Tribute to Prof JF Ade Ajayi by Amb Ade Adefuye on his 85th birthday in may. Ade Ajayi at 85: Salute to An Intellectual Colossus Guest Columnist: Ade Adefuye The cream of Nigeria’s intelligentsia, administrators and diplomats will today converge on the Conference Centre, University of Ibadan to honour an intellectual colossus, a man of letters, and a fountain of knowledge who blazed the trail in establishing the validity of African history as an academic discipline. Jacob Festus Adeniyi Ajayi is an eminent historian. He was an important component of the post- independence anti-colonial scholarship who successfully countered the Trevor Ropers of this world and established the fact that Africa had a history which pre-dated the arrival of the Europeans. Ajayi as well as Professors Dike, Biobaku, Ogot, Alagoa and Webster successfully made the point that events that occurred in the colonial and post-independence era were and continue to be affected by developments in the period before Europeans. Emeritus Professor Ajayi will be 85 today. A book titled: ‘J.F. Ade Ajayi, his life and works’ edited by two of his students, Professors Michael Omolewa and Jide Osuntokun, and which contain chapters written by Ajayi’s students will be launched to mark the event. Ajayi’s students and grand students (those taught by the students of Ajayi as well as his great grand students) will gather to honour a man who has impacted their lives. I had the privilege of being taught by Ajayi as a history under-graduate at the University of Ibadan. It was he who guided and directed me to do a PhD Research on an aspect of Ugandan history and recruited me to the University of Lagos when he was appointed vice-chancellor. When I made a “side door entry” into diplomacy, with the appointment as High Commissioner to Jamaica, Ajayi advised that I should pay attention to the African heritage of Jamaica during my period of service. The Book: “Culture and Diplomacy, the Nigerian Example” published in 1999 is the result of that guidance. I was meant to be in Ibadan today. But no thanks to Boko Haram and the consequent need to ensure America’s understanding and cooperation in our struggle against the terrorists. My heart will be there. The world class historian was born on May 26, 1929. His father was a personal assistant to Oba of Ikole in Ekiti during the era of native administration. He attended Igbobi College and was one of the pioneering students of Nigeria’s premier University College, Ibadan when it was established in 1948. He graduated in 1952, garnering the Bachelor of Arts (general) in History, Latin, and English. Between 1952 and 1955, Ajayi attended University College, Leicester, where he earned another bachelor of arts (first-class honours) in history. He proceeded to the University of London for a doctoral degree, which he obtained in 1958. Ajayi started his career from the grade of lecturer at the University College, Ibadan in 1958, and became a full professor of history in 1963. He held visiting teaching and research appointments at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Stanford University among others. He was head of the Department of History at the University of Ibadan from 1966 to 1969, and dean of the Faculty of Arts between 1964 and 1966 Between 1972 and 1978, Ajayi was Vice- Chancellor of the University of Lagos. He retired from the University of Ibadan in 1989. Kenneth Dike’s ‘Trade and Politics in the Niger Delta’ marked a watershed in African Historiography. He was the first to use oral evidence and in the process began to make the case for the validity of pre-colonial African history as an academic discipline. But it was under Ajayi that the Ibadan History School based at the Department of History, University of Ibadan became the dominant school in the study of History of Nigeria and Africa. The school was characterised by its overt nationalism and was geared towards forging a Nigerian identity through publicising the glories of pre-colonial Nigerian and African society. Much use was made of oral history and throughout, the school took a strong inter- disciplinary approach to gathering information. This trend was further accentuated with the establishment of the Institute of African Studies at the university which brought together, experts from other disciplines such as archeology and linguistics. Ajayi, through many of his scholarly works came to personalise and remained the most visible emblem of the Ibadan History School. His academic works ranged from Christian mission to Yoruba History and Nigeria nationalism. His scholarship also extended to discussions on the role of colonialism in social and political change. Ajayi pioneered mission studies in Nigeria through his PhD citation which was revised and published under the title: ‘Christian Missions in Nigeria’. The main thrust of “Christian Missions” is how Christianity was planted in modern Nigeria and the place of liberated Western educated Africans in historical development. The temperament of white missionaries towards African values was influenced by some unscientific ideas that were manifested in the treatment of Africans as an inferior race. This development was among the factors that laid the foundation of 19th century African nationalism which Ajayi identified as a cultural phenomenon. The Eminent Historian was the first to write on the Yorubas in the 19th century. “His Yoruba warfare in the 19th century” was the first major study of professional