Who Was Emeritus Professor Biodun Jeyifo?

Professor Emeritus Biodun Jeyifo, one of Nigeria’s most distinguished literary scholars and critics, has died at the age of 80, the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL) announced on Wednesday.

The death was confirmed by Professor Andrew Haruna, President of the NAL. “The President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Professor Andrew Haruna, FNAL, regrets to announce the death of Professor Emeritus Biodun Jeyifo, FNAL, which occurred today, 11th of February, 2026,” the statement read.

Who Was Professor Emeritus Biodun Jeyifo?

Born on 5 January 1946 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Professor Jeyifo affectionately known as “BJ” was a trailblazing academic whose career spanned continents and decades.

He completed his formal education in Ibadan, a cultural and intellectual hub in post-colonial West Africa, before advancing his studies in the United States. Jeyifo earned a first-class bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Ibadan, followed by a master’s degree from the same institution, and later a PhD from New York University in 1975, where his doctoral supervisor was recognized theatre scholar Richard Schechner.

Jeyifo also received an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) from Obafemi Awolowo University.

Academic And Teaching Legacy

Professor Jeyifo enjoyed a long and stellar academic career, beginning at the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) before holding senior professorial roles in the United States. He taught at Cornell University for nearly two decades and later at Harvard University, where he served as Professor Emeritus of African and African American Studies and Comparative Literature.

He was widely respected for his contributions to African literature, drama and Marxist literary criticism, and was regarded as one of the continent’s most influential scholars in postcolonial studies. Jeyifo’s work extended beyond literary interpretation to deep engagement with cultural theory and intellectual history.

Global Recognition And Scholarly Influence

Jeyifo was especially celebrated as one of the foremost experts on the works of Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka. His critically acclaimed book, Wole Soyinka: Politics, Poetics and Postcolonialism (Cambridge University Press, 2004), is considered among the most comprehensive single-author studies in African literary criticism.

In addition to Soyinka, Jeyifo’s scholarship extended to other major African writers such as Chinua Achebe, reshaping global academic discourses on postcolonial literature.

Beyond academia, Jeyifo played a prominent role in university governance and labour movements. He once served as National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), advocating for academic freedom and improved conditions across Nigerian universities.

Family And Personal Life

Professor Jeyifo is survived by three children, each distinguished in their respective fields:

• Okunola Bamidele Jeyifo, a neuroscientist trained at the University of Chicago and lecturer at DePaul University.
• Olalekan Babajide Jeyifous, a Cornell-trained architect, sculptor and public art muralist based in Brooklyn, NY.
• Ruth Ayoka Samuels, an undergraduate at Cornell University, known for her community activism supporting shelters for the homeless and victims of domestic violence
  While multiple profiles note his role as a devoted father and family man, available public sources do not specify the name of his spouse or confirm whether he was married.

Legacy And Honors

Just weeks before his passing, Jeyifo’s 80th birthday was marked by an international symposium at the MUSON Centre in Lagos, bringing together scholars and admirers from around the world to honour his enduring impact on literary studies.

Colleagues and students remember him as an intellectually rigorous but deeply human scholar whose mentorship helped shape generations of thinkers, critics and literary practitioners. His foundational works in drama studies, cultural theory and postcolonial criticism ensure his lasting influence on African and global letters.

Professor Biodun Jeyifo’s passing represents the end of a luminous chapter in literary scholarship, but his work and the many scholars he inspired will continue to influence the study of literature and culture worldwide.