AJALA THE TRAVELLER

Moshood Adisa Olabisi Ajala also known as Olabisi Ajala or Ajala the traveler in the southwestern part of Nigeria as christened by Chief Commander Ebenezer Obey in his popular song titled “Around the world." Olabisi Ajala embarked on a world tour around 87 countries of the world and this earned him his fame.

Olabisi took his first ‘long’ journey from Chicago to Los Angeles, a journey of about 2,280 miles which he began on June 12th, 1952 and it took him approximately 28 days on his bicycle. He embarked on this journey to educate the townspeople about Nigeria and the advancement of the country. He stopped at a total of 11 cities during this journey, delivering lectures and throughout this tour, he wore traditional Nigerian attires. It is also noteworthy to state that Olabisi was jailed for 44 hours during this journey when the white YMCA refused him a room and called the police when he protested.

Born on 3rd April 1934 in Ghana to Nigerian parents who moved back to Nigeria when he was still a child, he was the 25th child born to his parents. In 1952, after completing his primary and secondary education, he was sent abroad to enroll in the pre-medicine school at the University of Chicago which he left to pursue Psychology at Roosevelt College (now Roosevelt University). Olabisi wanted to study medicine so that he could come back to Africa to “wage war on voodoo and other superstitions” He didn’t achieve this dream of becoming a Medical Doctor but he eventually attained a degree in Psychology from Columbia University.

Olabisi Ajala started his world tour on April 27, 1957, navigating the world on his scooter (Vespa) which took him through the 87 countries he visited. Some of the countries he visited include; India, the Soviet Union, the United Arab Republic, Iran, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Poland, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Turkey, Hong Kong, China and Australia. Olabisi Ajala met with several world leaders, some of whom included; Jawaharlal Nehru, Golda Meir, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Gamal Abdel Nasser, The Shah of Iran, and Nikita Khrushchev.

During the course of his tour, he earned a living through journalism, acting, and radio broadcasting. He was featured in “Witch Doctor” produced by 20th Century Fox movie studio and some other movies. In 1963, he published a book titled “An African Abroad” in which he spoke about his journey and the different cultures he experienced.

He has several children from so many women; he married some and he didn't get married to the others. His first child was from a nurse and he initially denied fathering the child before coming to terms with the fact. He married an American Model Aileen who later filed for divorce due to his infidelity; an allegation he said he couldn’t dispute. He got married again to a 19-year-old London radio-TV actress named Joan Simmons. 

Ajala died on February 2, 1999, after suffering paralysis from a stroke. To this day, Moshood Adisa Olabisi Ajala is still known as the most traveled man in Nigeria.

References

1.  "Ajala The Traveller: The Man And His Journeys". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2024.

2. ^ "Olabisi Ajala, the Traveller: Of Fame and Penury, By Femi Kehinde - Premium Times Opinion". 1 December 2018. Retrieved 15 February 2024.

3. ^ "The Story of Olabisi Ajala, The Popular Nigerian Traveller Who Toured The World On A Vespa". OldNaija. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2024.

4. ^ "Between fame and penury: Life and times of Olabisi Ajala- the traveller". Vanguard News. 17 December 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2024.

5. ^ "For the Record: THE STORY OF OLABISI AJALA, AFRICA'S MOST LEGENDARY TRAVELLER". PENPUSHING. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 18 February 2024.

6. ^ "Tourism: Ajala the greatest African Traveller of all times". ATQ News. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 18 February 2024