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JF Ade Ajayi obituary JF Ade Ajayi obituary
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Jacob Ade Ajayi, who has died aged 85, was a pioneer in the study of indigenous African history. His book with Ian Espie, A Thousand Years of West African History (1965), utilised archaeological evidence and early African texts, many written in Arabic, to counter the prevailing narrative at the time, which focused on the perspective of conquerors, missionaries and other foreigners on the continent. It remains in use by teachers and students today.Jacob Ade Ajayi, who has died aged 85, was a pioneer in the study of indigenous African history. His book with Ian Espie, A Thousand Years of West African History (1965), utilised archaeological evidence and early African texts, many written in Arabic, to counter the prevailing narrative at the time, which focused on the perspective of conquerors, missionaries and other foreigners on the continent. It remains in use by teachers and students today.
His study of 19th-century Africa, Christian Missions in Nigeria 1841-91 (1964), was the first to give equal weight to western and African institutions. It argued that the colonial period, lasting for approximately a century before Nigeria's independence in 1960, was a relatively short episode, and that the colonisers did not simply impose their own rules, but collaborated with Africans and existing power structures.His study of 19th-century Africa, Christian Missions in Nigeria 1841-91 (1964), was the first to give equal weight to western and African institutions. It argued that the colonial period, lasting for approximately a century before Nigeria's independence in 1960, was a relatively short episode, and that the colonisers did not simply impose their own rules, but collaborated with Africans and existing power structures.
In A Patriot to the Core (2001), his biography of the first African bishop in the Anglican church, Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Jacob demonstrated that the introduction of Christianity in Nigeria created new western-educated African elites, which did not always share the priorities of the traditional rulers. He was also interested in how nationalism was already developing in the 19th century among these elites, and wrote about the subject in a 1960 paper for the Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria.In A Patriot to the Core (2001), his biography of the first African bishop in the Anglican church, Samuel Ajayi Crowther, Jacob demonstrated that the introduction of Christianity in Nigeria created new western-educated African elites, which did not always share the priorities of the traditional rulers. He was also interested in how nationalism was already developing in the 19th century among these elites, and wrote about the subject in a 1960 paper for the Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria.
Jacob's strong commitment to promoting Nigerian and African identity was matched by his clear-eyed determination not to glorify the past. In 2010 he was one of eight Nigerian historians to contribute to Slavery and Slave Trade in Nigeria, which made the case that the traditional academic focus on the external slave trade, particularly the trans-Atlantic trade to Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean, had underplayed the importance of the much older indigenous trans-Saharan and trans-Indian Ocean trades.Jacob's strong commitment to promoting Nigerian and African identity was matched by his clear-eyed determination not to glorify the past. In 2010 he was one of eight Nigerian historians to contribute to Slavery and Slave Trade in Nigeria, which made the case that the traditional academic focus on the external slave trade, particularly the trans-Atlantic trade to Europe, the Americas and the Caribbean, had underplayed the importance of the much older indigenous trans-Saharan and trans-Indian Ocean trades.
In this work, as in others, Jacob was innovative in his use of a combination of oral and written history, which he was meticulous in evaluating. This allowed him to authoritatively present African voices to counterbalance the European and American perspective.In this work, as in others, Jacob was innovative in his use of a combination of oral and written history, which he was meticulous in evaluating. This allowed him to authoritatively present African voices to counterbalance the European and American perspective.
Working mainly at the University of Ibadan, Jacob was a lecturere (1858-63), professor (1963-89) and then emeritus professor. He was a leading light, with the late Kenneth Dike, of the Ibadan history school, an influential group of Nigerian and foreign academics in the university's history department who were dedicated to formulating an Afro-centric view of the continent's past. The group started the Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria to counter journals elsewhere that still adhered to colonialist and racist views. He was also a founder of the Ibadan History Series, produced with Longmans during the 1960s, a series of scholarly works providing new perspectives on African history. Working mainly at the University of Ibadan, Jacob was a lecturer (1958-63), professor (1963-89) and then emeritus professor. He was a leading light, with the late Kenneth Dike, of the Ibadan history school, an influential group of Nigerian and foreign academics in the university's history department who were dedicated to formulating an Afro-centric view of the continent's past. The group started the Journal of the Historical Society of Nigeria to counter journals elsewhere that still adhered to colonialist and racist views. He was also a founder of the Ibadan History Series, produced with Longmans during the 1960s, a series of scholarly works providing new perspectives on African history.
