NBA star Jaylen Brown received a royal welcome in Ile-Ife on Monday as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, honoured him with the traditional Yoruba name, Babatunde.
The NBA player was received at the Ooni’s palace during his visit to the historic Yoruba city, where the monarch was accompanied by traditional rulers and palace officials.
According to the Ooni’s Senior Media Officer, Sodiq Lawal, the name “Babatunde” means “the father has returned” or “the ancestor has returned”.
Ogunwusi described the name as an ancestral identity intended to formally connect Brown with his Yoruba heritage and ancestral roots.
“This is to certify that you have been officially issued Babatunde as your traditional and ancestral name,” the Ooni told the basketball star.
“Henceforth, you shall be known as Babatunde Jaylen Brown.”
The monarch expressed confidence that the name would bring Brown good fortune while deepening his relationship with Yoruba culture and heritage.
Ogunwusi also used the occasion to highlight Ile-Ife’s place as the historical and spiritual centre of Yoruba civilisation.
He noted that slavery and forced migration had separated families and communities with shared ancestral origins across Africa and the diaspora.
The Ooni encouraged people of African descent living around the world to visit places connected to their ancestry and gain a deeper understanding of their cultural roots.
He said Brown’s visit provided an opportunity for the NBA star to reconnect with his heritage and learn from the generations of history preserved in Ile-Ife.
According to the monarch, the palace continues to preserve records and traditions relating to Yoruba royal lineages, ancestral history and cultural heritage.
Ogunwusi said greater interaction between Africans on the continent and those in the diaspora could strengthen appreciation of African identity and culture.
Responding to the honour, Brown expressed gratitude to the Ooni for the reception and hospitality he received during his visit.
The Celtics star said the experience gave him an opportunity to learn more about his heritage and encouraged people to make efforts to visit and understand their ancestral roots.
