Joseph Folahan Odunjo
Joseph
Folahan Odunjo
(1904–1980) was a Nigerian writer, educator and politician best known for his
works in Yoruba children's literature.
Early life and education
Odunjo
was born in Ibara, Abeokuta in 1904.[7] He was educated at St Augustine's Primary
School, Abeokuta, the Catholic Higher Elementary Training School and the London Institute
of Education.
Teaching and Writing career
Odunjo
comnenced his teaching career as the schoolmaster of the Catholic Training
College, Ibadan from 1924 till 1927 and was later the headmaster of his
alma mater, St Augustine's, Abeokuta. As a teacher, he formed the Federal
Association of Catholic Teachers to negotiate with the Catholic missions on
behalf of mission teachers. Odunjo was a teacher and headmaster of various
Catholic Schools from the 1940s to the 1950s.[8] His printed work in 1958 was one of the
early written works of the language. He wrote several novels, plays, poems and
texts in the Yoruba language. His published works later
became a source of inspiration for future writers.[9][10] He was an active member of the Yoruba Orthography Committees of 1966 and 1969.[11]
Politics
In
1951, he won a seat to the Western House of assembly and later became the
region's first minister of Land and Labour.[12] He was also a president of the Egbado Union and was affiliated with the Nigeria Union of
Teachers
for a number of years. He was also installed as Asiwaju of Egbaland.[13]
Odunjo
died in 1980.
Selected works
Poetry
- Ise ni Ogun Ise ("Work is the antidote for poverty")
- Toju Iwa re Oremi ("Watch your behaviour, my friend")
- Akójopò ewì alâdùn. (1961)
Novels
- Omo oku orun (1964; "The deceased woman's daughter")[14]
- Kuye. African Universities Press. 1978 [1964]. ISBN 978-978-148-016-4.
Textbook
- Aláwìíyé Yoruba Readers (Fun awọn ọmọde ati awọn agbà ti o nkọ́ iwe Yoruba ni kikà: Yoruba language comprehensive learning text series). Longman Nigeria. 1975. ISBN 978-0-582-63865-5.
References
· Toyin Falola. Yoruba Gurus: Indigenous Production of Knowledge in Africa. Africa World Press, 1999.
pp. 17–18. ISBN 978-0-86543-699-2.
· · Albert S. Gérard (1972). Black Africa, Volumes 2-3. the University of
Virginia: St. John's University Press. p. 195. ISSN 0034-6640. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
· · Ayọ Bamgbose; Ọlátúndé O. Ọlátúnjí (1986).
Yoruba: A Language in Transition. University of Virginia:
J.F. Ọdunjọ Memorial Lectures. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
· · Daily Times of Nigeria Limited (1971). Who's who in Nigeria: a biographical dictionary. Times Press (Magazine
Division). Retrieved June 14, 2016.
· "Odunjo
remembered". Allafrica. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
#nationalweekofremembrancefordepartedwriters
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