Ever wondered where the phrase 'Ajala the traveler' came from? | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Wednesday 20 May 2015

Ever wondered where the phrase 'Ajala the traveler' came from?

He was a Nigerian called Moshood Adisi Olabisi Ajala. He was a renowned globe-trotter, socialite and free lance journalist, who was described in many Nigerian songs as Africa's greatest traveler. He was born in Ghana, then moved to Nigeria to school and went to the US at age 18 where he started his travels in the 50s. He supposedly went to 87 countries in six years and mostly on his bicycle. Hear Ajala in his own words after the cut...


Excerpt from his book
From America I went to Canada (where I spent a couple of years) and later on to Britain. In 1957 I began my one-man Odyssey around the world. It is still going on as I write this in Sydney, Australia. In nearly all the eighty-seven countries I have visited during the course of my six-year jaunt around the world (ranging from North America to Eastern and Western Europe, through Africa and Asia and as far east as Korea, Indonesia and Australia), I have observed many different political regimes both in democratic and communist states. I have met with brutality and racial intolerance. I have felt the bitter evil of man's inhumanity to man, and have marbled at the goodness of the humane-hearted"
at 5/20/2015 02:37:00 pm

74 comments:

  1. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 14:38

    interesting

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown20 May 2015 at 17:41

      God bless him for putting Nigeria name in history. Thumbs up to him.

      Delete
  2. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 14:38

    i don see ham

    ReplyDelete
  3. Unknown20 May 2015 at 14:41

    I see........................








    55,Adeniran ogunsanya street,surulere..............apataadedotun@gmail.com






    APATA...............ROCK OF AGES

    ReplyDelete
  4. Unknown20 May 2015 at 14:43

    Thanks for the history lecture.

    ReplyDelete
  5. @wizkidayo Fanatic20 May 2015 at 14:44

    Its ok..Yagga tho'....latest discovery

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  6. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 14:48

    Ajala travel all over the world....obey

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  7. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 14:49

    AJALA Travelled all over the world....Ebenezer Obey!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Unknown20 May 2015 at 14:49

    non of my business

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 17:32

      That's why u don't know anything!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 23:15

      Yes! I agree with u, divine is a dumb retard

      Delete
  9. Unknown20 May 2015 at 14:49

    Great man.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Unknown20 May 2015 at 14:50

    Okay
    ...NA ZO

    ReplyDelete
  11. andre kelvin20 May 2015 at 14:50

    Noted

    ReplyDelete
  12. ary20 May 2015 at 14:51

    Wow, how weren't we taught this in school?! This is history, this ought to be inculcated in the school curriculum. Nigerian schools need more Nigerian history.

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  13. tomisyn20 May 2015 at 14:53

    Lool he's the reason they laugh my surname

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  14. Unknown20 May 2015 at 14:53

    Woooooooow! He has carved his name in indelible mark. Linda take note!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Unknown20 May 2015 at 14:53

    Woooooooow! He has carved his name in indelible mark. Linda take note!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 14:54

    Linda!!!! haba!! do some digging!! what happened to Ajala?? did he ever marry?? when did he die?? most people have the information you posted ke.... Which kin lazy work be dis nah???

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 14:54

    Soooo touching...little angel God bless u. am so moved to tears

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 15:01

    This is sad, real sad. As I type this, I see tear drops dropping on my laps,
    why must our people die like this? why? Why must our sick die senseless
    deaths, why?
    It really heart wrecking because thousands of unsung and unknown Nigerians die
    by the minute in similar or worst circumstances.

    Can you imagine Bisi Ajala dying like a homeless dog? Oh, Bisi Ajala!!
    Ebenezer Obey composed an "owambe" music for him in the 70's. I can just
    recall the lyrics as, " Ajala travels all over the world, Ajala travels all
    over the world, Ajala travels, Ajala travels, Ajala travel all over the
    world...."

    And where was this man's many children and family? No where to be found. What
    a pity! How many married folks cry to the LORD every second for children? How
    many marriages have been dissolved because of no children? May God save our
    families and our children to be there for us at old age.

