Alaafin Palace Mourns Death of Historic Tortoise ‘Baba’ in Oyo

Alaafin Palace Mourns Death of Historic Tortoise ‘Baba’ in Oyo

The palace of the Alaafin of Oyo is mourning the death of a tortoise known as Baba, which was believed to have lived for about 420 years and became a treasured part of the palace’s historical and cultural heritage.

Baba reportedly died on Monday, September 14, after falling ill and stopping eating. The tortoise was subsequently buried, according to the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaiye, in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday.

Durojaiye described Baba as more than a palace animal, saying it represented part of the oral history and cultural heritage of the Yoruba people. According to the palace, Baba was traced through oral tradition to Oyo-Ile, the former capital of the old Oyo Empire, before being brought to the present palace in Oyo.

The tortoise reportedly became a familiar attraction to visitors because of its unusual size and the age attributed to it. The palace said successive Alaafins cared for Baba and inherited it as part of the historical relics associated with the institution.

However, the reported 420-year lifespan has not been independently established through scientific records and is based on the palace’s oral historical account.

Baba’s death marks the end of a longstanding presence at the Alaafin’s Palace and the loss of an animal that had become closely associated with Oyo’s history, traditions and cultural memory.