Femi Ajala is a son of the late famous Nigerian globetrotter, writer and socialite, Olabisi Ajala, popularly known as Ajala Travel. In this interview with OLUWAFEMI MORGAN, Femi offers more insight into his father’s personality
How will you describe him?
My memories of my father as a young boy are still quite vivid. He was always playful, fun to be with, funny and caring. I remember him as full of life and happy. Although he did seem quite busy with his work, always going somewhere or doing something. I loved him, he was my dad.
What’s your impression about his career as a writer and publicist?
My impression now looking back on dad’s career was that he was a very deep-thinking, caring writer and publicist. The way he approached a story always seemed to have a human perspective. He was always trying to truly understand what human emotions, impacts, thoughts and feelings lie behind a story.
What were his likes and dislikes?
He loved good movies, theatre and pretty much anything artistic. He loved politics and people. He loved dancing and loved playing practical jokes. He was very accepting of others, so I feel he disliked exclusion and or any form of racism
Did your mother tell you how she met him? What did she say?
We didn’t really talk about this, particularly as a young boy. I wasn’t interested in this. As I got older, it became more interesting and mum talks about this in her foreword to the new edition of ‘An African Abroad’. Mum said she saw a photo of a beaming Bisi on the front page of a Sydney newspaper in 1962, dressed in traditional Yoruba agbada sitting on a Vespa scooter.
She reached out to meet him as she was interested in teaching in a Baptist school in Nigeria. They met and had a whirlwind romance, marrying in a couple of months.
What did your mother say convinced her to marry him?
She just said that she just got swept off her feet and fell in love. I think dad was pretty romantic and charming.
Would you say that marriage to your mum reduced the frequency of the brushes Olabisi Ajala had with the law?
I didn’t know of any brushes with the law when I was a child, but I’m sure mum would have been a calming and positive influence; she is a great lady in her own right.
What do you consider the greatest legacy your dad left behind?
On reflection, I think his greatest legacy should be his children and his pioneering, fearless and exciting travels around the world, which are well documented.
What is the most unforgettable advice Olabisi Ajala gave you?
Always be yourself and be true to yourself.
How were you treated or considered by your peers when they knew you were Ajala’s son?
When I was a young boy in Nigeria, the kids I spent time with didn’t know of dad and his travels and he wasn’t well known here in Australia.
Many of my friends have read dad’s travel book and have loved it, wanting to know more about his life. I had a funny story about a chance meeting with a Nigerian stall owner and chef (Kunle Adesua) at a Melbourne market, when my cousin (Yinka Ojikutu) visited Australia a number of years ago. As we perused his African market stall looking to buy some fresh African food for dinner, he said, ‘You are Nigerians, aren’t you?’ to which we replied, ‘Yes’. Then Yinka explained to him that I was the first son of Olabisi Ajala, the traveller. Oh my God! He went bananas, held us at his stall for 30 minutes and then proceeded to play and dance to the song ‘Ajala travels all over the world’ (by Ebenezer Obey). Kunle then asked if he could cook us a Nigerian feast that evening, which we accepted. We all wore our agbadas for dinner and he cooked us a feast of goat stew, fish soup, yams, egusi, plantain and much more. What a night, we drank beer and smoked cigars until 3a.m.
As an educated and exposed man, how did he handle the education of his children? What kind of school did you attend?
Dad sent all of us to local public schools in Lagos.
Will you then say he invested enough in the education of his children?
Dad was always interested and keen to make sure we were well educated and had a good chance at a successful future, so yes, I would say that he invested in our education.
How did your father manage racism during his time abroad; did you talk to him about racism?
Dad was not the subject of racism himself in Australia, that I am aware of, probably because he was a novelty and had a big personality and presence that put him in a different category. However, he hated and spoke out about the racism shown towards other people of colour, particularly aborigines, the first indigenous Australians.
Part of why your father travelled to many countries was because he wanted the world to understand Africans and be humane towards Africans. Do you think racism is a thing of the past in Britain and the Western World? Can you share some of your personal experiences?
I can’t speak for other countries, to be honest, but unfortunately racism is still alive and well here in Australia. The country has certainly improved in this regard, but racism is always just under the surface. If you poke in the wrong spot or when tensions run high, racism comes back to the surface.
My experiences with racism were mainly on the school grounds, when the teachers were out of sight, the kids could gang up against you and call you all sorts of racial names, mainly to do with the colour of your skin. I also copped my fair share on the sporting field, again when tensions were high and the referee was out of earshot. But I coped with it pretty well and I have had limited negative experiences as an adult, probably because I have been a senior company executive for the past 30 years.
As a globetrotter that he was, would you say that your dad was always available to you when you needed him?
Certainly up until we left Nigeria, I can’t recall any time when I wished he was there. It was a bit more challenging when we moved to Australia, as we didn’t see or really talk to him much at all. He did come and visit us in Australia, which I recall as a very exciting and happy time.
How do his grandchildren feel about being the offspring of the famous Ajala Travel?
Now that they are older, they have become much more interested in his life and adventures, asking questions and wanting to know more about him. They are certainly proud that they had such an interesting and adventurous grandfather. They have read his book and it’s always lying around the house, along with several framed photos of dad.
I think his constant travelling is in their blood, as they are also always travelling abroad, enjoying many overseas holidays. They are also very excited about the re-publication of ‘An African Abroad’.
Do we have any of Ajala’s grandchildren who plans to travel to more than 80 countries like his or her grandfather?
Not at this stage, but all my children have travelled extensively, and continue to do so each year. They have all been through most of Europe, the Americas, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, Canada, the Pacific Islands and New Zealand just to name a few, so you never know where their travels may eventually take them.
Would you support any of your children who hopes to travel around the world?
