A Tribute to Comrade Biodun Jeyifo (BJ); Reflections by Chido Onumah

I had the privilege of knowing Comrade BJ for over thirty years. Before we met, I had heard many stories about him - from his role as the president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which is part of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), to his literary and intellectual achievements. Most importantly, his unwavering commitment to a just and humane society stood out, a sentiment I learned from his close ally, Comrade Edwin (Eddie) Madunagu, who has been my mentor.

Comrade Biodun Jeyifo, who is set to be buried on Wednesday, March 4, in Ibadan, was a multifaceted individual: a top student, a professor emeritus of English at Cornell University, a professor emeritus of Comparative Literature at Harvard University, a journalist, an author, a literary critic, the former president of ASUU, a labor activist, and a revolutionary leader of the Board of Trustees/Advisers for the Socialist Library of Nigeria (SOLAR) based in Calabar, Cross River State.

Nearly two months ago, on January 5, friends, fellow scholars, students, and admirers convened at the Agip Recital Hall of the Music Society of Nigeria (MUSON) Centre in Lagos to celebrate Comrade BJ’s 80th birthday. This occasion featured a lecture by his former student, Priyamvada Gopal, a professor of Post-Colonial Studies at the University of Cambridge, focusing on the theme: “Who Is Afraid of Decolonization? Pedagogy, Curriculum and Decolonization: Then and Now,” reflecting BJ’s lifelong pursuits and struggles. This event was a fitting tribute to a man who greatly impacted the academic world and was organized by the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), marking Comrade BJ’s final public appearance.

I can’t express how fortunate I felt to attend. Due to scheduling conflicts and flight challenges during the festive season, my travel had been complicated. I landed in Lagos around 2:00 a.m. on January 5, and after checking into my hotel around 3:30 a.m., I had only a short time before heading to the MUSON Centre. My intention was to have an early discussion with Comrade BJ about official matters concerning the Socialist Library and Archives, of which he was the board chair. Unfortunately, he was too engaged for such discussions.

The Comrade BJ I encountered was lively and exuberant, a stark contrast to the frail version I had seen a year prior at another WSCIJ event celebrating Professor Wole Soyinka’s 90th birthday. During the birthday gathering, he enthusiastically greeted guests, took pictures, and expressed joy at the turnout to celebrate his milestone. His vitality was palpable when he was called to speak at the end of the event, embodying a sense of fulfillment and pleasure. I recollect a humorous exchange in late December 2025, where I joked about welcoming him back to Nigeria and wishing him a happy birthday in advance. His response, characteristically humorous, was, “God forbid!” followed by three yawning face emojis, reflective of his usual wit. His 80th birthday celebration was deeply meaningful, especially considering his long history of health challenges. His joy during this celebration felt like a culmination of years of struggle—both personal and collective—highlighting the persistence of hope amidst difficulties.

I was introduced to Comrade BJ through Comrade Eddie in the late 80s and early 90s. The Guardian newspaper, where Eddie was on the editorial board, served as my second home. I would spend hours there, reading and observing notable figures submit their opinions. It was on one such visit that I first met Comrade BJ, who had recently returned from teaching in the United States. I was captivated by his humble demeanor, which belied his vast influence in both Nigerian and global intellectual and literary arenas.

Beyond his journalism and writing, I learned a great deal about Comrade BJ’s significant role in the pursuit of a more equitable society. His and his comrades' contributions to the Nigerian student movement post-Civil War were vital, engaging in revolutionary education for peasants across various regions in Southwest Nigeria, participating in pivotal protests like the ‘Ali Must Go’ movement in 1978, and actively catalyzing the radicalization of ASUU in the early 1980s.

On February 22, a distinguished historian and host of The Toyin Falola Interviews facilitated a rich panel discussion featuring former students and colleagues of Comrade BJ. Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo, who was taught by BJ at Cornell, noted the discipline and rigor that BJ infused into his teachings. I remarked on his undeterred consistency despite his age and circumstances.

A decade earlier, Professor Dan Izevbaye had praised BJ in his tribute for his steadfast intellectual activism. True to form, Comrade BJ never regarded such accolades as accomplishments. He modestly attributed his consistency to observing the commitment of others within the Nigerian Left. While many might struggle to maintain such dedication, Comrade BJ was exceptional in linking his scholarly work to the advancement of the oppressed right until the end.

As I conclude this tribute, I’d like to highlight two significant contributions made by Comrade BJ that illustrated his fusion of theory and practice. In 2006, he supported the assembly of a collection of Comrade Eddie’s essays as a birthday gift, leading to the publication of the book, Understanding Nigeria and the New Imperialism: Essays 2000-2006, which critiqued the assumptions fueling the ‘international community’. Comrade BJ penned the foreword, a notable piece I highly recommend. Recent years saw him actively co-founding SOLAR, aimed at preserving crucial writings and documents pertaining to the struggles faced by workers and progressive movements. This initiative evolved from the combined archives of Edwin and Bene Madunagu, reflecting their lifelong partnership.

His role as SOLAR’s chair stemmed from personal losses, like the deterioration of his own collections, but more importantly, from his commitment to fostering the revolutionary spirit through such lasting institutions. When SOLAR faced sustainability issues three years ago, Comrade BJ remarkably pledged the earnings from a book on Professor Wole Soyinka to aid its operations. His initiative has enabled SOLAR not only to archive but begin digitizing valuable materials, many of which exist solely in physical formats, thus, at risk of natural decay.

SOLAR embodies the historical struggle for social justice and socialist thought, preserving education materials vital for current and future activists. It serves as a living legacy, ensuring that the lessons learned from countless struggles are not lost but instead made accessible.

During his 80th birthday celebration, Comrade BJ seemed to convey a farewell. Overcome with emotion, he expressed a desire to engage in an extensive series of interviews to share his narrative. What resonated from his words was a vision of a new future for Nigeria and the world, suggesting a need for cooperation over competition and advocating for a restructuring of wealth to mitigate inequality. Not many at this stage of life could articulate such profound aspirations in such a straightforward manner.

Chido Onumah is the Coordinator of the Socialist Library and Archives (SOLAR) and the author of We Are All Biafrans, among other works.