From 1972 to 1978 Jacob was also vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos. He took over a demoralised institution; when he left, it was of international standing. He reorganised the ramshackle academic structures and put in place a corruption-proof appointments system. However, collision came with the military government, which faced student protests when it put up fees. The university, being the nearest to government headquarters, was encircled by armed police and a student was shot dead, for no apparent reason. Jacob reacted by organising a moving funeral on campus. He was summarily dismissed and went back to Ibadan. A colleague said: "I never heard him raise his voice."From 1972 to 1978 Jacob was also vice-chancellor of the University of Lagos. He took over a demoralised institution; when he left, it was of international standing. He reorganised the ramshackle academic structures and put in place a corruption-proof appointments system. However, collision came with the military government, which faced student protests when it put up fees. The university, being the nearest to government headquarters, was encircled by armed police and a student was shot dead, for no apparent reason. Jacob reacted by organising a moving funeral on campus. He was summarily dismissed and went back to Ibadan. A colleague said: "I never heard him raise his voice."
Jacob was a great believer that historical knowledge should serve the everyday world. He was a major influence in reforming the Nigerian school curriculum to reflect Africa-focused research, working with the examination system and government policymakers, and helping produce appropriate textbooks.Jacob was a great believer that historical knowledge should serve the everyday world. He was a major influence in reforming the Nigerian school curriculum to reflect Africa-focused research, working with the examination system and government policymakers, and helping produce appropriate textbooks.
Outside academia, he used his skills as a historian to assist traditional rulers in assessing their post-colonial roles, and occasionally to mediate quietly between state governors, while never becoming involved in partisan politics. He also solved a problem for national census-takers, who had to deal with non-literate people unaware of their age; he prepared a special handbook of important historical events, so that if, for instance, someone said she was born in the year of influenza, they could record 1918. he played an active role in many international bodies, including the International Africa Institute in London.Outside academia, he used his skills as a historian to assist traditional rulers in assessing their post-colonial roles, and occasionally to mediate quietly between state governors, while never becoming involved in partisan politics. He also solved a problem for national census-takers, who had to deal with non-literate people unaware of their age; he prepared a special handbook of important historical events, so that if, for instance, someone said she was born in the year of influenza, they could record 1918. he played an active role in many international bodies, including the International Africa Institute in London.
Born in Ikole Ekiti, western Nigeria, to Christian parents, Ezekiel Adeniyi Ajayi, a postmaster and later private secretary to the area's ruler, and Comfort Bolajoko, Jacob went to Igbobi College, Lagos. He was a foundation student at University College, Ibadan (which became the University of Ibadan) before moving to University College, Leicester (now Leicester University) and then the University of London, gaining his PhD in African history in 1958. Jacob once said: "People of my generation learned how Britannia ruled the world," and he made it his life's work to change that. Jacob was eulogised by the Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, as having "a lasting place of honour as one of Africa's greatest historians". His contribution was recognised by a state funeral in Nigeria.Born in Ikole Ekiti, western Nigeria, to Christian parents, Ezekiel Adeniyi Ajayi, a postmaster and later private secretary to the area's ruler, and Comfort Bolajoko, Jacob went to Igbobi College, Lagos. He was a foundation student at University College, Ibadan (which became the University of Ibadan) before moving to University College, Leicester (now Leicester University) and then the University of London, gaining his PhD in African history in 1958. Jacob once said: "People of my generation learned how Britannia ruled the world," and he made it his life's work to change that. Jacob was eulogised by the Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, as having "a lasting place of honour as one of Africa's greatest historians". His contribution was recognised by a state funeral in Nigeria.
In 1956 he married Christie Aduke Martins, a teacher and specialist in early childhood education. She survives him, as do their five children, Yetunde, Niyi, Funlayo, Titi and Bisola.In 1956 he married Christie Aduke Martins, a teacher and specialist in early childhood education. She survives him, as do their five children, Yetunde, Niyi, Funlayo, Titi and Bisola.
• Jacob Festus Ade Ajayi, historian, born 26 May 1929; died 9 August 2014• Jacob Festus Ade Ajayi, historian, born 26 May 1929; died 9 August 2014