NBA champion Jaylen Brown, 29, has received the traditional Yoruba name Babatunde from the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, during a visit to the monarch's palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Monday evening, September 7, 2026.
Cultural and Ancestral Visit to Ile-Ife
Brown's visit to the Ooni's palace was part of a trip centred on African heritage and ancestral history. The monarch formally bestowed the name Babatunde, which means "the father has returned" or "the ancestor has returned," declaring that the basketball star would henceforth be known as Babatunde Jaylen Brown.
For the Ooni, Brown's visit represented a symbolic reconnection between Africans on the continent and people of African descent in the diaspora. Ogunwusi spoke about Ile-Ife's place in Yoruba history and its significance as a centre of Yoruba civilisation, highlighting how slavery and forced migration separated families and communities with shared ancestral origins across Africa and the diaspora.
Ooni's Call for Diaspora Reconnection
The monarch encouraged people of African descent living outside the continent to visit places connected to their ancestry and learn more about the history and cultures that survived generations of separation. The ancient city of Ile-Ife is regarded as a major historical and spiritual centre of Yoruba civilisation, with the Ooni's palace serving as a custodian of royal traditions, cultural practices and generations of ancestral history. The iconic monument of Oduduwa, revered as the legendary progenitor of the Yoruba race, remains a powerful symbol of deep African ancestry.
Brown, who plays professional basketball in the United States, expressed his appreciation for the reception and said the experience allowed him to learn more about his heritage. He also encouraged others to make the journey to their ancestral roots.
Jaylen Brown's NBA Career and Recent Trade
Born on October 24, 1996, in Georgia, Brown was selected third overall by the Boston Celtics in the 2016 NBA Draft. He spent his first 10 NBA seasons with the Celtics, growing from a highly rated young player into one of the league's biggest stars. His defining moment came in 2024, when Brown helped Boston win the NBA championship and was named NBA Finals MVP after averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists against the Dallas Mavericks. The title was Boston's record-extending 18th NBA championship, and Brown also won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award that postseason.
He reached another level in the 2025-26 season, averaging a career-high 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game. Then, after a decade in Boston, Brown's NBA journey took another turn in July 2026, when the Celtics traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the star.
