This site is a tribute to Femi Ojo-Ade, who was born in Lagos, Nigeria on July 23, 1941 and left us peacefully in Waldorf, Maryland, on March 19th, 2019. He is much loved and will always be remembered.  

The late Femi Ojo-Ade was a Professor Emeritus of French Studies and Black History at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. Femi was a master of languages and spoke French, Portuguese, Spanish, English and his native Yoruba.

He has taught at various colleges and universities in Africa including the University of The Gambia, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, where he served as a Head of the Department of Foreign Languages, Lagos State University, Canada, the United States, including Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, and Brazil.

A vastly published and internationally recognized scholar in Black literature and culture, he was also a creative writer, an award-winning writer of fiction and poetry. Among his more than twenty-five books is the recently edited The Obama Phenomenon (AWP) and several books, which have been translated into Brazilian Portuguese.

An excerpt from a press release issued by the St. Mary's College of Maryland:

Femi occupied the College’s first French line dedicated to Francophone literature and culture. A leading scholar on Black culture in Africa, Francophone Carribean, Brazil and the United States, he also became one of the founding members and the first coordinator of the African and African Diaspora Studies Program.                                                                                                                                              

Professor Ojo-Ade used his considerable influence to bring well known artists and scholars to the college, among them Wole Soyinka who won the Nobel Prize of Literature in 1986. He used his ties with scholars at Brazilian universities to bring Brazilian students to St. Mary’s.

Professor Ojo-Ade spearheaded the initiative to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a holiday observed by the college. He combined a deep love for his native Nigeria with a cosmopolitan restlessness and commitment to world citizenship. Femi Ojo-Ade loved people, institutions and countries with his eyes open to their imperfections but believing in their promise. Equally fluent in Yoruba, English, French and Portuguese, he was interested in the work of all language sections at the college. He had a warm heart and was a passionate conversationalist.

Colleagues who knew him well remember with fondness gatherings at his home which continued until recently and involved spirited discussions over a glass of red wine (“blood” as Femi called it), watching soccer and listening to African music or jazz.                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

His students loved him and one of his former students: Dr. Afolabi; shared the following accomplishments, which meant a lot to those influenced by Femi's actions:

As Head of the Modern European Languages Department at Obafemi Awolowo University then in 1980, he harmonized the degree programs in French and Portuguese from 5 to 4 years so that students needed not waste the study abroad year but rather have it count as part of the 4-year degree program as it should be. That reduction of one year meant so much to struggling families in Nigeria. It was one less year to spend at the university while still getting a sound education.

He also spearheaded the purchase of an exclusive University House for study abroad students from Ife-Nigeria to stay in a safe, secure, and friendly locality in Salvador-Bahia-Brazil.

In addition, Femi encouraged many top graduates to pursue academic careers by retaining them for NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) as well as securing supplemental funding for them when they gained doctoral admissions abroad.

Femi enjoyed watching sports and back in the day, knew his way around the soccer pitch and was handy with a tennis or squash racket. He also loved movies, music, reading newspapers, watching the news and talking back at the TV:-) Femi's sense of humor was priceless and he was known for his many jokes and quick wit.

While Femi is gone, he will not be forgotten.  He is survived by his wife of 49 years: Lara-Constance; and his children: Dapo; Dotun; Tokes; and Dokun; daughters-in-law Tomi and Michele; son-in-law: Wole; and grand children.

We welcome you to share your memories, thoughts, photos, prayers and wishes here.  Thanks & God Bless.
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"So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you."
-John 16:22