There is no denial in the fact that Alhaji Yayi Akorede was a symbol of unity between Christians and Muslims during his lifetime. This assertion was obvious during his lifetime.
Alhaji Yayi Akorede was born in September 1910 in Akure. He came from a royal house, Deji Orudu (1735-1748) lineage, the 27th Deji. His father was once the Obagbuagun of Akure. His mother was a descendant of Obele, whose father’s name was Faji. This woman was so powerful because she was a strong traditionalist. Whenever she’s coming to the Palace she always enters through men
entrance(ona okunrin) instead of women entrance(ona obinrin). Whenever this happened there must be a fowl sacrifice. This define how powerful she was. Yayi also has Oba-Ile connection through his mother, the reason why he’s being eulogised as “eji oba omo olale“.
His great-grandfather was chief Asamo Akodi Olooro. Asamo Akodi beget Olugbola. Olugbola beget Abdusalam Ojo. Abdusalam beget Yayi Akorede. Therefore he was a relative of Asamo. So, it’s not a surprise that Baba Yayi’s house was situated beside Asamo’s palace at Udi-Agba near Adedeji market His father, being a Prince love people who dressed in big cloths like that of Muslims. So he picked interest in the way those muslim dressed in big attires and he joined the first set of worshippers in Akure in 1894. It was then his name was changed to Abdusalam.
YAYI’S EARLY DAYS
Yayi Akorede has no western education, he started as a Cloth Weaver and selling apprentice. He and his brothers, Yusuf and Arowolo were serving in the same place. They as well assist their father in the farm. It got to a time when the islam missionary came to Akure from Ilorin to teach people about their religion. He joined them, under the tutelage of one Alfa Aminu. Yayi was aged 10 as at that time. His father actually took him there out of fear that the christian missionary who have just came with their religion might convert him to christianity.
In 1938, in his quest to gain more knowledge, he went to his uncle, whose name was Saliu Ajijola. Ajijola resides in Ado Ekiti. He spent some times in Ado, then Saliu took him to Ijebu Ode for more knowledge in Islamic doctrine. After this sojourn he returned to Akure. Still thirsty for more knowledge he proceeded to Alfa Rufai in Oke Are in Ibadan. He finally returned to Akure to begin his career as a
Preacher in 1939.
He started his missionary work and he improved his mode of dressing which was different from those few others around. Atimes he would been seen in a suit wear knotting a tie before putting on a very big nice Jalabiah. His appearance always stunned people around as they rarely see such on other Alfas around. Like Akure people, they say what they saw exactly the way it is. When they see baba going, they’ll start saying, “Alfa yi ma ya ‘yi o” meaning, this Alfa is stunningly beautiful. This was how he got his name “YAYI.” His original name was Alaba because his mother had a twins before him. Many Alfas then started copying his style.
Yayi was so brave and he believes so much in Allah. There was a time he went on a journey to Okene. When he got to Uso, besides Owo, he met some ritualist performing rites, he was threatened and surrounded but he was not afraid, he passed them by and nothing happened. There was a day also that he met some cultists on his way. These cultists have been waiting for him to return so that they
can deal with him for daring them. They waited and waited but in vain. Unknown to them, he had passed behind them and already in Akure preaching in front of Deji’s palace. They later met with him and asked to know what he did to get pass them. He told them it was the God that covered their faces. From that day they became his friends. He made all those journeys barefooted, as there was no
means of transportation then.
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