Baba Kekere Of Oyo Kingdom

Emmanuel Nnaemeka

3 years ago

The astonishing image of Morenikeji Lasisi also known as “Baba Kekere”, which literally means “small father” because of his diminutive figure has surfaced on the internet. This was coming after the death of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, who ruled Oyo between 1970 and 2022. According to local collaborators, Baba Kekere, a man probably not up to 4 ft tall, has served three successive Alaafin of Oyo as an errand servant.

Read more about Do you Know

Baba Kekere served Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II, who was the father of the recently deceased Alaafin, Oba Lamidi, between 1945 and 1956. Then he served Oba Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II between 1956 and 1968 and the immediate past Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, between 1970 and 2022. His age is unknown because his birth was not recorded but local collaborators speculated that he should be over 100 years now.

Sign up for the Connect Nigeria daily newsletter

Many tweeps have praised his dedication to the royal family. Others have called on historians and movie producers to tap into his wealth of experience before death comes for him. For the historian, Baba Kereke is an embodiment of Oyo’s modern history, a griot who was privileged to see many events that unfolded within and outside the palace. Baba Kekere is a raw material for exploring the rich history of kingship history in Oyo and her neighbours, hence a veritable source for oral history.

Register to attend the Connect Nigeria Business Mixer

Movie producers like Kunle Afolayan and Tunde Kelani were called upon by Twitter to reach out to him to capture Oyo’s history in motion pictures as either movies or documentaries. Featured Image Source: Frank Talk

Got a suggestion? Contact us: editor@connectnigeria.com