Isaac Babalola Akinyele facts for kids
Sir Isaac Babalola Akinyele (born April 18, 1882 – died May 30, 1964) was a very important leader in Ibadan, Nigeria. He was the first educated Olubadan (a traditional ruler who isn't chosen by family line) of Ibadan. He was also the second Christian to become the Olubadan. He was honored as a KBE by the British King.
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His Family and Early Life
Isaac Akinyele's father was Josiah Akinyele. Josiah was the first son of Bolude, a brave Ibadan warrior and traditional healer. Josiah was one of the first people in Ibadan to become a Christian. This happened when Church Mission Society (CMS) missionaries, led by David Hinderer, brought Christianity to Ibadan in 1851.
Josiah Akinyele married Abigail Lapeno in 1870. Abigail's father, Kukomi, was also a strong warrior who later became a Christian. Abigail gave birth to her first son, Alexander Babatunde Akinyele, in 1875. Alexander later became the first Anglican Bishop of Ibadan. Isaac Babalola Akinyele was born several years later, on April 18, 1882.
His Work and Education
Isaac followed his older brother Alexander's example and did very well in school. Because of the success of the Akinyele brothers, people in Ibadan started to take education seriously. In 1910, the ruler even made a rule that every family had to send at least one child to school. If they didn't, they had to pay a fine.
After a time of peace began in 1893, Ibadan people started to focus on peaceful activities. They began cocoa farming, which the CMS had introduced around 1890. Isaac Akinyele worked for the government. He started in lower positions, which were common for Nigerians back then. In 1903, he became a customs inspector for the Ibadan District Council. He kept moving up and later became the chief judge of the local court. He was also a very successful businessman, owning many cocoa farms around Ibadan.
His Faith and Leadership
Isaac Akinyele was very involved in the politics and leadership of Ibadan. In 1914, he and his brother joined a group called Egbe Agba O'Tan. This group was made up of educated Yorùbá people who wanted to help their community. His brother, Alexander, helped the Ibadan Progressive Union create a peaceful way to choose the Olubadan.
Before 1924, Isaac Akinyele was a dedicated member of the Anglican Church. He was a very religious man. He believed that religion should respect local culture. He thought that if religion didn't connect with people's cultural roots, it would always seem foreign. Because of these strong beliefs, he left the main Anglican Church. He joined the Faith Tabernacle, which later became the Christ Apostolic Church. This was the first Pentecostal Church in Nigeria. Isaac Akinyele became the first President of this church. This marked the beginning of Pentecostalism becoming very popular in modern Nigeria.
By 1933, Isaac Akinyele was a council member of the Ibadan Native Authority. In 1935, he became an Oloye (a traditional chief) in Ibadan. He always approached his traditional roles in a Christian way. For example, when he became Balogun, a very high position, he was supposed to anoint a special staff with sheep's blood every week. People believed that if he didn't, he would die. Instead, Isaac Akinyele had a Christian staff made with a cross on top. Church members dedicated it with prayers and fasting.
In 1948, the King of the United Kingdom honored him. He became an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. On February 17, 1955, he became the Olubadan of Ibadan. Even though some people didn't agree because he completely rejected the traditional Isese religion, most people chose him. In 1956, during Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom's visit to Nigeria, he was knighted as a KBE.
His Later Years and Legacy
In 1962, Isaac Akinyele's rule faced some political challenges in the Western Region, Nigeria. There was a disagreement between leaders of the Action Group party. This led to some unrest and a state of emergency in the region. Throughout these difficult times, Isaac Akinyele stayed calm and tried to help bring peace. He offered Ibadan as a place for peace talks many times.
He was Olubadan for only ten years, but he left a lasting impact. He passed away in May 1965.
Sources
- Theophilus Adeleke Akinyele: "Ibadan – the town, the gown and the dawn" derived from "Readings in Political Economy and Governance in Nigeria" Published by CSS Ltd. 2002
