The Nigerian Academy of Letters has announced the death of Professor Emeritus Biodun Jeyifo, describing his passing as a profound loss to literary scholarship in Nigeria and beyond. He was 80.
The President of the academy, Andrew Haruna, disclosed the development in a statement on Wednesday, saying the distinguished scholar passed away on 11 February.
In its announcement, the academy reflected on Jeyifo’s decades-long association with the institution and his standing as one of Nigeria’s most accomplished literary critics.
A Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, he was widely respected for his scholarship, mentorship and contributions to intellectual life both at home and internationally.
Known to colleagues and students as “Professor BJ”, Jeyifo began his academic career at the then University of Ife, where he established himself as a formidable scholar of literature and criticism.
His influence later extended to the United States, where he held dual teaching appointments at Cornell University and Harvard University, further solidifying his global academic reputation.
The academy highlighted his status as one of the foremost authorities on Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka.
His seminal work, Wole Soyinka: Politics, Poetics and Postcolonialism, published by Cambridge University Press in 2004, earned international acclaim and multiple awards.
The book is often regarded as one of the most extensive and rigorous single-author studies in African postcolonial literary criticism.
Beyond Soyinka scholarship, Jeyifo’s intellectual reach spanned world Anglophone literature, cultural theory and postcolonial thought.
Colleagues frequently described his writing as both intellectually rigorous and accessible, noting his rare ability to combine analytical depth with clarity of expression.
In January, the academy joined scholars, writers and cultural figures at an international gathering held at the MUSON Centre in Lagos to mark his 80th birthday.
The event celebrated a lifetime of contributions to literary studies and recognised his enduring impact on generations of students and researchers.
Born on 5 January 1946, Jeyifo’s career traversed several decades of teaching, research and public engagement across Nigeria and the United States.
In announcing his death, the Nigerian Academy of Letters expressed condolences to his family and the academic community, describing his passing as a significant loss to literary scholarship in Nigeria and beyond.
