Aerial View of Ẹdẹ 

Ẹdẹ is a town in Osun State, southwestern Nigeria. It lies along the Ọ̀sun River at a point on the railroad from Lagos, 180 kilometres (110 mi) southwest, and at the intersection of roads from Oshogbo, Ogbomosho, and Ile-Ife.

According to oral and written history, Ede was established by the great warrior, Alápó Tìẹ̀mì Tiẹmi (Tìmì), who was one of the Ẹ̀sọ́s (Warriors) in Ọ̀yọ́ Aláàfin. The mission statement given to him was to secure Ọ̀yọ́ caravans enroute Ikoyi market back and forth. The Ọ̀yọ́ caravans had always been waylaid and robbed by the notorious robber, Ìjẹ̀shà Aràrá and his gang. Tìmì was so powerful and he successfully drove Ìjẹ̀shà Aràrá away from Ọ̀yọ́ Empire. The success of Tìmì in driving away Ìjẹ̀shà Aràrá made several towns and villages to seek refuge with Tìmì for protection. Since then, the subsequent rulers in Ẹdẹ  has adopted the title TÌMÌ. The present King of Ẹdẹ is His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr) Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, Laminisa the first, Timi of Ẹdẹland.

HRM Oba (Dr) Munirudeen Adesola Lawal
Laminisa 1, Timi of Ẹdẹland.

Ẹdẹ got her name from a tree called Ẹdẹ (Igi Ẹdẹ). Tìmì constructed his camp under that tree and people from neighbouring villages would be saying they are going to pay tribute to Tìmì or to settle dispute among them under Ẹdẹ tree and the place was later known as Ẹdẹ. The Ẹdẹ we are today is the new Ẹdẹ after the ruin of the old Ẹdẹ, which is located between Awó and Arà in today's Ẹgbẹ́dọ̀rẹ́ local government, which was carved out of the old Ẹdẹ local government. Ẹdẹland covers the whole Ẹdẹ (Ede North and South local govt.) larger parts of  Ẹgbẹ́dọ̀rẹ́ local govt. including Ọ̀fátẹ̀dó, Ìdó-Ọ̀sun, Ìwòyè, Èkùrọ́, Ẹ̀gbẹ̀di, Ọ̀kínnì with other small villages up Ọlọ́runsògo, Dàda Estate with boundary at Awúrùtú River (Rónkẹ́ House) beside Capital Hotel, and to Eléèsìn River at Àbere beside Àtáója Grammar School. It therefore follows that the official boundary of Ẹdẹ with Osogbo is Awurutu River (Ronke House) beside Capital Hotel and Eléèsìn River Àbere beside Àtáója School of Science (Supreme Court judgement of 1970, delivered by High Justice COKER).

Aerial View of Ẹdẹ 

Ẹdẹ is a predominantly Muslim town with about 90% of the population. This can be traced back to 19th century during the reign of Timi Abibu Lagunju as the king of Ẹdẹ, who is most likely the first Muslim King in Yorubaland given the fact that he was already on the throne for a few years when in November 1857, the Baptist missionary W. H. Clark visited Ẹdẹ. Clarke then referred to Timi Lagunju as follows: "This young follower of the Prophet (Prophet Muhammad), a short time since became the ruler of this town in the place of his father (Oduniyi), the deceased, and brings with him into office, the influence of his new religion (Islam)", (Wikipedia).

Ede is not behind when it comes to education and a former President of the Federation of Ede Land Students' Union (FELSU), Com Owoade Monsur Aro has coined another meaning for Ede, when he said Ede is Education Development Era and this would be so as Ede is blessed with many standard tertiary institutions, namely The Federal Polytechnic Ede, Adeleke University Ede, Redeemers University Ede, Premier College of Education, Ede.

Prince Adewale Laoye
CEO Ààfin Ìlù, an Artiste and a Drummer of Peace


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