1. Samuel Ajayi Crowther was born in Osogun close to Iseyin in present Oyo State, Nigeria.

2. He was captured at about age 12 in 1821 along with his mother and toddler brother and other family members, along with his entire village.

3. He was the first African Anglican bishop in Nigeria.

4. He was sold to Portuguese slave traders.

5. However, before his slave-ship left port, it was boarded by a British Royal Navy ship under the command of Captain Henry Leeke during Slave Trade Abolition, and Crowther was taken to Freetown, Sierra Leone, where he was released.

6. Ajayi's mother was a descendant of Alaafin Abiodun.

7. While in Sierra Leone Crowther was cared for by the Anglican Church Missionary Society and was taught English.

8. He converted to Christianity in Sierra Leon and was on 1th December 1825 baptized.

9. He named himself after the Vicar of Christ Church, Newgate, London- Samuel Crowther, who was one of the pioneers of the Church Missionary Society (CMS).

10. Ajayi was baptized by John Raban.

11. While in Freetown, Crowther became interested in languages.

12. In 1826 he was taken to England to attend St Mary's Church in Islington and the church's school.

13. He returned to Freetown in 1827 and attended, as the first student to be enrolled, the newly opened Fourah Bay College, an Anglican missionary school, where his interest in language found him studying Latin and Greek but also Temne. After completing his studies he began teaching at the school.

14. He married a schoolmistress, Asano (i.e. Hassana; she was formerly Muslim), baptised Susan. She was also rescued from the Portuguese slave ship that originally brought Crowther to Sierra Leone, and had also converted to Christianity.

15. Their several children included Dandeson Coates Crowther, archdeacon of the Niger Delta. Crowther was father-in-law to Thomas Babington Macaulay, a junior associate, who married Crowther's 2nd daughter (Abigail Crowther). Crowther's grandson Herbert Macaulay (Thomas Babington Macaulay and Abigail Crowther's son) became one of the first Nigerian nationalists and played an important role in ending British colonial rule in Nigeria.

16. Crowther was also a close associate and friend of Captain James Pinson Labulo Davies, an influential politician, mariner, philanthropist and industrialist in colonial Lagos. Both men collaborated on a couple of Lagos social initiatives such as the opening of The Academy (a social and cultural center for public enlightenment) on 24 October 1866 with Crowther as the 1st patron and Captain J.P.L Davies as 1st president.

17. Crowther was selected to accompany the missionary James Schön on the Niger expedition of 1841.

18. Together with Schön, he was expected to learn Hausa for use on the expedition. The goal of the expedition was to spread commerce, teach agricultural techniques, spread Christianity, and help end the slave trade.

19. Following the expedition, Crowther was recalled to England, where he was trained as a minister and ordained by the Bishop of London. This after Schön had written to the Church Missionary Society noting Crowther's usefulness and ability on the expedition, recommending them to prepare him for ordination.

20. He returned to Africa in 1843 and with Henry Townsend, opened a mission in Abeokuta, in today's Ogun State, Nigeria.

21. Crowther began translating the Bible into the Yoruba language and compiling a Yoruba dictionary.

22. In 1843, a grammar book which he started working on during the Niger expedition was published; and a Yoruba version of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer followed later. Crowther also compiled A vocabulary of the Yoruba language,[12]including a large number of local proverbs, published in London in 1852.

23. He also began codifying other languages. Following the British Niger Expeditions of 1854 and 1857, Crowther, assisted by a young Igbo interpreter named Simon Jonas, produced a primer for the Igbo language in 1857, another for the Nupe language in 1860, and a full grammar and vocabulary of Nupe in 1864.

24. In 1864, Crowther was ordained as the first African bishop of the Anglican Church; he was consecrated a bishop on St Peter's day 1864, by Charles Longley, Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral.
25. He later received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the University of Oxford.

26. Crowther was on the island of Madeira in the Atlantic Ocean west of Morocco for a conference. He was accompanied by his son, Dandeson, an archdeacon, on church business in March 1881.

27. Crowther's attention was directed more and more to languages other than Yoruba, but he continued to supervise the translation of the Yoruba Bible (Bibeli Mimọ), which was completed in the mid-1880s, a few years before his death.

28. Crowther is celebrated with a feast on the liturgical calendar of some Anglican churches, including the Episcopal Church (United States) and the Church of Nigeria, on 31 December every yeaar.

29. Crowther died of a stroke, in Lagos, on 31 December 1891[5][16] and was buried at Ajele Cemetery in Lagos.

30. In 1971 the Lagos State Government under Mobolaji Johnson desired to use the site of Ajele Cemetery for new government offices and issued notices to families of the deceased. Seth Kale, Anglican Bishop of Lagos, representing the Anglican community and Crowther's family delayed exhumation and reburial until 1976 when an elaborate ceremony was held at a new burial site along with a cenotaph at Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos.

