Biodun Jeyifo: The Passing of a Global Literary Titan

​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, organizing 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.

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​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.