Ayo Bamgbose


Ayọ̀ Bámgbósé is an academic linguist, the first professor of Linguistics in Nigeria. He has made contributions to education and linguistics, achieving recognition in form of honours and election to offices in professional bodies.

Early life and education

Bamgbose was born in Odopotu, near Ijebu Ode in Ogun State of Nigeria in 1932. His father, Rev. Bamgbose, was a community leader of Odopotu, who was born into a prominent traditional Egúngún family. After primary education Bamgbose was admitted, in 1948, into St. Andrew's College. He qualified as a grade two teacher in 1951. He then gained admission into University of Ibadan, affiliated with the University of London. He graduated with a high second class upper division B.A. English degree of the University of London in the year 1960. He proceeded to the University of Edinburgh where he earned a diploma in general linguistics in 1961 and his PhD in 1963 with the thesis A Study of Structures and Classes in the Grammar of Modern Yoruba.
He joined the staff of the University of Ibadan in 1963 as a Lecturer, rising quickly to the grade of Senior Lecturer in 1966 and to Professor in 1968. On retirement from the University, he was honoured with the title of Professor Emeritus.
The core of Bamgbose's contribution to knowledge is his work on the structure of Yoruba language. Among his twenty-one books, Grammar of Yoruba remains a classic in the application of modern linguistics to Yoruba. Equally significant is Fonologi ati Girama Yoruba which tackles the problem of linguistic metalanguage of Yoruba students. His versatility is evident in Orthographies of Nigerian Languages , Language and the Nation, and Language and Exclusion. Bamgbose also wrote over 130 papers or chapters in books.

Honours and Accomplishments

In 1984, Professor Bamgbose became the first African linguist to be conferred honorary membership of the Linguistic Society of America. In 2000, he was elected as the first African president of the International Association of World Englishes. In 2003, he was elected the 2nd Vice-President of the Permanent International Committee of Linguists, the first time an African linguist has been so honoured. In 2009, he was elected Foundation President of the Assembly of Academicians of the African Academy of Languages. He is also a member of the executive committee of the Nigerian Academy of Letters of which he is the foundation member. He was the sole recipient of the Nigerian National Order of Merit in 1990.

Notable Visiting Appointments