ilorin soldiers signed the peace settlement but Ekikitparapos still remained, thereafter in Imesi-ile, to watch Ibadan next move.
[11] Several years after he was installed and Ogedengbe’s death, Oba Ademikanlu, refused to honor his promise; to which the Ilesa king kept badgering him.
[11] Imesi-ile, having witnessed the devastating horrors and destructions of the war, deserted town and left their domestic animals behind to take refuge in many of their natural man-caves and jungles.
[12] Closely-knit and communal, the society has a keen sense of identity and react with vigor and determination to any threats or emergencies internally or externally inspired” [12] All indigenes of Imesi-ile are recognized by the extended family compound they belong.
It is amazingly easy to hear sounds of human and vehicles late at night and in the morning from surrounding towns as afar as Ilesa, which is about 45kilometers away.
[12] Other include Christ Apostolic, Cherubim and Seraphim, Roman Catholic, Seventh Day Adventist, Anglican and many other Pentecostal contemporary churches.
[12] There are several traditional religionists who profess faith in Egungun, Oro, Ogboni, Agbaogo, Sango, Osun, Esu, Ifa, Ogun and other family deities.
[17] Her vantage position creates fertile land for all kinds of agric products for yam, cocoyam, cassava, maize and beans.
[17] Imesi-ile is one of the major suppliers of different, best quality, species of yam including eleyintu, ikerikete, aro, efuru, olo, igangan, ogojo, jimokun, alaoko, esinmirin, aga, yinmirin, ilolo, eki, rodoke, elefure, apeepe, motoku, rubielu, morodojo, lasinrin, olojubembe, fele, gbagidari, dagidagi, papauya, efon, ayin, ewura and esuru.
[17] The land also produces some of the best vegetables in the country such as ooyo, ebolo, odu, tete, atetedaye, ebure, ogunmo, pobolo, efinrin, worowo, laganran, ajefowo, ewuro, ewurodo, eguku, okan, ogan, and ade.
[17] Others are, eputu, kente, bobadoroye, popeko, wanga, elejiro, okegbere, alubosa, oremeta, esuku, lakoro, omoirin, obamewa, ala, penidiaro and aleleonikuni.
[17] Popular local drums are gangan, gangan-un, bata, igbo, ibembe, aje, lukoriji, osirigi, agree, sekere, kiriboto and ayuu.
[17] In the modern era, there are residents into, masonry, bricklaying, hair and barbing salon, electrical installations, home maintenance and building contractors.
In Imesi-ile, Dr David Morley pioneered “Under-Fives Clinics.” This concept introduced high protein weaning food.
He was one of the major suppliers of military gunpowder, cannonballs, Schnider rifles and cartridges which were routed through Gureje to the Ekiti confederate soldiers.
Labinjo of Itiwo was a major supplier of imported breach loading guns and leader and trainer of the rifle corps; Balogun Osejin, Oni, his brother, Beegun, Eso Esudina, Ayilumo, Subiaro, Oniro, and Fagbolu, alias Looponda, all from Ile Lejua Ekunfe of Oke-Iro.
Asika P’olu Egbe, Ogunkola, Tifase, Ajakaye, Otun, Laarade Orisan, Ariwodola and Labinjo were all from Itiwo.
[22] Abraham Makanjuola was born to Prince Falore of the Ilerio Royal family of Ijana, in the late nineteenth century.
[22] Luke Tewogbola Olamijulo was born in the late nineteenth century into the family of Owarungba of Ile Aba compound.
[22] One of the founders of Imesi-Ile Progressive Union, he later joined to set up Ijesa Northern District Council and became its first Chairman.
A highly intelligent man who chronicled and archived all historical events including families and churches with astounding accuracy.