The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has welcomed American basketball star Jaylen Brown to his palace, where he gave the Boston Celtics player the traditional Yoruba name, “Babatunde.”
Brown was received by the Ooni alongside other traditional rulers and palace officials during his visit to the historic city.
According to a statement by Ogunwusi’s Senior Media Officer, Sodiq Lawal, Babatunde means “the father has returned” or “ancestor has returned.” The Ooni described it as Brown’s ancestral identity, linking him to his Yoruba heritage and roots.
Ogunwusi told him, “This is to certify that you have been officially issued Babatunde as your traditional and ancestral name.
“Henceforth, you shall be known as Babatunde Jaylen Brown.”
The Ooni said the name would bring Brown good fortune and deepen his connection to Yoruba heritage.
He also stressed Ile-Ife’s place as the centre of Yoruba civilisation and ancestral heritage, noting that slavery and forced migration separated families and communities with shared roots across Africa and the diaspora.
The Ooni urged Africans in the diaspora to reconnect with their ancestry and encouraged visits to Ile-Ife to better understand African history, culture and identity.
Brown thanked Ogunwusi for the warm welcome, saying the experience helped him learn more about his heritage and encouraged people to visit their ancestral roots.