    Folks, it is news like this that breaks my heart for Nigeria and Nigerians.
    How come must of Nigerians have become "olowo aano" ( Yesterday's Rich folks)?
    How come majority of Nigerians have lived the better parts of their earthly
    existence already? How come the 60's, 70's have been better than the 90's. I
    weep for Nigeria.

    Is there hope for that country? Let's wait till next weekend for answers.

    SamChuks.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 15:03


    Wow!

    Ajala travelled all over the world times- Ebenezer Obey Fabiyi.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Unknown20 May 2015 at 15:04

    Wow! So he ws d popular Ajala travelled all over d world by Obey, indeed in ws a gr8 man

    ReplyDelete
  21. Unknown20 May 2015 at 15:04

    a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said..
    .
    This guy na really traveller no doubt....
    .
    .
    ***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***

    ReplyDelete
  22. Jules20 May 2015 at 15:04

    Ajala travelled all over the world...

    ReplyDelete
  23. Gani Bello20 May 2015 at 15:04

    Thank you very much Linda, I've been searching for this information for a very long time.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 15:04

    yea I remember alala travel all over the world ajala travel ajalatravel ajala travel all over the world in ebenizer obeys voice loved the song when I was small now I know its not just folks

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  25. Unknown20 May 2015 at 15:08

    I ve got to get his Book ASAP.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Unknown20 May 2015 at 15:08

    non of my business

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 15:08

    S/Out to the Godfather of trekkers,u can't touch dis

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 15:09

    Waw I Love this. #Lobatan

    ReplyDelete
  29. Deviant20 May 2015 at 15:09

    Ori awon oyinbo ko pe!Is it my precious native costume that they are describing as 'shroud like'?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous21 May 2015 at 07:19

      lol. can u imagine? And did u see linda subtly imply he was 'ghanian'. I have laff die. Pls yooba guys shld start wearing more of this style again. I see it, butits few & far between. Its less formal dn d agbada & sexy if u have nice slightly muscular arms.**wink**

      Delete
  30. Unknown20 May 2015 at 15:10

    That is 'Baba Dante'. A great man.

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  31. Unknown20 May 2015 at 15:13

    Ajala travel all over the world , Ajala travel all over the world, Ajala travel , Ajala travel, Ajala travel all over the worldddddddddd

    ReplyDelete
  32. Unknown20 May 2015 at 15:14

    Good for him

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  33. Unknown20 May 2015 at 15:17

    So all these trekkers have a mentor

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  34. Unknown20 May 2015 at 15:19

    Wow! Wht a profound, and lovely words frm him "I have felt the bitter evil of man's inhumanity to man, and have marbled at the goodness of the humane-hearted".

    ReplyDelete
  35. Unknown20 May 2015 at 15:21

    No...I've nt thought of that though.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 15:26

    Ajalas are known to be globe trotters. It's is in their DNA to spread and multiply. An amazing dynasty.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 15:26

    Yoruba ronu............

    ReplyDelete
  38. Unknown20 May 2015 at 15:40

    *travelled

    ReplyDelete
  39. NaijaDeltaBabe20 May 2015 at 15:44

    Okay

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  40. NaijaDeltaBabe20 May 2015 at 15:45

    Okay

    ReplyDelete
  41. Chop Chop20 May 2015 at 15:51

    Yes o... "Ajala traveled all over the world"

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  42. Ethel20 May 2015 at 15:58

    Nice one!

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  43. Unknown20 May 2015 at 15:59

    Nice adventurer. Where is he now? Where are his family? Text Fortune to 33020.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Darengg.20 May 2015 at 16:05

    wow! this is educative. wonder why people don't comment on instructive and educative piece such as this.

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  45. Unknown20 May 2015 at 16:06

    Thanks Aunty Linda, I have always wondered who He was. Now I know.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 16:13

    87 countries? Real Life Ajala! Hian...

