Isaac Delano

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Yoruba history, Yoruba language
Notable works
  • Atumo Èdè Yorùbá
  • Owè l'ẹṣin ọrọ: Yoruba proverbs, their meaning and Usage
  • Modern Yoruba Grammar
ChildrenChief Edmundson O. Delano, Chief Isaac B. Delano, Chief Akinwande Delano

lexicographer of the Yoruba language
.

Born in the small village of Ṣuren-Okenla (or Shuren) in what is now in

British Nigeria until an accident in 1947, and soon began a pioneer movement to document the history, culture, and language of the Yoruba people, which was beginning to be eroded by British and Arab influences that had existed for decades.[2][3]

His books involved documenting Yoruba historical heroes, common Yoruba proverbs, government styles of the Yoruba, and others. As a political/social activist, he attempted to explain African societies and the position of women, destroying stereotypes of female submissiveness in Yoruba culture and instead advocated that women were respected equals in Yoruba society and government. He also brought attention to female Yoruba heroes like Moremi Ajasoro.[3] During the 1950s, during a time when movements for African independence grew, Delano served as a powerful nationalist and a voice of the people through his writing.

Biography

Delano was born on November 4, 1904, in a rural agricultural based community of Okenla in what is now

Fulani invaders), and then the British, he also wrote many Yoruba history books. He was quick to judge those who often dismissed women as prominent members of ancient Yoruba government, citing the story of Moremi Ajasoro
. He died on December 17, 1979, at the age of 75.

Personal life

He was married and had several children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. His first son, a mechanical engineer, Chief Edmundson Olakunle Delano, was born on February 16, 1926, and died on May 5, 2019.[5] Another son, Isaac Babatunde Delano, who was a Chief Justice of Ogun State was born on June 1, 1935, and died on July 23, 2020.[6][7][8] One of his youngest sons is Chief Akinwande Delano (born 1938), a lawyer and former Attorney General of Ogun State.[9]

Honors

For his advancement of the Yorùbá people and his position as a teacher of the Yoruba language, and culture, he was appointed as the first Administrative Secretary of the

chieftaincy titles, including that of the Bajiki Ake of Egbaland (given to him by Ọba Ladapo Ademola) and the Babasale of Okenla, his hometown.[1] He also received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Ife in 1976.[1]

Bibliography

Delano's works include:[10]

  • 1934 -Soul of Nigeria
  • 1942 -The Singing Minister of Nigeria
  • 1944 -Notes and Comments from Nigeria
  • 1945 -An African looks at Marriage
  • 1945 -One Church for Nigeria
  • 1955 -Aiye d'Aiye Oyinbo
  • 1958 -Àtùmọ Èdè Yorùbá
  • 1960 -Àgbékà Oro Yorùbá: Appropriate Words and Expressions in Yoruba
  • 1963 -Lojo Ojo Un
  • 1964 -Ìrantí Anfáni
  • 1965 -Modern Yoruba Grammar
  • 1966 -Òwe L'ẹṣin ọrọ: Yoruba proverbs, their meaning and Usage
  • 1968 -Conversations in Yoruba and English
  • 1968 -Josiah Ransome-Kuti: the Drummer Boy who Became a Canon
  • 1969 -Oba Ademola II: A Great Alake of Egba

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "'My attraction to Isaac Delano'". The Nation. January 15, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Delano: Remembering life and times of a nationalist and scholar". punchng.com.
  3. ^ a b "Chief Isaac Delano: The memory of a great legacy". The Guardian Nigeria News. December 29, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "Bio" (PDF). dacb.org. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  5. ^ "Tribute to a Selfless Inspiration and Motivator, Balogun Kunle Delano". May 24, 2019.
  6. ^ "Former Chief judge of Ogun State, Justice Isaac Babatunde Delano dies -". The NEWS. July 25, 2020.
  7. ^ "Former Ogun CJ, Delano, 85, is dead". July 25, 2020.
  8. ^ "Ex-Ogun CJ dies at 85 -". July 25, 2020.
  9. ^ "Our Team | Akindelando Legal Practitioners".
  10. ^ "African literature - Yoruba". Encyclopedia Britannica.