Ọba Timi Abibu Sàngólámì (Ọ)Lágúnjú (c. 1817 – 1900)

Title: Timi of Ede
Reign: c.1855 – 1892 (with interruptions)
Religion: Islam
Known For: Second Muslim Oba in Yorubaland, warrior-king, reformer, and Islamic revivalist

Early Life and Background

Timi Abibu Sangolami Olagunju was born around 1817 to the royal family of Oduniyi Olagunju, a descendant of Lalemo, in Ede, a Yoruba town in present-day Osun State, Nigeria. According to oral tradition, he was born under mysterious circumstances—clenching a thunderstone (associated with the deity Sango) in one hand and a Qur’anic-inscribed paper in the other. This was interpreted by the Ifa oracle to mean he would switch from traditional religion to a "strange Arab religion" (Islam) and become a ruler. Despite resistance from the reigning Timi, his father protected him.

In his youth, he travelled to Ilorin, a prominent Islamic center, where he converted to Islam. Upon returning to Ede, he faced initial opposition and relocated to the outskirts of the town where he practiced Islam with a few followers.

Reign as Timi of Ede

Ascension and Religious Influence

He was enthroned as Timi around 1855/1856, succeeding Timi Ojo Arohanran. He holds the distinction of being the second Muslim monarch in Yorubaland, after Ewi Ali Atewogboye of Ado-Ekiti (enthroned in 1836).

By the time W.H. Clarke, an American Baptist missionary, visited Ede in 1857, Timi Lagunju was already recognized as a Muslim king actively supporting Islamic causes. Clarke described him as a "tolerant Muslim" and appreciated his openness to Christianity during his visit.

Sharia Implementation

As an Islamic reformer, Timi Lagunju attempted to enforce Shari’ah law in Ede, creating a strict, moral governance system that curbed crime and punished theft and corruption. His commitment to Islamic purity led to opposition from traditionalists.

Political and Military Contributions

Timi Lagunju was a warrior-king in an era when Yoruba rulers rarely led armies. He personally led Ede forces in major 19th-century wars including:

• Ijaye War (1860–1865)
• Jalumi War (1878)
• Ekitiparapo War (1879–1886)

Ede, under his leadership, was closely allied with Ibadan, Yorubaland's strongest military power at the time. Lagunju enjoyed personal and political friendships with influential figures like:

• Aare Momodu Latoosa of Ibadan
• Oba Momodu Lamuye of Iwo
• Akirun Aliyu Oyewole of Ikirun

His alliance with Ibadan proved useful during his multiple depositions and reinstatements.

Depositions and Exile

Lagunju was dethroned three times during his tumultuous reign:

1. First Deposition (by Ogunmola of Ibadan): Reinstated with help of Aare Latoosa
2. Second Deposition (replaced by Lansebe): Reinstated again
3. Final Deposition in 1892: Replaced permanently by Timi Mosunloye; exiled to Ibadan

Despite appeals to Alaafin Adeyemi I and sympathy from Ibadan elites, he was never reinstated. He died in exile in Ibadan in 1900.

Impact on Islam and Legacy

Though dethroned, his legacy as a pioneer of Islam in Ede and Yoruba politics remained. His influence extended beyond Ede:

• His wife from Ile-Ife and their children became early Muslim converts in that city.
• Raji Lagunju, his son, later became the Chief Imam of Ile-Ife (1934–1949) and was pivotal in establishing Islam in Ife.

Timi Lagunju’s reign inspired widespread Islamic revivalism and created a lasting Muslim community in Ede, especially around Imale Compound.

Interactions with Christianity

Remarkably tolerant for his time, Timi Lagunju hosted Christian missionaries such as W.H. Clarke and allowed them to preach in Ede. Clarke wrote of his graciousness and willingness to allow Christian sermons despite being a devout Muslim.

Diplomacy and Peace Efforts

He participated in major peace-making initiatives including:

• 1886 Peace Treaty ending the Ekitiparapo War
• 1890 diplomatic meetings aimed at resolving the Modakeke conflict and Ilorin tensions

He frequently liaised with the Lagos colonial authorities, Ibadan leaders, and the Oluwo of Iwo to promote harmony in Yorubaland.

Final Years and Assessment

Living in Ibadan after his final deposition, he was treated with respect by leaders like Sunmonu Apampa, Balogun Akintola, and successive Baales. Yet, despite pleas to British officials for reinstatement, he spent the rest of his life in honourable exile.

Reverend Samuel Johnson, who personally knew Lagunju and chronicled 19th-century Yoruba history, called him:

“A venerable and renowned Timi of Ede, so well known all over the country as a gifted and trusted historian of the Yoruba country.”

Legacy

Timi Abibu Sangolami Lagunju remains:

• A symbol of Islamic reform and justice in pre-colonial Nigeria
• A respected Yoruba statesman, warrior, and king
• A bridge figure between tradition, Islam, and emerging colonial structures
• One of the few Yoruba monarchs who earned enduring recognition across religious and political divides

See Also

• History of Ede(#)
• List of Yoruba monarchs(#)
• Islam in Yorubaland(#)
• Ekitiparapo War(#)
• W.H. Clarke in Yorubaland(#)

Notes and References

• Samuel Johnson, The History of the Yorubas
• I.A. Akinjogbin, War and Peace in Yorubaland
• Olunlade, Ede Histories and Traditions
• W.H. Clarke, Travels and Explorations in Yorubaland, 1854–1858