It was indeed a red-letter day, as Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on Wednesday led members of the National Association of Seadogs, better known as Pyrates Confraternity, to pay their final respects to Professor Biodun Jeyifo, one of its distinguished members, at the Anglican Cemetery, St James the Great Cathedral Burial Ground, Ijokodo, Ibadan.
Jeyifo, renowned scholar, literary critic, public intellectual, Marxist and committed trade unionist, who contributed so much not just to scholarship but also human development, passed away on February 11, barely one month and five days after former students, friends and colleagues celebrated his 80th birthday in Lagos.
As guests from across the country, including members of The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU – Jeyifo was its pioneer president – walked quietly into the cemetery, the Pyrates, colourfully dressed in their white shirt, black trousers, and red regalia, were already inside, sailing (drumming, singing, and dancing) as they awaited Soyinka’s arrival
And no sooner had Soyinka arrived than he led the way, holding a sword aloft, as he walked majestically to Jeyifo’s graveside while other Pyrates sail alongside him, as they sang a number of pyratical songs, notably among which is “Another sayle, Jellu sayle / Pyrates are sailing to Tortuga.”
It was indeed a solemn ceremony at Jeyifo’s graveside as Soyinka and members of the Pyrates Confraternity paid their final respects to a distinguished and committed humanist, scholar and unionist. At Jeyifo’s graveside were his children, Okunola, Lekan, Ayoka and his grandchildren.
As the Pyratical song, “Pyrates sail again/We shall sail on earth/ We shall sail in heaven/ Pyrates sail again” rent the air, it dawned on everyone that indeed Jeyifo was not only a committed Pyrates, he lived a full life.
The Pyrates Confraternity was founded by Soyinka and six others ( known as the “Magnificent Seven) at the University College, Ibadan in 1952. Registered as a humanitarian organization, it is known for advocacy for good governance, charity, among other activities.
Members of the National Association of Seadogs always give their members Pyratical burials as they sayle on with the foregone terrors to Elysium.
However, the group, under Soyinka’s leadership, celebrated the late scholar’s enduring contributions to African literature, theatre, and intellectual discourse.
Immediately Jeyifo was laid to rest, after the Pyratical burial ceremony, his family and colleagues later paid a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
Credit: News Agency
Jeyifo, renowned scholar, literary critic, public intellectual, Marxist and committed trade unionist, who contributed so much not just to scholarship but also human development, passed away on February 11, barely one month and five days after former students, friends and colleagues celebrated his 80th birthday in Lagos.
As guests from across the country, including members of The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU – Jeyifo was its pioneer president – walked quietly into the cemetery, the Pyrates, colourfully dressed in their white shirt, black trousers, and red regalia, were already inside, sailing (drumming, singing, and dancing) as they awaited Soyinka’s arrival
And no sooner had Soyinka arrived than he led the way, holding a sword aloft, as he walked majestically to Jeyifo’s graveside while other Pyrates sail alongside him, as they sang a number of pyratical songs, notably among which is “Another sayle, Jellu sayle / Pyrates are sailing to Tortuga.”
It was indeed a solemn ceremony at Jeyifo’s graveside as Soyinka and members of the Pyrates Confraternity paid their final respects to a distinguished and committed humanist, scholar and unionist. At Jeyifo’s graveside were his children, Okunola, Lekan, Ayoka and his grandchildren.
As the Pyratical song, “Pyrates sail again/We shall sail on earth/ We shall sail in heaven/ Pyrates sail again” rent the air, it dawned on everyone that indeed Jeyifo was not only a committed Pyrates, he lived a full life.
The Pyrates Confraternity was founded by Soyinka and six others ( known as the “Magnificent Seven) at the University College, Ibadan in 1952. Registered as a humanitarian organization, it is known for advocacy for good governance, charity, among other activities.
Members of the National Association of Seadogs always give their members Pyratical burials as they sayle on with the foregone terrors to Elysium.
However, the group, under Soyinka’s leadership, celebrated the late scholar’s enduring contributions to African literature, theatre, and intellectual discourse.
Immediately Jeyifo was laid to rest, after the Pyratical burial ceremony, his family and colleagues later paid a courtesy visit to the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja.
Credit: News Agency
