The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, hosted Boston Celtics NBA star Jaylen Brown in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Monday, September 7, 2026, where the traditional ruler honoured the American basketball player with the Yoruba name “Babatunde.”
Brown, a prominent player for the Boston Celtics, was received at the Ooni’s palace during his visit to the historic Yoruba city.
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Oba Ogunwusi was accompanied by other traditional rulers and palace officials as Brown arrived at the palace for the cultural encounter.
According to a statement by the Ooni’s Senior Media Officer, Sodiq Lawal, the name Babatunde means “the father has returned” or “ancestor has returned”.
The Ooni described the name as a recognition of Brown’s ancestral identity and said it formally connected the basketball star with his Yoruba heritage and ancestral roots.
“This is to certify that you have been officially issued Babatunde as your traditional and ancestral name,” Ogunwusi told Brown.
“Henceforth, you shall be known as Babatunde Jaylen Brown.”
The traditional ruler expressed confidence that the name would bring Brown good fortune while strengthening his relationship with Yoruba culture and history.
The visit also provided an opportunity for the Ooni to highlight the historical importance of Ile-Ife, widely regarded as a centre of Yoruba civilisation and ancestral heritage.
Ogunwusi said the history of slavery and forced migration had separated families and communities that shared ancestral origins across Africa and the diaspora.
He therefore encouraged people of African descent around the world to reconnect with their ancestral roots by visiting Ile-Ife and other locations connected to their heritage.
The Ooni said the palace had preserved generations of royal history, cultural traditions, ancestral records and aspects of Yoruba heritage that could help members of the diaspora better understand their origins.
For Brown, the visit offered more than a ceremonial welcome.
The NBA star expressed appreciation to Ogunwusi for the hospitality and said the experience had allowed him to learn more about his heritage.
Brown also encouraged people to explore their ancestral roots, reflecting on the importance of understanding where they come from.
The meeting between the Ooni and the NBA star therefore combined sport, culture and heritage, creating a memorable moment around Brown’s visit to one of the most historically significant cities in Yorubaland.
By bestowing the name Babatunde, Ogunwusi sought to give Brown a lasting cultural connection to Ile-Ife and the wider Yoruba ancestral tradition.
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For the Celtics star, the honour adds a deeply personal dimension to his visit, linking his international profile with an exploration of African history and identity.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
