By Aliyu Oyewole
The Oyo Kingdom is mourning the death of “Baba,” a legendary tortoise said to have lived for about 420 years at the Alaafin’s residence.
Baba, regarded as one of the enduring symbols of the ancient Oyo royal household, reportedly died recently and was subsequently buried following centuries of association with the palace.
The tortoise had remained at the Alaafin’s residence for generations, becoming part of the historical and cultural heritage associated with the Oyo Kingdom.
Its reported lifespan of about four centuries made Baba an extraordinary figure within the palace tradition, with generations of members of the royal household and visitors believed to have encountered the tortoise over the years.
The death has therefore sparked reflections on the rich history of the Oyo Kingdom and the cultural traditions preserved within the Alaafin’s palace.
Baba’s presence at the palace reportedly stretched across several generations of Alaafin, making the tortoise a living link to different periods in the history of the ancient Yoruba kingdom.
Following its death, the palace reportedly ensured that the tortoise was buried, bringing an end to a remarkable chapter in the royal household’s history.
The news has also generated emotional reactions among those familiar with the palace tradition, with tributes being paid to the animal that had become an unusual but cherished part of Oyo’s cultural heritage.
For many, Baba was more than a tortoise. Its extraordinary longevity and association with the Alaafin’s residence had turned it into a symbol of continuity, tradition and the enduring history of the Oyo Kingdom.
As the kingdom mourns the loss, the traditional expression, “Ki Ọlọ́run bá wa dé ilé fún”, resonates with the moment — a prayer for a safe return home and a reminder of the cycle of life and history.
Baba may be gone, but the story of the legendary palace tortoise is expected to remain part of the memories and oral traditions surrounding the historic Oyo Kingdom.
