Baba, a tortoise reputed to be 420 years old and regarded as a historical relic at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, has died in Oyo State.
As gathered, the tortoise, a treasured palace animal that had survived generations of monarchs, died after a brief illness.
The Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaiye, announced the death in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday, saying the incident occurred at the monarch’s palace in Oyo.
According to Durojaiye, Baba was believed to have originated from Oyo-Ile, the ancient capital of the Oyo Empire, before being brought to the present palace in Oyo town.
“Baba fell ill on Monday, just a little sickness and couldn’t eat anymore. Then he died. Just like that. He had since been buried. Good night, Baba,” the statement said.
He said the tortoise had remained under the care of successive Alaafins and was treated as a historical relic inherited by the traditional institution.
Durojaiye said Baba later became a tourist attraction, with visitors coming to the palace to see the animal because of its reported age and remarkable size.
He added that two palace officials were responsible for feeding and caring for the tortoise, whose diet included watermelon, corn pap wrapped in leaves and grass.
Describing Baba’s death as a loss to the palace’s heritage, Durojaiye said the tortoise had transcended its status as an ordinary animal because of its place in the oral history of the Yoruba people.
“Baba was more than a turtle in status. He represented a part of the oral history of the Yoruba race. Now, the Alaafin has lost an ageless companion,” he said.
The palace also linked Baba’s long presence to Yoruba beliefs about the relationship between the living, the dead and the unborn, describing the tortoise as a cultural symbol.