Yoruba Blog

Timi Abibu Lagunju was one of the first Muslim Oba in Yorubaland when he became the Timi of Ede around 1855. History records that his birth was extraordinary, as he held a thunderstone in his left hand and a piece of paper with Qur'anic inscriptions in his right hand.

He holds the record of being the only Timi/Oba to have been dethroned three times; he was reinstated twice but ultimately lost out on the third occasion. He was directly responsible for converting many traditional rulers across Yorubaland.

In his efforts to implement Islamic law, he used the Shari’ah to rid Islam of accretions, syncretism, and adulteration. His Shari’ah court was presided over by Qadi Sidiq at Agbeni in Ibadan until 1913. As a committed and zealous Muslim ruler, the moral standards of his administration were high. His government was notably strict, harsh, and rigorous against prostitutes, hoarders, burglars, and thieves. Under his rule, Ede became a crime-free society.

He was one of the exceptional warrior-rulers of the 19th century, who made significant contributions to questions of war and peace. While some monarchs, notably the Alaafin of Oyo, ceased to lead battles from the 1840s, Timi Lagunju personally led Ede forces in military expeditions, particularly on the side of Ibadan. It is to Lagunju's credit that from the mid-1850s, there emerged a sort of Ede-Ibadan military confederacy with Ibadan as the stronger partner. A shrewd political and military strategist, Lagunju allied Ede with Ibadan at the most opportune moment, capitalising on Ibadan's military strength in 19th-century Yorubaland. Records show that Ede, under Lagunju, fought alongside Ibadan during the Ijaye War (1860-1865).

Furthermore, Lagunju sided with Ibadan during the Jalumi War of 1878 and fought to expel the Fulani from Yorubaland. During this conflict, Ede forces under Lagunju camped at Ikirun; the site has since been known as Oke-Timi. Ede, under Timi Lagunju, also allied with Ibadan in the Ekitiparapo War (1879-1886) and provided unwavering support. Early in the war, Lagunju sent the deposed Timi Olunloye to the front as the captain of Ede forces; he lost his life in the conflict.

After being deposed for the third time, he fled to Ibadan, where he was received by Sunmonu Apampa, the post-1893 Asipa of Ibadan. Successive Ibadan Baales from 1893 to 1900—Fijabi, Osuntoki, and Fajinmi—were very kind and gracious to him. Similarly, the formidable Balogun of that period, Akintola, showed him greatrespect. He died in exile in Ibadan at the age of 90.

History also records that one of his sons later became a Chief Imam in Ife.

"The Egba-Dahomey war in 1851, the Egbas, occupying higher ground, use hatchets, spears, and British fi****ms to fend off Dahomey forces who attempted to climb the embankment".

Following the political unrest that plagued the old Oyo empire. Dahomey Kingdom - one of the vassal kingdom under the Oyo empire since 1748 seized the opportunity to declare herself independent. The Dahomey under King Gezo had embarked on several expedition to establish his authority on neighboring kingdom, he had strengthened his all-female army (the Amazons) from about 600 to as many as 6000. When he defeated the Ashantees in a battle, he built a Kumasi-like palace in Dahomey, he overran the Attahpahms. In 1845 he laid a siege at Ado but he was repulsed by the Ẹgba warriors with the help of European fi****ms. Gezo saw the kindness which the European missionaries showered on Abéòkúta; he became jealous and would like to divert the British attention to Whydah.

On Monday March 3, 1851, Gezo sent the best of his soldiers which included his wives as generals to attack Abeokuta once again, when the intelligence report reached Abeokuta, the Egba warriors didn't take it serious, it was Balogun Ogunbona of Ìkija that assembled a few soldiers at the city wall which was then around aro(where the Psychiatrist Hospital is located today). They were shocked when the Dahomeans captured Ishaga and were marching fearlessly towards the gate at Aro, the Amazons were impenetrable, ferocious and filled with outmost determination.
For three days, These fearless women were restless, they continued to charge forward using dead bodies as ladders, it was at that moment the Ẹgbas realized they have been fighting with women all along.

Àrée Obìnrin ni wón kè: the Ẹgbas got angry, they adopted drastic and aggressive strategies that wiped out nearly all the infantry and by nightfall on the third day the Dahomeans were pushed back. It was a devastating loss for King Gezo. They returned again in 1864 but now under the command of King Gelele, the son of Gezo but the Ẹgbas inflicted even a greater loss on the Dahomeans.

Photo: Internet Archive