warfare among the Yorubas. The importance of the ‘Yoruba warfare in the 19th century’ is best evaluated in terms of the methodical breakthrough that would remain the hallmark of Ajayi’s scholarship and that of his academic disciples. In his appraisal of sources for the re-construction of 19th century Yoruba history, he asserted that oral tradition remain the major non-written source. Ajayi’s most valued and acknowledged contribution to African Historiography is the successful assertion of the continuity of African institutions under colonial rule and beyond. His 1961 essay titled: ‘Colonialism: An Episode in African History’ was path-breaking. Ajayi successfully presented a philosophy of history that countered pseudo-intellectual position of euro-centric scholars, who in an effort to justify colonialism declared that Africans as a result of their lack of history could not govern themselves and therefore had to be governed by a “superior race”. The response of Ajayi and the Ibadan History School was the undertaking of rigorous research of the study of pre-colonial African societies: the kingdoms, the institutions and their constitutions. The study and publication of scholarly works on such kingdoms of Oyo, Benin, Ife, the Niger Delta societies, the Sokoto Caliphate, Segu Tukulo Empire, blew the top of euro-centric philosophy of African history. It established a theoretical foundation and justification for African nationalism leading to independence. Ajayi pointed out that the partition of Africa and the impact of colonial rule and even post- independence environment cannot be properly understood without the knowledge of pre- colonial African history. African history existed before colonialism. Colonialism was no more than an episode in African history. Like the history of all humanities, the history of Africa is a continuum. Colonialism was merely an episode but not the totality of African experience. African values, culture and biases though dynamic, continue to be enduring and shaped events even in contemporary times. Ajayi therefore established a philosophical as well as a theoretical basis and an enduring foundation which guided his students and contemporaries in the process of doing research and writing on Africa. As Head of History Department, University of Ibadan, Ajayi strove to make the Department not only the centre of Nigeria, but also African studies. He encouraged younger scholars and students including this writer to do their PhD research on communities outside Nigeria before the arrival of the Europeans. This was how Benson Mojuetan worked on Morocco, Alfred Unoma on Nyamwezi in Tanzania, Gabriel Akinola on Zanzibar and the present writer on Uganda. The aim was to prove that African societies had a history before the arrival of colonialists. Ajayi’s brand of historical scholarship attracted scholars from outside Nigeria among whom were J. D. Omer Cooper from South Africa, Bertin Webster from Canada, AFC Ryder and Michael Crowder from UK, J. R. Garvin from France and Ralph Austin from the USA. Ajayi’s successful establishment of the fact of the continued existence of African institutions under colonial rule was a successful rebellion against the philosophical and theoretical justification for colonialism. But the personality of the man contrast sharply with that of a rebel. Known for the arduous research and rigour of the analysis in his writing, he adopted a less than a passionate style. He is soft spoken, a bit on the shy side, more of an introvert, with polished manners and a sophisticated bearing. He is consistent in his beliefs, but generally subtle in expressing them. Ade Ajayi is a successful family man. His wife Christy has been a pillar at strength and support. They are blessed with five children among whom is a Consultant Physician and a top banker. He is a member of the Anglican Church but with some leaning to the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Ajayi’s contribution to scholarship and nation building made a grateful Nigeria and the international community honour and appointed him to a number of positions among which are; Honorary Doctorate from Universities of Birmingham and Leicester. The African studies Association in the United States awarded him the title of Distinguished Africanist. He is a Foundation Fellow of the Historical Society of Nigeria and the most Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Ibadan. The Emeritus Professor won the Nigerian National Merit Award in 1986. Space will not allow a mention of all the honours and titles conferred on him. Details of some of these other awards are in the book to be launched today. My message to our Oga is: As you attain the age of 85, you can celebrate joyfully resting on the assurance that the seeds you have planted are growing and flourishing. You have ignited the fire of historical scholarship. It keeps burning and very brightly too. Your place in African historiography is cast in stone. It will always continue to be appreciated. You are a legend in African history. On behalf of your students, grand students and great grand students, I wish you a happy birthday. Aunty Christy should prepare good pounded yam tonight and reserve some for me when I visit in June. By the grace of God, we shall be around in 2029 to celebrate the centenary. Happy Birthday Sir !! • Prof. Adefuye is Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States of America
Posted on: Mon, 11 Aug 2014 18:40:02 +0000