The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, on Monday hosted American basketball star Jaylen Brown and formally gave him the traditional Yoruba name “Babatunde”.

Brown, a player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association, was received at the Ooni’s palace in Ile-Ife by the monarch, traditional rulers and palace officials.

The Ooni’s Senior Media Officer, Sodiq Lawal, said “Babatunde” means “the father has returned” or “ancestor has returned”.

Ogunwusi described the name as Brown’s ancestral identity, formally connecting him with his Yoruba heritage and ancestral roots.

The monarch told Brown that he had been officially issued “Babatunde” as his traditional and ancestral name, adding that he would henceforth be known as Babatunde Jaylen Brown.

The Ooni said he hoped the ancestral name would bring Brown good fortune and strengthen his connection with Yoruba heritage.

He highlighted Ile-Ife’s historical and spiritual importance as the centre of Yoruba civilisation, noting that slavery and forced migration had separated families and communities with shared ancestral origins across Africa and the diaspora.

Ogunwusi encouraged people of African descent, particularly those in the diaspora, to reconnect with their ancestral roots and visit places connected to their heritage.

Responding, Brown thanked the Ooni for the reception and hospitality, saying the visit had helped him learn more about his heritage.

The NBA star also encouraged people to visit their ancestral roots and deepen their understanding of their history.