The global intellectual community is in mourning following the death of Professor Biodun Jeyifo, who passed away on February 11, 2026, in Ibadan at the age of 80. A foundational pillar of African literary criticism, Jeyifo was a man of “rare moral clarity” whose career bridged the gap between rigorous Marxist theory and the vibrant pulses of Yoruba street theatre.
Born in 1946 during the twilight of colonial rule, Jeyifo’s life was a mirror of Nigeria’s own journey. From being the first student to earn a First Class degree in English at the University of Ibadan to becoming a Professor Emeritus at Harvard, he dedicated his life to the idea that literature is a weapon for social transformation.
● A Legacy of activism and scholarship
Jeyifo’s impact was felt far beyond the ivory tower. In the 1970s and 80s, he was a pivotal force in founding the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). He famously traversed Nigeria in a battered Volkswagen Beetle, organising scholars against military autocracy and insisting that the university must serve the public good.
As a critic, his work on Wole Soyinka and Yoruba Travelling Theatre remains the gold standard. He didn’t just analyze plays; he decoded the class struggles and cultural identities embedded within them. His seminal work, The Yoruba Popular Popular Theatre, remains a cornerstone of African performance studies.
●The Mentor and the Man
While he was a “ferocious” debater on the page, those close to him knew a man of profound gentleness. A devoted father to Okunola, Olalekan, and Ruth, Jeyifo’s home was a sanctuary of books and laughter. Whether teaching in Nigeria, the US, or China, he was known as a “teacher of teachers,” nurturing generations of scholars with a humility that belied his massive global stature.
With his passing, Africa loses a custodian of its cultural memory, but his voice—principled, humane, and fearless—lives on in the libraries and theaters of the world.
