The passing of legendary Ijala poet, broadcaster and cultural icon, Chief Alabi Ogundepo, has been described as a monumental loss to his family, the people of Saki, Oke-Ogun, Oyo State and the entire Nigerian creative and cultural community. He passed on 24th August at the age of 84
https://www.digital.zenithbank.com/ZEQ/ZEQ-jan-2026/index.html#p=1Baba Alabi Ogundepo was more than a performer; he was one of the enduring voices of Yoruba cultural expression whose mastery of Ijala, the traditional Yoruba hunters’ poetry, brought the art form to generations of Nigerians.
For decades, his powerful voice and artistic depth resonated across stages, radio and television. His career spanned more than half a century, during which he performed Ijala on stage, recorded albums and helped bring traditional poetry to wider audiences through broadcast media. He was particularly recognised as one of the foremost figures who contributed significantly to the popularisation and preservation of Ijala poetry.
Baba Alabi Ogundepo also left a memorable imprint on broadcasting. He was associated with the popular “Akiika” programme on NTA Ibadan and became widely remembered for his distinctive renditions in several memorable public enlightenment jingles on Radio O-Y-O and the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State.
One of his best-remembered jingles warned against the leakage of examination questions, using the memorable admonition “Ma se fi asiri idanwo han…”, while his voice also became synonymous with other Yoruba cultural and moral messages that educated, entertained and shaped public consciousness. His radio performances were part of an era in which traditional poetry and indigenous communication were deployed to promote social values and public enlightenment.
His contribution to Yoruba culture also earned him recognition beyond the airwaves. In 2016, his performance at the palace of the Ooni of Ife during activities related to the rebranding of the Olojo Festival attracted significant attention, with his presence described as evoking nostalgia among admirers of traditional Yoruba poetry. His contribution to the growth and preservation of Ijala was widely acknowledged alongside those of some of the most prominent figures in Yoruba oral and literary traditions.
At the age of 80, Baba Alabi Ogundepo was celebrated in his hometown of Saki as one of the enduring figures of Yoruba cultural performance. Reports at the time described him as a legendary poet whose decades of artistic performances had made him a household name, particularly through his extensive use of Ijala in radio jingles and public communication.
He also demonstrated the enduring power of his art during the Roundtable and Day of Tributes held in honour of the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, in 2022. Through his rendition, Baba Alabi Ogundepo once again brought his distinctive voice and poetic tradition to bear in celebrating the memory and legacy of the revered monarch.
Baba Alabi Ogundepo’s departure marks the end of an important chapter in the history of Yoruba indigenous performance and cultural communication. Yet, his voice will continue to live through the memories of those who heard his chants, watched his performances and grew up with the timeless messages embedded in his work.
His life was a testament to the power of culture as a vehicle for entertainment, education, moral instruction and the preservation of identity. Baba’s voice may have gone silent, but the echoes of your Ijala will continue to resonate across generations.
As family, friends, associates and cultural enthusiasts mourn his passing, there is comfort in the knowledge that Baba Alabi Ogundepo lived a life of enduring cultural significance.
His legacy belongs not only to his family or his beloved Saki community, but to Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, Yorubaland and Nigeria.
