Ooni welcomes NBA star Jaylen Brown, names him Babatunde

NBA star Jaylen Brown received a royal welcome in Ile-Ife on Monday as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, honoured him with the traditional Yoruba name “Babatunde,” meaning “the father has returned.”

The Sun Nigeria reports that Brown was received at the Ooni’s palace, accompanied by traditional rulers and palace officials, where the monarch declared him officially “Babatunde Jaylen Brown,” describing the name as an ancestral identity linking him to his Yoruba heritage.

Ogunwusi noted that slavery and forced migration had historically separated African families and communities, encouraging people of African descent worldwide to visit ancestral sites and reconnect with their roots.

He further highlighted Ile-Ife’s significance as the spiritual centre of Yoruba civilisation, adding that the palace continues preserving records of royal lineages and cultural heritage.

Responding, Brown expressed gratitude for the reception, saying the visit deepened his understanding of his heritage and encouraging others to explore their own ancestral histories.