Absolutely, without hesitation. We are all huge travellers. In fact, my daughter, Sarah, is off on a three-month world trip that started a few days ago.
Recently, a United Kingdom-based Nigerian, Kunle Adeyanju, travelled from London to Nigeria on a bike. Another Nigerian travelled from London to Nigeria in his danfo bus. Did you hear about them? What are your impressions of their travel campaigns?
No, I wasn’t aware of their travels; although I’m sure it would have been a hell of a journey all the same.
Did you have cordial relations with other children born to Olabisi Ajala or were you unaware of them for a while?
The only other child born to dad that I have met was a step-sister (her name escapes me). We met at a lovely Nigerian restaurant for lunch in Old Kent Road, London, a few years ago. We had a wonderful time talking about the family and what had come to pass over many years.
Did any of his children born through other women come to Nigeria to trace their roots and know more about their father?
This is something I can’t comment on and I am unaware of.
Do you still relate with some or all of your many siblings?
Yes, I do. I have three siblings here in Australia, younger sister Lisa Bimbola, younger brother, Sid Olayinka, and older brother, Dante Kasim. We have stayed very close to this day.
Many described Olabisi Ajala as someone who loved women. As a young lad, did you meet any of his girlfriends?
No, I was far too young, and I don’t think mum would have approved of this.
What was your dad’s opinion of the military regimes he witnessed when he returned to Nigeria?
Dad was not at all happy at the level of violence and social unrest caused by successive military coups, except for Yakubu Gowon, who he admired for his calm, honest governing style.
Your father witnessed the transition to democracy in 1998 before he passed on. What were his expectations?
I can’t comment on this, as I had left Nigeria by this time.
When last did you visit Nigeria and what are the impressions you get of your home country at the moment?
I haven’t been back to Nigeria since I left in 1972, but I have promised my children to take them back so they can see their heritage first-hand. I try to keep up with some of the Nigerian news and from afar, it seems like there continues to be many challenges facing the country and its people, but at the same time, there is so much opportunity for Nigeria to grow and prosper.
What did your father do to relax?
Dad really enjoyed family times and having or attending parties. He was always the life of the party wherever he was.
He also liked anything to do with the arts, theatre, art galleries or dance. He particularly loved watching theatre shows telecast on TV, he found them very funny and would laugh and laugh and laugh. Reading non-fiction was another interest he enjoyed, particularly to further educate himself.
Your father once acted in a movie. Having been around him, do you think that he would have become a successful actor if he chose that path?
An interesting question; I would say yes, because he was always larger than life, intelligent, quick-witted and confident. He would have filled any stage with ease with his presence. He had a great sense of humour and always held centre court in a room full of people.
Did you meet any of his popular friends while he was at home?
I can’t really remember meeting his close friends, although I did play regularly with the children of a local judge. I also met Tom Mboya, an up-and-coming Kenyan politician at a garden party.
Olabisi Ajala had a falling-out with his friend, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. What kind of temperament did he have at the time?
I am not aware of this or know of Sikiru Ayinde.
Now that you have come of age, what are your thoughts on the beautiful eulogy by Ebenezer Obey about your father?
I think it was a beautiful thing for Ebenezer Obey to do and it’s now there for all time and for all to enjoy and remember Dad for his travelling legacy.
What are the values you took from your dad’s life?
I reflect on my personal values, many of which came from my Mum and other people that influenced what I am and how I live my life, but I always wanted to feel that what I did and achieved would have made Dad proud, and also to be a strong and personable Ajala, because Dad had these traits.
So I guess the values that have rubbed off, in some way, on me have been my drive to succeed, and my ambition. I was the Managing Director of a billion-dollar business called Super Retail Group, for almost 10 years. I also believe in putting family first, and caring for others, and I have a strong passion for travelling.
Did you live in Bariga with him in the final years of his life?
No, I didn’t. I had been living in Brisbane, Australia in Dad’s final years. I can only recall living in Ikeja near the river, which might be where you are talking about. I remember walking down to the river on occasion to see and take in the vibrant life along its shores. I remember having a fun, safe, loving, and happy childhood in Ikeja.
Did your mother separate from Olabisi Ajala? Why were you not with him in his last days in Bariga?
Yes, my mum separated and then divorced Dad in the ’70s. My mother separated from my father when she returned to Australia with me, Lisa and Sid in 1972. Dante decided to join us later that year rather than remain with his Dad. He was very attached to our family.
I was unaware of the seriousness of his illness/state in the weeks before his passing and it was not really that easy to travel halfway across the world at a moment’s notice.
How do you feel about the republishing of the book Olabisi Ajala, the African Abroad?
I am very excited and proud about the republishing of dad’s book ‘An African Abroad’ and can’t wait to see it back in print or circulation. It will give many interested people the opportunity to read a fascinating and exhilarating story of a young Nigerian man’s travels around the world on a Vespa motorbike, meeting many national leaders in a difficult time. I am grateful to Kola (Tubosun) for reaching out to me and mum to make this all happen.
The book, The African Abroad, is a legacy and an inheritance. Are there disputes surrounding its custodianship among Ajala’s many children?
No, not at all; this hasn’t been an issue.
Do you, your mum or any other member of the family plan to tell the world about some undocumented areas of Olabisi Ajala’s life?
We haven’t planned anything at this stage, we’ll first get through the re-launch of “An African Abroad’ and see what happens from there.
Is the family planning other things to preserve his legacy?
We have nothing planned at this stage, but I do want to travel back to Nigeria with my family to show them some of their heritage firsthand and meet some of my extended family members again.
Do you think that he was given the kind of honour he deserved by his people?
It’s hard for me to answer this question as I haven’t been back to Nigeria for such a long time. From what I have heard, dad has been honoured and remembered for his journalism, but particularly for his many travels, and of course the book, ‘An African Abroad’.
