Africa has lost a giant literary scholar as Emeritus Biodun Jeyifo has passed on.
The foremost Nigerian literary critic died weeks after he celebrated hi s 80th birthday.
The President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), Professor Andrew Haruna, announced his passing in a statement on Wednesday.
“The President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Professor Andrew Haruna, FNAL, regrets to announce the death of Professor Emeritus Biodun Jeyifo, FNAL, which occurred today, 11th of February, 2026,” the statement read.
Popularly known as Professor BJ, Jeyifo had a distinguished academic career at the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, before relocating abroad. He later held dual academic appointments at Cornell University and Harvard University in the United States.
He was widely respected for his scholarship in African literature and drama, as well as for his work in Marxist literary criticism. Over the decades, he was regarded as one of Africa’s most influential voices in postcolonial studies.
“May his gentle soul rest in peace, and may God comfort the family he left behind,” Professor Haruna added.
