Ebenezer Adurokiya, Reporting
THE ancient Oyo Kingdom has lost one of its most enduring symbols of history and tradition following the death of a tortoise popularly known as Baba, reportedly aged 420 years.
Baba died at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, where the animal had reportedly lived through generations of monarchs and was cared for by successive Alaafins.
The Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaiye, described Baba as more than a tortoise, saying the animal had become part of the oral history of the Yoruba people and a major attraction at the ancient palace.
According to Durojaiye, the incumbent Alaafin, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, met Baba at the palace after ascending the throne.
He said successive kings had nourished the tortoise, which was inherited as part of the historical relics associated with the palace.
“In Oyo, Baba was regarded as the oldest indigene. It was the Alaafin’s most besotted pet,” Durojaiye said.
“The incumbent Paramount Ruler met it in the Palace, as Baba was nourished by a succession of Kings, who inherited him as part of the relics of their ancestors.
“Baba was more than a turtle in status. He represented a part of the oral history of the Yoruba race. Now, the Alaafin has lost an ageless companion.”
Durojaiye said oral history indicated that Baba was brought from Oyo-Ile, the seat of the old Oyo Empire, to the present palace in Oyo town.
He added that two palace officials had been responsible for the animal’s welfare over the years, while its unusual size and reported longevity made it a notable attraction for visitors.
Many visitors, he said, went to the palace specifically to see Baba, making the tortoise part of the tourist experience in Oyo.
The animal was reportedly fed with watermelon, corn pap wrapped in leaves and grass.
Durojaiye said Baba fell ill on Monday and stopped eating before eventually dying.
He added that the tortoise had since been buried.
Baba’s death has also revived memories of Yoruba cultural beliefs concerning the relationship between the living, the dead and the unborn.
The tortoise’s reported longevity meant it was believed to have witnessed the reigns of several Alaafins and had become a symbolic link to the kingdom’s history.
Durojaiye said the current Alaafin planned to preserve Baba’s memory for future generations, adding that the monarch was determined to ensure that the animal’s place in the history of the Oyo Kingdom endured.
