Within the walls of the Alaafin of Oyo’s palace, tradition is sustained not only by kings and chiefs, but also by individuals whose daily labor keeps royal life in motion. Morenikeji Lasisi, widely known as Baba Kekere or Baba Keji, was one such figure. For decades, he served as a palace aide, moving quietly through the rhythms of royal life while witnessing the passage of time, leadership, and change within one of Yorubaland’s most enduring institutions.
His story entered public consciousness through national newspaper interviews and reports that highlighted his remarkable longevity and years of palace service. Baba Kekere was not known for holding titles or exercising authority, but for constancy. His presence linked eras of Oyo’s modern royal history in a way few individuals ever do.
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Who Baba Kekere Was
Morenikeji Lasisi was a palace aide attached to the court of the Alaafin of Oyo in Oyo State, Nigeria. Known affectionately as Baba Kekere or Baba Keji, he described himself simply as a palace worker whose life revolved around service.
He carried out domestic duties within the palace, running errands, delivering messages, and assisting with everyday needs of the royal household. He did not occupy a chiefly position, nor did he present himself as a senior palace official. His role was practical and grounded, rooted in the daily functioning of the palace rather than ceremonial display.
Life Inside the Alaafin’s Palace
The Alaafin’s palace is both a symbol of authority and a living compound. While public ceremonies offer glimpses of royal tradition, much of palace life unfolds through routine work carried out behind the scenes.
Baba Kekere’s life reflected this quieter side of royalty. His days were shaped by assignments, responsibilities, and service to the palace household. Through years of consistent work, he became a familiar presence, someone who knew the palace not as a stage for spectacle, but as a place of work, relationships, and continuity.
His long presence allowed him to observe the evolving rhythm of palace life, as traditions were maintained and adapted over time.
Serving Three Alaafins of Oyo
Baba Kekere’s service spanned the reigns of three Alaafins of Oyo, placing him across some of the most significant periods of the kingdom’s modern history.
The Alaafins associated with his years of service were:
- Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II
- Oba Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II
- Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III
His time in the palace extended from earlier post colonial years into the long and influential reign of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III. Under Adeyemi III, Baba Kekere spent many years in service, forming memories that would later shape public interest in his life and experiences.
Service Without Title
One of the defining features of Baba Kekere’s story is that his significance did not come from rank or office. He was not a chief, not an adviser, and not the head of palace aides. He worked alongside other palace staff, carrying out assigned duties with consistency.
Yet, over time, his longevity itself became noteworthy. Remaining in one institution for decades gives a person a unique perspective, even without formal authority. Baba Kekere’s life shows how continuity in service can itself become a form of historical presence.
Longevity and Later Years
Baba Kekere became widely known for his advanced age and the length of time he spent in palace service. His life spanned generations, connecting periods that many people only encounter through history books.
In later years, he spoke openly about palace life, his duties, and his experiences under different rulers. These recollections offered rare insight into the everyday workings of a traditional institution over time.
Death and Legacy
Baba Kekere died in February 2023 at the Alaafin’s palace in Oyo. His passing was widely noted as the loss of a familiar figure whose life had become intertwined with the palace itself.
He was remembered as the palace’s longest serving aide, a man whose service reflected loyalty, endurance, and the often unseen labor that sustains tradition. His story remains a reminder that history is not only shaped by rulers, but also by those who quietly serve beside them.
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Why Baba Kekere’s Story Endures
Baba Kekere’s life matters because it highlights a rarely told side of royal history. It shows how institutions survive through everyday work, personal commitment, and long term service.
His story stands as a portrait of dedication, a reminder that behind every throne is a community of individuals whose lives are woven into the fabric of tradition.
Author’s Note
Baba Kekere’s life tells a simple but powerful story, that long service, quiet dedication, and presence across time can leave a lasting mark on history, even without title or ceremony, and that the true continuity of institutions often lives in the people who show up every day.
References
Alaafin of Oyo’s oldest aide, Baba Kekere dies at 120, Vanguard Nigeria, February 2023.
Rotimi Agboluaje, Baba Kekere, Adeyemi III most outstanding Alaafin I’ve worked with, The Guardian Nigeria, May 2022.
Oyo, Longest serving aide in Alaafin’s palace dies, The Sun Nigeria, February 2023.
