Ooni gives NBA star Jaylen Brown the Yoruba name ‘Babatunde’

Jaylen Brown left the palace of the Ooni of Ife with a traditional Yoruba name: Babatunde. Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi hosted the Boston Celtics star in the historic city and formally connected him with what the ruler described as his ancestral identity.

“Babatunde” means “the father has returned” or “ancestor has returned,” according to a statement from Ogunwusi’s Senior Media Officer, Sodiq Lawal. The Ooni told Brown: “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.”

Ogunwusi said the name would bring Brown good fortune and strengthen his connection with Yoruba heritage. He presented Ile-Ife as a centre of Yoruba civilisation and ancestral heritage, and said the palace had preserved generations of royal lineage, cultural traditions and history.

The Ooni also linked the visit to the history of slavery and forced migration, which separated families and communities with common ancestral origins across Africa and the diaspora. He urged people of African descent, especially those living in the diaspora, to reconnect with their roots and visit places connected to their ancestry.

Brown thanked the Ooni for the reception and hospitality. He said the experience helped him learn more about his heritage and encouraged people to visit their ancestral roots.

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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.