The palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oyo State, is mourning the death of Baba, a tortoise believed to have lived for about 420 years and become a treasured relic of the ancient Oyo Kingdom.
Baba reportedly died on Monday after falling ill and was later buried, bringing an end to what the palace described as a centuries-old presence that had survived through the reigns of successive Alaafins.
The Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaiye, disclosed this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday.
Durojaiye said Baba was more than a tortoise to the palace, describing the animal as part of the oral history and cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.
“Baba was more than a tortoise in status. He represented a part of the oral history of the Yoruba race. Now, the Alaafin has lost an ageless companion,” he said.
According to the palace, oral history traced Baba’s origin to Oyo-Ile, the ancient capital of the Oyo Empire, from where it was reportedly brought to the present palace in Oyo town.
Over the years, Baba became a familiar attraction at the palace, drawing visitors who came to see the tortoise because of its reported age and size.
The palace said two officials were responsible for caring for Baba, which was fed with watermelon, corn pap wrapped in leaves and grass.
