OBA S O BABAYEMI

Who is OBA S O BABAYEMI?

PROFILE

Oba (Dr) Solomon Babayemi was born into the

Akinrinola ruling house of Gbongan in the year 1929 to Prince Sanusi Adekanmbi Babayemi and Madam Asimowu Babayemi. Prince Sanusi Adekanmbi was one of the children of Akinrinola – a son of the Olufi of Gbongan through Efunrinde, one of the daughters of the Oluoje family of Gbongan.ACADEMIA

In December 1967, he was appointed as a Junior Research Fellow in the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan and served at the Institute in different capacities until he ascended the throne in 1989.

In September 1975, Oba Babayemi left for England for postgraduate studies at the Centre for West African Studies, University of Birmingham, England. He obtained his Master of Arts (M.A)

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Degree in African Studies in September 1976, and his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D) in History at the same University in January 1980.

In addition to his work at the Institute of African Studies, Oba Babayemi served on a part time basis as the Chairman of the Oyo State Council for Arts and Culture (Ibadan Zone) for over 10 years. He also served on a part time basis as Associate Professor of History at the Ogun State University from 1985 to 1989 and was confirmed a full Professor shortly before his coronation as the Olufi of Gbongan in 1989.

After spending over 35 meritorious years, teaching, researching, and mentoring many people in Education, Oba Babayemi had a life

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changing experience, when he was unanimously selected as the ‘Olufi elect’ on 20 September 1988 by the Akinrinola Ruling house .

THE OLUFI OF GBONGAN

On 25 September 1988, his selection was approved by the kingmakers, and Oba (Dr) Solomon Oyewole Babayemi, was installed at the Oba’s Market (Isale Oja) on Friday March 24 1989 as The Olufi of Gbongan (Akinrinola the 1st) by the then Military Governor of Oyo State

LEGACY

It is noteworthy that as a man with records of

achievements, (Dr) Solomon Oyewole Babayemi,

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set the pace by becoming not only The Olufi of Gbongan, Akinrinola I, but also the first literate Oba to rule over Gbongan in the long history of the town.

ACHIEVEMENTS

1.Oba Babayemi is widely recognised as one of the foremost authorities on the History of Oyo, Empire and the first diaspora dispersal in West Africa and probably Africa which happened after the fall of Oyo empire.

This is reflected in his research interest on Oyo which can be grouped into three parts. The history and culture of Oyo, which is reflected in his Ph.D. thesis which was

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revised for publication as ‘The fall and Rise of Oyo”. The impact of that PHD thesis is felt across the world to date .

A. The book is a compulsory book for History

students, studying the history of West

Africa across the world .

B.The Book is also in the library of Congress

United states of America as it was one of the main resources used to pass into law the edict that made the term Black Americans change to African Americans

C.The book is being held in World libraries and therefore held in most university libraries across the world as a resource for the History of the black race.

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The second category of his research is, Oyo’s relationship with her neighbours, particularly Ife, Benin, Borgu and Nupe. This research has a lot of his findings establishing the dispersal of the Oyo Yoruba to these neighbours are still kept in the National Archives. On these research he became one of the first Archaeologists in Nigeria crossing over from historical research into archaeology, studying and collating many artefacts that “Consists of a bulk of the resources in National Archives for future generations to Unravel” {Professor Bolanle Awe}

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The Oba’s third main research focus on Oyo examines Oyo in relationship to the general Yoruba studies. His work on the History of Oyo put him in good stead to fight for the restoration of Olufi and some other traditional rulers in Oyo state as beaded-crown Obas. Olufi regained the beaded crown in 1981.

Oba Babayemi was consulted as one of the foremost authorities on the history of Africans in Diaspora by the Black caucus of the United States House of Assembly when considering the re- branding of Black Americans as African Americans, The History of Africans in Diaspora was a avid interest to him after Oyo. For his

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efforts Oba Babayemi was awarded the life membership of the Wajumbe African American Association . An association that many of the African American leaders in the Us belongs to. His work also allowed the Black Caucus of The United States Congress to Visit him to thank him at his home in Ibadan in 1980 .

Oba Babayemi travelled all over the world as a Major Speaker in the bid to re-brand blacks as Africans in Diaspora. He spoke at the inaugural conference on this in 1980 in Philadelphia United States. He also spoke on this in Sweden a couple of years later and on several occasions in Brazil, where he had an ongoing work with the Institute

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of African studies in Brazil over several years to bring Historians to Africa and establish KPI that point to Yoruba cultural footprints across the whole of Brazil , showing that a bulk of the Old Oyo empire settled in Brazil with Yoruba key , foods, cultures and social practices maintained through many generations . His papers were presented at several conferences in these Nations mentioned above and other nation.

Oba Babayemi and Prof Obaro Ikime remain the two singular individuals in the history of the country to have uncovered the highest archaeological findings . Most of his work remain in the national Archives. He is therefore

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recognised worldwide not only as a foremost historian but also as one of the two foremost Nigerian archaeologists.

Oba Babayemi was also an avid writer and remains one of the Nigerians who contributed the most to the International Historical Journal .

A lot of his books and writings are being used by students of History all over the world. He wrote several books, and has several other manuscripts that a yet to go into print . Many universities both in Nigeria and abroad have used his books as course recommended materials on African history

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Alongside Professor Bolanle Awe , He worked in consultancy at the Institute of African studies University of Ibadan and Institute Of African studies University of Birmingham to train African Leaders on their History.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was one of the first people who went through this program after He left Office as a Military President. The former President evolved his Pan African outlook after going through training at the Institute of African studies. U.I

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In fact Kabiyesi was a visiting Associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania USA, and the University of Birmingham UK, and he used these opportunities for all who came his way.

It is a testament to his achievements that the School of Professors in University of Ibadan gave him its highest Honour and post Hummus Professorship of the University of Ibadan during his Lying in state at Trenchard Hall U.I

On the Osun state front, he was one of the founding fathers of Osun State Nigeria. He was the chairman of the peace Committee that brought all the warring factions together to sign a peace accord with plans and blueprint. The communique was signed by 22 Traditional rulers across Osun state and t it was delivered to the

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then military government. That paper was the framework on which Osun state was created .