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  47. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 16:16

    This is epic. God bless you linda. Picasovito@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. Unknown20 May 2015 at 16:23

    Ah! My fav saying to my frnds who travel a lot. Thanks Linda for this post, I grew up on d saying, never knew d man or his history. God bless u Linda nwa ikeji :)

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  49. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 16:36

    I remember you had a saucy commenter on this blog some years back called 'Ajalalala travels' or something like that. Wonder where he/she disappeared to?

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  50. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 16:41

    The free minded man.. someday I'd be free enough to have my own adventures

    Dopeblackboy%

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  51. Unknown20 May 2015 at 16:42

    Hmmmmmm

    ReplyDelete
  52. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 16:51

    Ebenezer Obey sang the song 'Ajala travelled all over the world' in the 70s. The man was stinking rich with money.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 17:24

    Film stars arranged a reception for him in Hollywood and he "will be a houseguest of movie actor Ronald Regan" ...who went on to become the President of the USA...Wow. Nigerians have been to places far and wide.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Unknown20 May 2015 at 18:08

    We need more of this inspirational historical piece. This is very educative and better off some insipid posts we c here daily. The young man was a hero, his comments revealed a man of substance and value for culture and humanity. Not like some jobless and depraved young ones today trekking all around town to secure themselves a cheap popularitya and u still c some confused leaders celebrating and rewarding such madness. I wonder what value and lessons generations to come will learn
    from such aimless adventure.

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  55. Unknown20 May 2015 at 18:49

    Ajala travels all ova d world

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  56. Unknown20 May 2015 at 18:57

    Glad to know

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  57. Lucasbalo20 May 2015 at 19:58

    I remembered him as a young toddler coming to our neighborhood in Lagos Island with his Toyota Crown car. He died years ago. He was a jolly good man and a ladies man. His nickname was Alhaji Soyoyo because he used to bleach his skin.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jostus is here..20 May 2015 at 22:14

      You've been brain wash to have believed he's the one.. Alhaji Soyoyo ko Alhaji Gay ni..

      Delete
  58. Mr 4720 May 2015 at 21:50

    So this is the man called Ajala, have known this man since God knows when. Still remember the ebenezer obey record

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  59. Anonymous20 May 2015 at 22:03

    No o! Olufemi Hodefe did not just called Ajala, "the young man". Thats a joke right?

    ReplyDelete
  60. Anonymous21 May 2015 at 04:23

    woooowwww amazing....Even Hollywood and Pres Regan hosted and honoured him.
    Why dont we appreciate and honour our own?why is this not part of our social studies and history curriculum in our schools? He must have had experiences which would contribute to moulding our youth positively?Instead they want to kill us with stories of Mungo Park and other European sojourners (some who had little or no positive contribution to Nigeria) whereas our own very Ajala is forgotten...
    We still suffer from neo colonialism...the opinion of the west continues to stand tall (even if sometimes its bullshit)....This is the Sad reality of Africa.

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  61. Anonymous21 May 2015 at 12:58

    Ride on papa...repping the ajalas from ghana

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  62. Subomi21 May 2015 at 17:38

    yeah been hearing that for long, thanks Lin.. educative, history lesson

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  63. Unknown22 May 2015 at 11:20

    yeah, i remember. We do sing the song till now.....Ajala travel all over the world.

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  64. Unknown22 May 2015 at 13:22

    and these idiots are trekking all over the place for no cause.

    smh

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  65. Unknown22 May 2015 at 17:51

    I remember this man very well stayed in the smae street in bariga adeniran street, died in 1999 I think sometime in Feb.. great individual but died a shame

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  66. Unknown25 August 2015 at 11:22

    This is not a picture of Ajala

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  67. Unknown26 December 2015 at 11:52

    ajala truly travells,a traveller of his own time

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  68. Osi M.4 September 2016 at 02:52

    I was a classmate of his son, Dante from his beautiful Australian wife at the Baptist Academy Lagos in the 70s. The older Ajala was a very flashy man debonair in his appearance and very popular. My friend Dante broke down when the Lagos Weekend newspaper carried a story of his father's affair with one Alhaja which led to the breakup of the marriage between his parents. He left us for Australia. I live in the US now .

    ReplyDelete

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the comment writers alone and does not reflect or represent the views of Linda Ikeji.

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