Nigerian Literary Scholar, Prof. Biodun Jeyifo, Dies at 80

A luminous epoch in literary scholarship and postcolonial studies has ended with the death of Emeritus Professor Biodun Jeyifo.

A Marxist literary critic, Jeyifo had decades of longing for and belonging to the academia in two separate settings-Nigeria and America- where he stood out as one of academia’s fecund literary scholars and critics. He was particularly one of Nigeria’s foremost literary eggheads.

He was 80 years old.

The President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), Professor Andrew Haruna, announced his passing in a statement on Wednesday.

Read the statement: “The President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Professor Andrew Haruna, FNAL, regrets to announce the death of Professor Emeritus Biodun Jeyifo, FNAL, which occurred today, 11th of February, 2026.

Popularly known as Professor BJ, Jeyifo had a distinguished academic career at the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, before relocating abroad.

:He later held dual academic appointments at Cornell University and Harvard University in the United States.

“He was widely respected for his scholarship in African literature and drama, as well as for his work in Marxist literary criticism.

“Over the decades, he was regarded as one of Africa’s most influential voices in postcolonial studies.

“On January 5, 2026, an international event was held in his honour at the MUSON Centre in Lagos to celebrate his 80th birthday, attracting scholars and admirers from across the globe.

“May his gentle soul rest in peace, and may God comfort the family he left behind.”