Ede is a town in Osun State, Nigeria. The population of Ede is 304,738 (1987 estimate). The people are Yorubas. Among the higher institutions located in Ede, are the Federal Polytechnic and the Redeemed Christian Church of God Bible College. Ede is predominantly a Muslim town. Many mosques and few churches dot the landscape.
Nearby towns include Iragberi.
Historically, it was an important town in Yorubaland. Egungun festival is still widely celebrated, like many other traditional festivals,but Ileya (eid-el-kabir) is the main festival. In fact, throughout Nigeria, Id-el Kabir is celebrated most in Ede.However, more and more people are celebrating Christmas and New Year's Day. The first son of Ede to become Minister of Nigeria is Saka Layonu.
The first Executive Governor of Osun State - Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke - came from Ede.
Ede is one of the older towns of the Yoruba people. It is traditionally said to have been founded at about 1500 by Timi Agbale, a hunter and warlord sent by Alafin (King) Kori of old Oyo (Katunga), the then capital of old Oyo Empire to establish a settlement to protect the Oyo caravan route to Benin like most Nigerian towns. It has a traditional ruler with the title, Timi Agbale, popularly referred to as Timi Agbale Olofa-Ina, mythologically known as the man whose arrows brings out fire. The most prominent Timi in recent history is Oba John Adetoyese Laoye. The late monarch is reputed for making the talking drum popular. This has made Ede a reference point in the art of drumming, specifically the talking drum. The late mornarch with his group of skilled drummers and poets entertained the Queen of England when she first visited Nigeria and thereafter in her palace in England. He died in 1975.
Ede is well known as Hospitable land and it has locally made food which includes "Eko and Ila". Also sons and daughters of Ede can be found all over the world and works of lives.There are sevaral compounds in Ede towns including Agboja, Imole,Ile Idigba etc