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Speaking after receiving the name, Brown encouraged Black Americans and other members of the African diaspora to visit Africa and learn more about their roots.
Boston Celtics star and NBA champion Jaylen Brown has visited Nigeria as part of a cultural trip and was given a traditional Yoruba name by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Brown arrived in Nigeria with members of his 7uice Foundation. The visit was aimed at promoting stronger cultural and social ties between people of African descent around the world and the African continent.
During a ceremony at the Ooni’s palace in Ile Ife, Osun State, on Monday, September 7, 2026, the monarch officially gave Brown the Yoruba name “Babatunde.”
The name means “the father has returned.” It is often used to represent a person’s return or reconnection to their family roots and heritage.
The ceremony highlighted Brown’s connection to Yoruba culture and the wider African heritage of people in the diaspora.
Speaking after receiving the name, Brown encouraged Black Americans and other members of the African diaspora to visit Africa and learn more about their roots.
The NBA star said such visits could help people reconnect with their history and better understand the culture and traditions of the continent.
Brown’s visit to Ile Ife is part of a growing interest among members of the African diaspora in reconnecting with Africa and exploring their ancestral heritage.
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