The death of Baba, the famous tortoise at the Alaafin of Oyo’s palace, has brought renewed attention to a remarkable story that goes beyond its reported age.

Baba reportedly spent many years in the palace with four different Alaafins, witnessing generations of royal leadership and becoming part of the daily life and tradition of the palace.

One of the remarkable traditions surrounding Baba was its way of welcoming the king.

Whenever Baba observed that the Alaafin had arrived, the tortoise would reportedly make its way towards the main entrance of the palace to greet the monarch. But before proceeding to welcome the Alaafin, Baba would first greet Èṣù, a deity at the palace, accompanied by drummers ushering the traditional procession.

For those familiar with the palace, this was more than the movement of a tortoise. It had become a familiar and symbolic part of the royal environment.

Baba's reported 420-year history may continue to generate questions but beyond the number, its story represents a remarkable piece of Oyo's oral tradition and cultural memory.

With Baba now gone, an important question remains:

How do we preserve the stories of the living symbols that connect today's generation with the history of Oyo?

PRESS DISCUSSION

What do you know about Baba that many people may not know?