The ancient town of Oyo is mourning the loss of its oldest and most famous animal resident.
‘Baba’, a giant tortoise, who lived for 420 years inside the royal palace, died on Monday after falling ill.
Known across the region as the oldest living animal in Yorubaland, ‘Baba’ was a central figure in the palace of the Alaafin, the paramount ruler of Oyo Kingdom.
His long life made him a living bridge to the past, connecting generations of Yoruba culture and history.
It was gathered that, for centuries, ‘Baba’ was cared for by a line of kings, who passed down the responsibility of taking care of him. Royal caretakers served him his favourite food, including watermelon, leafy grass and corn pap wrapped in leaves.
Two dedicated palace officials were assigned full-time to monitor his health and daily routine.
‘In Oyo, ‘Baba’ was regarded as the oldest indigene,’ said Bode Durojaiye, Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin.
He added: ‘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.
‘Over the decades, thousands of tourists and local visitors travelled to the ancient palace specifically to see ‘Baba’. His impressive size, friendly personality and unbelievable age made him a major attraction. People were so fond of his fatherly age that no one used a regular name for him; they simply called him ‘Baba’, which means father in Yoruba language.
‘Unlike the belief in Yoruba land that royal animals were expected to die alongside their kings during rituals, ‘Baba’ survived many monarchs. He remained a peaceful constant through changing centuries, outlasting kings and carrying the stories of the old empire into the modern era.’
He said ‘Baba’ suffered a short illness on Monday, stopped eating, and passed away quietly later that day and had since been buried within the palace ground.
‘His passing on marks the end of a unique era for the kingdom and leaves a quiet void in the heart of the palace. ‘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.
‘Even though ‘Baba’ is gone, his legacy remains alive in the town’s history. His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abimbola Owoade, plans to preserve the memory of the beloved tortoise so that future generations can continue to learn about his story for another century,’ Durojaiye said.