In December 1987, students at the University of Ife gathered not in protest, but in profound appreciation for a beloved professor whose departure marked the end of an era. Dr. Biodun Jeyifo—affectionately known as BJ—had touched countless lives through his extraordinary dedication to teaching and scholarship.

What emerged from conversations with these devoted students was the portrait of an exceptional educator whose influence would span continents and generations. BJ's academic journey began brilliantly at the University of Ibadan, where he earned a rare First Class degree in English while simultaneously acting on Africa's first television station and writing professionally to support himself—early signs of his remarkable versatility and work ethic.

After completing his PhD in dramatic literature at New York University in 1975, BJ returned to Nigeria, where he spent over a decade nurturing young minds at the University of Ife. His teaching style was legendary: bespectacled, intense, and deeply engaged, he would patiently explain complex literary concepts, weaving together fascinating stories and ideas to make subtlety and ambiguity accessible to all students.

Though university politics eventually led to his departure from Ife, this transition opened doors to an even broader sphere of influence. The book that sparked his resignation—a comprehensive study of Wole Soyinka commissioned by Cambridge University Press—ultimately won the prestigious American Library Association prize for outstanding academic text in 2005. Far from being defeated, BJ transformed adversity into academic triumph.

His subsequent career flourished internationally, with teaching positions at prestigious institutions including Cornell University, Harvard University, Oberlin College, and universities in Beijing and Berlin. At each stop, BJ created more than just students—he cultivated critical thinkers and future scholars who now hold their own across various fields.

BJ's scholarly contributions have been invaluable to African literature studies. His rigorous yet lyrical prose brought new insights into the works of literary giants like Wole Soyinka and Chinua Achebe. He edited important collections and anthologies, including the Norton anthology of Modern African Drama, making African literature more accessible to global audiences.

In 2018, BJ's extraordinary contributions came full circle when Obafemi Awolowo University (formerly University of Ife) conferred upon him an honorary Doctor of Letters—a beautiful recognition from the institution where he had once inspired so many.

Now in retirement, BJ continues his intellectual journey, working on his long-awaited memoir. His story reminds us that true educators never really retire; they simply find new ways to share wisdom and inspire others.

Professor Jeyifo's legacy demonstrates that passionate, humanizing pedagogy creates ripples that extend far beyond classroom walls. The students who gathered with "long faces" in 1987 weren't just mourning a departure—they were celebrating a teacher who had fundamentally changed how they saw literature, learning, and life itself.