HISTORY & CULTURE
Kiriji War Memorial
Do You Know that Known Kiriji War Veterans from Ilesa were Rewarded with Chieftaincy Titles:
- Ajimoko I – Owa Obokun of Ijesaland
- Ogedengbe – Obaala of Ilesa (Public Post)
- Ogunmodede – Lejoka of Ilesa (Public Post)
- Iyün – Lejofi of Ilesa (Hereditary Title)
- Owoso – Saloro of Ilesa (Public Post)
- Dagunduro – Lemoro of Ilesa (Public Post)
- Fapohunda Oginni – Luroye of Ilesa (Public Post)
- Aogo-Ija Ifafoworayibi – Osuwe of Ilesa (Hereditary Chief)
- Jowojeri – Lokinran of Ilesa (Public Post)
- Ibidapo Obe – Lemodu of Ilesa (Hereditary Chief)
- Agbalajobi-Oke – Aloya of Ilesa (Public Post)
- Asagidigbi – Odole of Ilesa (Hereditary Chief)
- Asubi-Ojo – Loja Iwoye (Public Post)
- Farinre – A notable Kiriji War veteran who joined Aogo-Ija in Ilesa in the 1850s as a teenager. Originally from Ekiti land, Farinre was the only son of his father, a respected Babalawo.
- Owa Obokun Ajimoko Haastrup 1 (reigned 1896 -1901) The Ọwa [King] of Ilesa was much more a man for the times, effectively chosen by the two major forces of Ijesha politics, the followers of Ogedengbe and those Ijesha who, as traders along the Lagoon, repatriates from the slavery of possessed of some education, had links with the Ekitiparapo Society in Lagos .
He was Frederick Kumokun alias Haastrup , who in his long life – he was now well over seventy – had fully shared in the tribulations of his country.
Captured by the Ilorins in the 1830s he was sold into slavery and, by some means, later found himself in Sierra Leone, where he became a Christian.’
‘The name Haastrup most likely originates from the village of Haastrup (or Håstrup in modern Danish) on the island of Fyn.”
Oba Frederick Kumokun Haastrup, Ajimoko I was the royal patriarch of the reigning Owa of Ilesa, HRM Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, Ajimoko III who started his reign in May 2025.
Long live the King!👆
Source : Wikipedia
Reference: Architect Rotimi Fafowora, member Board of Trustees, Kiriji Heritage Conservation Trust (KHCT).