Timi Agbale Olofa-ina- Yoruba HeroHero"Owner of Flaming Arrows"

The Fire Archer of Ede

Shango appointed Timi to govern the town of Ede, ostensibly to extend Oyo's authority into new territory. But distance from the capital gave the fire archer room to grow. Timi accumulated followers, wealth, and military strength until the town became a second center of power. His supernatural ability to shoot arrows wreathed in blazing fire made him nearly invincible on the battlefield. No warrior in the region dared challenge a man whose weapons streaked through the air like lightning bolts. To this day, the traditional ruler of Ede bears the title "Timi" in memory of the fire archer who first gave the town its renown.

When Timi's independence became intolerable, Shango devised a scheme to rid himself of both his overmighty generals at once. He sent Gbonka, the other great warrior of Oyo, to Ede to confront Timi, expecting the two to destroy each other in combat.

Fire Against Magic

Timi unleashed his flaming arrows. Gbonka countered with war magic. The contest of supernatural martial powers devastated the countryside around Ede. Despite the terror of Timi's fire, Gbonka's magic proved superior. Timi was defeated and dragged back to Oyo as a captive. In some traditions, Shango himself destroyed the vanquished general with lightning.

But the scheme backfired. With Timi eliminated, Gbonka stood unchallenged and turned his defiance against the Alaafin himself. The chain of events that began with Timi's appointment to Ede ended with Shango's flight to Koso and his transformation from mortal king into the thunder orisha.