By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has bestowed the traditional Yoruba name ‘Babatunde’ on American basketball star, Jaylen Brown, during a palace reception in Ile-Ife.
Brown, a player for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association, arrived at the palace on Monday, 7 September, 2026 and was received by the Ooni, who was accompanied by other traditional rulers and palace officials during the visit.
In a statement by his Senior Media Officer, Sodiq Lawal, Ogunwusi explained that Babatunde meant “the father has returned” or “ancestor has returned,” describing the name as Brown’s ancestral identity, formally connecting him to his Yoruba heritage.
“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 told the NBA star.
The traditional ruler expressed confidence that the ancestral name would bring Brown good fortune and strengthen his connection to Yoruba heritage.
He highlighted Ile-Ife’s historical and spiritual significance as the centre of Yoruba civilisation, noting that slavery and forced migration had separated families and communities that once shared common ancestral origins across Africa and the diaspora.
Ogunwusi urged people of African descent, particularly those in the diaspora, to reconnect with their ancestral roots, describing Brown’s visit as an opportunity to learn from generations of preserved ancestral history.
He said the palace had preserved generations of royal lineage, cultural traditions and other aspects of Yoruba heritage.
The monarch encouraged Africans worldwide to visit Ile-Ife and other locations connected to their ancestry, stating that such visits would deepen appreciation of African culture, identity and heritage globally.
Responding, Brown expressed appreciation to the Ooni for the warm reception and hospitality extended to him, stating that the experience had enabled him to learn more about his heritage, and encouraged others to visit their ancestral roots.
