Tears As 420-Year-Old Tortoise Dies At Alaafin Of Oyo’s Palace

A tortoise affectionately kkown as Baba Agba believed to have lived for about 420 years has died at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, bringing an end to the life of one of the palace’s most treasured historical relics.

MOUTHPIECE NGR learnt that the tortoise which reportedly fell ill on Monday, stopped eating and later died. 

The Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaiye, who disclosed the development in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday, said Baba had been cared for by successive Alaafins and was regarded not merely as an animal, but as a living symbol of the history and heritage of the ancient Oyo Kingdom.

The palace said oral history traced Baba’s origin to Oyo-Ile, the old capital of the Oyo Empire, before the tortoise was brought to the present palace in Oyo town.

It should be known that over the years, Baba became a major attraction for visitors to the palace, drawing tourists and residents from different part of the would to see the unusually large tortoise and hear stories about its remarkable age.

It was gathered that tortoise until its death was always being cared for by two palace officials and its diet included watermelon, corn pap wrapped in leaves and grass.

Describing Baba as a significant part of Oyo’s oral history, the palace noted that its presence connected generations of Alaafins with the kingdom’s past.

The statement added that Oyo has lost a unique symbol of its heritage and a longstanding companion of successive Alaafins.

“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 read.