Yinka Shokunbi
Literary entertainment at its best performance last weekend took the centre stage in various forms and colour at the epic events celebrating the life and times of renowned Yoruba Novelist, Pa Thomas Thomas Akindele Adeniji Ladele in the ancient town of Okeho, Kajola Local Government Area, Oyo State.
Pa Ladele
Pa Ladele who was one of the first generations of Yoruba authors made mincemeat of the literary genre through his natural writing skills and wrote several books that have become academic successes, passed away August 21 at the very ripe age of 94.
Enthusiasts of the Yoruba Language were at their best when they came together in Okeho at the house where Pa Ladele lived in his old age to render various forms of literary liturgy in his honour and it was described by one of the mentees to Pa Ladele, Olutayo Iranti-Ola as “an event garnished with Literary Salute like it is done in the military”.
It was no doubt a night of spoken words and dance strictly in Yoruba language, themed: Asale Asayan Oro, (Night of Golden words of Tribute) to salute and honour a man of letters whose profile rose from the rustic community of Okeho and became listed among towns and cities that have come to rule the literary genre internationally.
Welcoming people to the event, Architect Abraham Iyiola Ladele one of the children, revealed that the event was designed to portray what their father stood for culturally while he was alive.
According to him, the father’s passage is a challenge for others to take their rightful positions and keep the Yoruba culture aglow anywhere in the world.
“Baba Ladele has passed on and he handed over the baton to us with the challenge that this culture must not die. This celebration is largely artistic and it would be an entertaining evening that would spur cultural renaissance,” he added.
Chairman of the occasion, Oyeleke Odoje, in his speech observed that the event has really thrown a challenge to the Yoruba writing community to learn to celebrate the early writers while they are alive and even in death.
He described Late Ladele as a colossal Yoruba writer who must be so treated.
“We cannot afford to commit him to mother-earth without adding some literary funfair. Some of his works that were showcased tonight are aspects of culture that he has worked upon. Soldiers give gun salute to their veterans; we are giving literary salute to this old writer in his death”, he added.
The Secretary on the selection of the performers, Olutayo Irantiola said, Late Ladele epitomized distinction in all areas of human endeavor hence the performances of the Night of Tribute was carefully selected from different areas of the Literary Art.
According to Irantiola, “The performers for the event included his former students, one of which is Mr Kunle Afolabi, Retired Deputy Director, West African Examination Council, Ghana; Mr Sola Akande, a Yoruba cultural and CEO, Yew Prints, Ibadan; Students of the Yoruba Language Society from the University of Ibadan and Adeyemi College of Education, Oyo, African Concept Troupe, Ibadan as well as his grandchildren.”
He pointed out that Late Ladele deserved so much of the recognition given him in death because he had equally projected the town and culture of his people from Oke-Ogun and Yoruba stock beyond the shores of the ethnic group.
Irantiola recalled to our Correspondent, “In 2004, when I was a student of the University of Ilorin, a friend who was the President of the Yoruba Students Association implored me to join him in the mission to bring Baba Ladele to the institution so that other students could know him and hear him speak. With ecstasy, we went to Oyo to fetch baba, and in October 2004, students and lecturers of Yoruba showered encomiums on him.”
The atmosphere was filled with chants such as Ijala, Rara Sinsun, Esa, and some readings were done from books he authored including also, various Yoruba dance steps to the admiration of everyone present.
Paying glowing tribute to Late Ladele, Irantiola also added, “I once asked if Baba was a poet, I called Baba and he said he was not a poet. I found out that he co-authored a book on “Ekun Iyawo”. That’s researched poetry at its peak. His prominent text is Je Ng Lo ‘Gba Temi, published by Macmillan in 1971, which is translated as Let Me Enjoy my season, a book that was used for pedagogy for many decades. Other books are Igba Lode, Igbi Aye Nyi published by Longman in 1978. These are classics in Yoruba language novels.
Baba Ladele, as he is fondly called by many people was one of the first generations of elites from Okeho and he was indeed a legend of note who became custodia of the raw knowledge of political and social development of Okeho.
Ladele was born on August 18 1920 at Iyalode compound, Bode, Okeho. He was educated at Baptist Day School, Okeho, Baptist Day School, Iwo, Baptist College, Iwo, Government Teachers Training College, Ibadan and the University College Ibadan (now the University of Ibadan).
As a teacher, he worked in various schools before his retirement from the civil service. He was the pioneer headmaster of Baptist School, Iwere-Ile, Area Headmaster, Baptist School, Okeho, History master, Durbar College, Oyo amongst others.
He was President, Okeho Literate Union, Okeho District Progressive Union, Member, Oyo Premier Club and member, Igbimo Okeho.
He was appointed Justice of Peace in 1987. Until his demise, Ladele was often sort after by many leaders from and around Oke-Ogun.
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