PS
Thanks for reading. Watch out for interesting things about Moses Orimolade soonest.

LifeQuest

Seun

-By the age of 10 or thereabouts, he had people working for him, he was an entrepreneur or something like that.

- He was from the Obatala priesthood although unfortunately, his mum, an Obatala priestess, was sold into slavery but he was able to redeem her (I'll doublecheck this story)

- He and his relatives were captured in the Oyo region, but he later found his mother, uncle and sisters in Abeokuta after his return to Nigeria

-His father survived the raid that brought Samuel Ajayi Crowther into slavery, however, he (his father) was captured in another raid later on

-His mother was one of his first Christian converts in 1848.

nairalandposter:
-By the age of 10 or thereabouts, he had people working for him, he was an entrepreneur or something like that.

- He was from the Obatala priesthood although unfortunately, his mum, an Obatala priestess, was sold into slavery but he was able to redeem her (I'll doublecheck this story)

- He and his relatives were captured in the Oyo region, but he later found his mother, uncle and sisters in Abeokuta after his return to Nigeria

-His father survived the raid that brought Samuel Ajayi Crowther into slavery, however, he (his father) was captured in another raid later on

-His mother was one of his first Christian converts in 1848.

He was a great man

nairalandposter:
-By the age of 10 or thereabouts, he had people working for him, he was an entrepreneur or something like that.

- He was from the Obatala priesthood although unfortunately, his mum, an Obatala priestess, was sold into slavery but he was able to redeem her (I'll doublecheck this story)

- He and his relatives were captured in the Oyo region, but he later found his mother, uncle and sisters in Abeokuta after his return to Nigeria

-His father survived the raid that brought Samuel Ajayi Crowther into slavery, however, he (his father) was captured in another raid later on

-His mother was one of his first Christian converts in 1848.

Even if I feel bittered about some wrong information in his misinterpretation of characters inside the Bible,still I recognised the fact that Rev. Samuel Ajayi Crowther is a Legend.

Olu317:


Even if I feel bittered about some wrong information in his misinterpretation of characters inside the Bible,still I recognised the fact that Rev. Samuel Ajayi Crowther is a Legend.

Can you cite examples for us learn new things?

LifeQuest:


Can you cite examples for us learn new things?

It will derail the purpose of the celebration of this legendary personality.Perhaps, another thread on him will make me justify my point about his error on castigation of Yoruba religion, tradition,names and coinage of new Yoruba language from the zealous Yoruba Christians perspective through some lexicon of Oyo dialect and accent.

Olu317:
It will derail the purpose of the celebration of this legendary personality.Perhaps, another thread on him will make me justify my point about his error on castigation of Yoruba religion, tradition,names and coinage of new Yoruba language from the zealous Yoruba Christians perspective through some lexicon of Oyo dialect and accent.

Possibly Oyos were some of the biggest slave traders in Yorubaland, hence the adoption of Oyo language as the central standard Yoruba was necessary to curtail the trade in the southwest. Just guessing.

In addition, Oyo is northern Yoruba, thus the link or gateway between northern Nigeria and other parts of Yorubaland.

The eastern Yoruba dialects are likely to be the oldest Yoruba, just not the standard one.

nairalandposter:


Possibly Oyos were some of the biggest slave traders in Yorubaland, hence the adoption of Oyo language as the central standard Yoruba was necessary to curtail the trade in the southwest. Just guessing.

In addition, Oyo is northern Yoruba, thus the link or gateway between northern Nigeria and other parts of Yorubaland.

The eastern Yoruba dialects are likely to be the oldest Yoruba, just not the standard one.

Oyo is actually the biggest slave trader amongst the Yorubas and the slaves aren't Yoruba stock because we are seen as Orishas but from Dahomey,Ashanti, Hausas, Tapas etc were their targets until the collapse of Oyo,which led to capture of Yorubas known as Anago,Ketus,Aku people.

On the oldest language, Eastern Yoruba dialect is the oldest and not Northern Yoruba language. Infact, the Northern Yoruba is a drift away from the original Yoruba language which is spoken in Western, Eastern, Central, and partly Northern Yoruba enclave. It is on record that North West Yoruba(NWY)is the dialect being used in school which is slightly different from the majority of the Yoruba dialects because it didn't mingle with non Yoruba as did Oyo dialect. This doesn't mean Yoruba language isnt intelligible amongst all the speakers.

