Josiah Ransome-Kuti
Josiah Jesse Ransome-Kuti | |
---|---|
Born | Josiah Jesse Olikoye Ransome-Kuti 1 June 1855 Nigerian |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1871–1930 |
Spouse |
Bertha Anny Erinade Olubi
(m. 1882) |
Children | 8
|
Parent(s) | Likoye Kuti Anne Ekidan Efupeyin |
Relatives | Wole Soyinka (grandson) Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (daughter-in-law) Fela Kuti (grandson) |
Josiah Jesse "J.J." Ransome-Kuti (1 June 1855 – 4 September 1930) was a
Early life and career
Josiah Jesse Olikoye Ransome-Kuti was born on June 1, 1855, in Igbein, Abeokuta, Ogun State. His family were of Egba origin and his parents, Kuti (c. 1820 – 1863) and Anne Ekidan Efupeyin (c. 1830 – July 1877), [3] were both born in Abeokuta as well. Josiah's paternal grandparents, Jamo and Orukoluku, were originally from the town of Orile Igbein in the Egba forest, but had nevertheless been two of the earliest inhabitants of Abeokuta when it was founded in 1830. Josiah Ransome-Kuti was baptized in 1859. He had one sister, Eruwe Lousia Kuti.
While his mother, Anne, was an early convert to Christianity, his father, Kuti, was a follower of the traditional Yoruba religion, and rejected Christianity and European influence in Abeokuta. He was dismayed by his wife's conversion and frequently opposed her in her attempts to influence their son. However, in 1863, Kuti died, leaving Anne to raise him as a pious Christian.[4] He enrolled as a student in the Church Missionary Society Training Institution, Abeokuta, before proceeding to the Church Missionary Society Training Institute, Lagos in 1871.[5]
Shortly after completing his education at the Church Missionary Society Training Institute, Lagos, Ransome-Kuti was employed as a teacher at St. Peter's School, Ake, Abeokuta, and then left in 1879 to teach music at the
Ransome-Kuti became a deacon in 1895, ordained a priest in 1897 and was appointed district judge from 1902 to 1906.[5] In 1911, he was appointed pastor of St. Peter's Cathedral Church, Ake after previously serving as superintendent of the Abeokuta Church Mission.[7]
In 1922, he was made
Personal life
He married Bertha Erina Olubi in 1882, daughter of Rev. Daniel Olubi (1830-1912) and Susannah Olubi (nee Daley) (1821-1924). They had three children; Anne Lape Iyabode Ransome-Kuti, Azariah Olusegun and
Bibliography
- Joseph Oguntade (1986). Canon Josiah Jesse Ransome-Kuti: A Short Biography. Gbemi Sodipo Press Limited. ISBN 978-978-183-004-4.
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-5049-3785-6.
- ISBN 978-0-252-06613-9.
- ISBN 9780252066139.
- ISBN 9780252066139.
- ^ a b c d "Ransome-Kuti, Josiah Jesse". Dictionary of African Christian Biography. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
- ^ Raph Uwechue; Africa Books Limited (1991). Makers of Modern Africa. Africa Journal Limited.
- ^ H. Zell, C. H. Bundy and V. Coulon (eds), A New Reader's Guide to African Literature, rev. edn, (London : Heinemann, 1983).
- ^ Sansom, Ian (11 December 2015). "Great Dynasties: The Ransome-Kutis". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 March 2016.