A 420-year-old tortoise from the Alaafin of Oyo’s Palace, fondly known as Baba, has died after reportedly falling ill.
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It was shared that Baba died on September 14 after becoming sick. The death of the ancient tortoise was announced on September 17 by Bode Durojaiye, the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo.
The statement reads: “Baba, the ancient tortoise of Oyo Kingdom passed on, buried amid fair, get together
“” In Oyo, Baba was regarded as the oldest indigene. It was the Alaafin’s most besotted pet. 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””.
According to the statement, Baba had been part of the Palace for generations and was cared for by successive Alaafins, who inherited him as part of the relics of their ancestors.
Baba was more than a pet to the people of Oyo. The tortoise had become a major attraction at the ancient Palace, with visitors travelling to see the creature because of its remarkable age and strength.
The story of Baba was also linked to Yoruba cultural history and the relationship between the living, the dead and the unborn.
In the early 1970s, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka wrote his play, Death and the King’s Horseman, which drew from Yoruba cultural traditions and explored the connection between the world of the living, the dead and the unborn.
Based on real events, Soyinka narrated how it was a norm for Elesin Oba, known as the king’s horseman, alongside the king’s horse and dog, to die in a suicide ritual following the king’s death. They were expected to continue serving the king in the afterlife.
However, outside Soyinka’s play, the tortoise of the Alaafin of Oyo Palace appeared to have defied the passage of time, surviving generations of rulers and becoming a significant part of the Palace’s history.
Historical accounts shared about Baba stated that the tortoise had outlived many kings.
In the physical realm, Baba, described as a 420-year-old tortoise, died last Monday after falling ill. Reports said he stopped eating after becoming sick before eventually passing away.
Baba was reportedly brought from Oyo-Ile, the former capital of the Oyo Empire, to the present Palace in Oyo town. Two Palace officials were responsible for taking care of his well-being.
Because of his extraordinary age, Baba became a tourist attraction, drawing people to the Palace who wanted to see the ancient tortoise.
Baba was said to have eaten watermelon, corn pap wrapped in leaves and grass.
He had since been buried.
Good night Baba!”