Olu317:


Oyo is actually the biggest slave trader amongst the Yorubas and the slaves aren't Yoruba stock

The slaves were Yoruba. In fact, at one point before abolition, women were the primary slaves traded, possibly because the men had been depleted through slavery or gone into exile. Just guessing. Could also be the men were too lazy or troublesome thus the demand for them wasn't as high.

because we are seen as Orishas but from Dahomey,Ashanti, Hausas, Tapas etc were their targets until the collapse of Oyo,which led to capture of Yorubas known as Anago,Ketus,Aku people.

Different phase.

On the oldest language, Eastern Yoruba dialect is the oldest and not Northern Yoruba language. Infact, the Northern Yoruba is a drift away from the original Yoruba language which is spoken in Western, Eastern, Central, and partly Northern Yoruba enclave. It is on record that North West Yoruba(NWY)is the dialect being used in school which is slightly different from the majority of the Yoruba dialects because it didn't mingle with non Yoruba as did Oyo dialect. This doesn't mean Yoruba language isnt intelligible amongst all the speakers.

Yes, eastern Yoruba seems to be the oldest Yoruba dialect.

nairalandposter:


The slaves were Yoruba. In fact, at one point before abolition, women were the primary slaves traded, possibly because the men had been depleted through slavery or gone into exile. Just guessing. Could also be the men were too lazy or troublesome thus the demand for them wasn't as high.


Different phase.





Yes, eastern Yoruba seems to be the oldest Yoruba dialect.

No, the Yoruba didn't sell themselves at any time in the past until Oyo became destroyed at her first Location in Oyo Ile. The Yoruba kings or Duke killed a rebel ,imprison such culprits, or banished such people if the sin is beyond redemption . Even, it is on record that one of the Sultan complained bitterly about the reigning Alafin for the sale of Northerner before Ilorin rebelled under Afonja to destroy Oyo Ile, of the sale of his citizens to Christains. After the fall of Oyo ,raiding and pillaging in Yoruba land ensued through the West from Dahomey and Northern part from Yoruba (Muslims) ,Hausa oriented in yoruba land men who were servants to Yoruba dignitaries,Arab settlers who had intermarried with Yoruba people,Tapas who had married into Yoruba and East throrugh Bini group but all these people were quashed after 1840

In Yoruba history there is no part of Yoruba that had depletion of men except when there were invasion which men and women alike flee their town. In fact, Yoruba men married women in geometric rate in that era because of their wealth . For instance , a king, warrior, prince,chief, rich man,priest who can marry (not all priest can marry in Yoruba tradition etc did marry into different ethnicity on arrival to Nigeria and when they marry,some of the wife's family become conscripted into Yoruba family. Yoruba kindred in their different village know who is who among themselves.

Nigerians or Africans (Yorubas included) cant really point to a time when there was no slave trade, before it was forcefully stopped in the 19th century.



As per rebel, Yorubas generally are anarchists, meaning they do not support or respect any leadership/govt besides the ones they side with on a personal/general level, so the concept does not apply although the ensuing situations do.

The wars and slave trade affected the men greatly, but after the civil wars and with some semblance of peace, they rebuilt from the ruins.

You could be right about the marriage stuff, I dont know anything about that but there are some taboos regarding marriage which are usually taken very seriously.

[quote author=nairalandposter post=83446012]Nigerians or Africans (Yorubas included) cant really point to a time when there was no slave trade, before it was forcefully stopped in the 19th century.



Y[b]orubas generally are anarchists, meaning they do not support or respect any leadership/govt besides the ones they side with on a personal/general level, so the concept does not apply although the ensuing situations do.[/b]

The wars and slave trade affected the men greatly, but after the civil wars and with some semblance of peace, they rebuilt from the ruins.

You could be right about the marriage stuff, I don't know anything about that but there are some taboos regarding marriage which are usually taken very seriously.[/quote1]

I bet to disagree on Yorubas being a 'rebel or Anarchist ' in that sense.

The Yoruba race right from inception are mostly objective and are ready to showcase their grievances if the kings or rulers were performing below expectations. The typical Yoruba man don't care much about where the King come from or who his mother was? (because of IFA). In as much as the King performs up to expectations, then, the King will have their supports until the he seemed derailed (Sango comes to mind), hence the rapid development of the Yoruba race. You can likened the British civilization to that of the Yorubas.

One of the greatest mistakes our fathers made after receiving the western education is discrediting our ancestors knowledge. Especially the knowledge of IFA. Imagine just throwing the experience and knowledge that made our ancestors to survive uncharted region with thick forests that was invested with all kinds of wild animals and even down to mosquitoes? They, not only, survived the continent, that was deemed 'hell or dark' by other races due to associated deaths and destruction, But our forefathers also flourish and establish Kingdoms and empire there-in

What we supposed to have done is build on the knowledge and develop it further, more like the Japanese and the Chinese, but our dilly dally, complex, cum the integration with people of variant antagonizing values, believe and cultures all together drags our race backward.

