By Prince Fatai Adiyeloja
Death is the inevitable end of all mortals. No one possesses immunity against the summons of death, that mysterious courier whose ultimate assignment is to return every human being to the Creator. Yet, some deaths are particularly painful, sudden and difficult to comprehend—not necessarily because the departed died young, but because their presence seemed too valuable to be taken away.
The passing of Professor Wale Adeniran belongs to that painful category.
Professor Adeniran did not die in his prime. He lived beyond the proverbial 70 years, and by all reasonable measures, God was gracious to him. He enjoyed a long and accomplished life. Yet, for those who knew him, admired him and benefited from his wisdom, he was simply too good to leave when he eventually took his final bow and answered the ultimate call.
Professor Adeniran was a distinguished academic, an accomplished administrator, a profound intellectual and, above all, a passionate connoisseur of Yoruba culture and civilisation. He belonged to that rare breed—the bíbí ire, ó sì fẹ́ ire type—born into nobility and, more importantly, committed to cultivating nobility in both words and deeds.
His love for Yoruba culture was neither superficial nor ornamental. It was deeply rooted in his intellectual convictions and personal identity. At a point in his distinguished academic career, he meritoriously headed a department at the former University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), devoted to the study and promotion of our culture. There, he left indelible footprints, contributing significantly to virtually every aspect of the department’s activities and development.
To chronicle the struggle for the emancipation and advancement of the Yoruba people without devoting substantial attention to Professor Adeniran’s contributions would be to leave out an important chapter of our contemporary history.
His commitment went beyond the comfort of academic offices and lecture halls. At considerable personal risk and sacrifice, he once left his comfort zone and relocated to the Republic of Benin in pursuit of a cause he believed was connected to justice, dignity and the wellbeing of the Yoruba people. He was involved in efforts aimed at addressing what he regarded as injustice against the proud Yoruba race.
It was only by the grace of God that he eventually returned safely. Those who welcomed him back were deeply relieved, although one could not help but wonder whether such a demanding experience had taken a toll on his health.
An Encounter That Revealed the Man
My closest and most memorable interaction with Professor Wale Adeniran came through a remarkable intervention involving our own Africa’s first Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka.
At the time, Professor Soyinka had personally expressed his position concerning the lingering contest surrounding the Obalufe stool and had engaged our royal father, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, on the matter.
Professor Soyinka subsequently advised me to approach Professor Adeniran as an elder of the Source and one of the custodians of Yoruba culture. His counsel was clear: I should seek the intervention and wisdom of Professor Adeniran.
I remember vividly the message Professor Adeniran prepared for Professor Soyinka. Before sending it, he read it to me. It was a message that demonstrated not only his familiarity with the issues at stake but also his commitment to fairness and the sanctity of tradition.
He wrote:
“I met Prince Fatai Adiyeloja a while ago. From our discussion, he appeared to me to be the most competent person to fill the vacant stool of Obalufe. Let me know if you would be keen on putting in a word or two on his behalf to our Imperial Majesty, the Ooni, to grant you this request as a Christmas present.”
Christmas was fast approaching at the time.
That encounter confirmed what many people had consistently told me about Professor Adeniran: that he was upright, truthful and possessed an unusually high sense of integrity.
For me, it became impossible to forget an elder who was willing to stand firmly for what he believed was right, particularly where Yoruba tradition, cultural heritage and the sanctity of the institution were concerned.
How could Fatai Olayinka Adiyeloja ever forget an elder who believed in the sanctity of tradition and stood, like the proverbial Rock of Gibraltar, on the side of what he considered truth and justice?
A Final Personal Encounter
On another occasion, I took it upon myself to visit Professor Adeniran at his Madomo residence simply to check on his wellbeing.
As we interacted, he encouraged me to remain steadfast and to anchor my hope in God. His words were characteristically calm, measured and reassuring.
Little did I know that the encounter would become my last meeting with him.
Today, those words have assumed an entirely different meaning.
Professor Wale Adeniran has taken his final bow. A proud descendant of Oduduwa, an accomplished scholar, a custodian of culture, an advocate for justice and an elder whose counsel carried weight has departed this mortal world.
I am particularly grateful that, despite the challenges and sacrifices he encountered in the course of his service to his people, he did not end his life in exile. He returned home and lived out his final days among his people and in the land he loved.
His departure leaves a void that will be difficult to fill.
May God Almighty grant repose to his valiant soul and give his family, professional colleagues, friends, associates and countless admirers the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.
“Òdíjómìnrin, òdíjómìnrin, òdíjóó jórò kántọ̀r’ágbára omi ò.”
After a torrential rainfall comes the flood; and in the aftermath of great storms, the magnitude of what has passed becomes unmistakable.
Professor Wale Adeniran was a man who weathered many storms, stood by principles he believed in, and left footprints that will not easily disappear.
Adieu, Professor Wale Adeniran.
Adieu, proud son of Oduduwa.
Adieu, custodian of culture and defender of truth.
May the earth rest gently upon you.
Until we meet again.
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