Even the British respect the Yorubas knowledge and advancement. Including the Kingship system they met on ground, which is more or less like theirs. There are numerous write ups regarding this.

Back to the discussion, You can't force a typical Yoruba man to follow you blindly. No, Yorubas are generally and mostly objective in their dealings, just like the British.

The concurrent failure of our fathers during the era of returnee captured Yorubas brought the discrimination against Yoruba tradition because of their preference of Western's Education over the Yoruba tradition of Ifaodu and Ela worship. This Yoruba progenitor Ebora's identity was the one identified as ‘Abari', which is, one who accompany. Interestingly, the Yoruba ancestors were the descendants of this great man because the pictograms of the Semitic inscription correspond with this fact. To buttress this point, God in Hebrew as is written as Ella and Arabic's Muslim religion as Allah (God). The Arabic's religion grew out of Yoruba's which is from Hebrew's. And in today's world, Yoruba's Ela(Elu orogbo) is whom the Christianity worship till today. Unfortunately, around 1800s Yoruba Christian missionary did harmed the Yoruba language by condemning incantation and uplifting prayer .

These people see evil in everything Yoruba as it relates to shẹ́bọ and accept the Hebrew's Zebah as a way of life of the ancient people of God in the Bible.These two word actually mean sacrifice in both Hebrew and Yoruba lexicon. Can you see, how these Yoruba scholars failed to understudied Yoruba religion? They did all these evil against themselves because of how they look at Yoruba tradition. Funnily enough, these people didn't realise that ‘Esu' is an Hebrew's ‘Esua' word from ancient time. And at the peak of the name, it is known in Yoruba's as/Adamo Orisha The same way YHWH is ‘Iwa' , if it phonetically transliterated. Insted of these people to do seious study than antagonising but they decided to discredit the same people whose ancestors wrote the scripture that became known as the Bible in today's world.

Inserting satan into every topic about Yoruba, does not end the discussion.

Olu317:
The concurrent failure of our fathers during the era of returnee captured Yorubas brought the discrimination against Yoruba tradition because of their preference of Western's Education over the Yoruba tradition of Ifaodu and Ela worship. This Yoruba progenitor Ebora's identity was the one identified as ‘Abari', which is, one who accompany. Interestingly, the Yoruba ancestors were the descendants of this great man because the pictograms of the Semitic inscription correspond with this fact. To buttress this point, God in Hebrew as is written as Ella and Arabic's Muslim religion as Allah (God). The Arabic's religion grew out of Yoruba's which is from Hebrew's. And in today's world, Yoruba's Ela(Elu orogbo) is whom the Christianity worship till today. Unfortunately, around 1800s Yoruba Christian missionary did harmed the Yoruba language by condemning incantation and uplifting prayer .

These people see evil in everything Yoruba as it relates to shẹ́bọ and accept the Hebrew's Zebah as a way of life of the ancient people of God in the Bible.These two word actually mean sacrifice in both Hebrew and Yoruba lexicon. Can you see, how these Yoruba scholars failed to understudied Yoruba religion? They did all these evil against themselves because of how they look at Yoruba tradition. Funnily enough, these people didn't realise that ‘Esu' is an Hebrew's ‘Esua' word from ancient time. And at the peak of the name, it is known in Yoruba's as/Adamo Orisha The same way YHWH is ‘Iwa' , if it phonetically transliterated. Insted of these people to do seious study than antagonising but they decided to discredit the same people whose ancestors wrote the scripture that became known as the Bible in today's world.

Can I agree with you, on this? I doubt except otherwise convinced by convincing literature citations.

LifeQuest:


Can I agree with you, on this? I doubt except otherwise convinced by convincing literature citations.

You don't need to agreew with me. Though, you can endure for some years till my book is on the stall and other places for your perusal. After all, 1604-1611 , King James of England,out of zealousness,employed some people to understudy the Classic Hebrew language through the precept knowledge in Greek,Roman, Latin to English transliteration and Phonetic spellings as well as generated cognate meaning. And all citations you demanded will be found in my book at this right time of publication. In the meantime, you can verify all I have posited on this platform anywhere in the world.


Cheers.

Thank you for this piece. That's Yoruba. Even in Slavery, Ajai emerged a Star, a Tsunami and a Dove proving Him the Son of Olodumare. He must have reincarnated as Oluwaseun!!!