Which historical figure, according to the novel, translated the Bible into Yoruba?

Answer Details

The novel references a well-known figure from Nigerian history: Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther (c. 1809-1891). Crowther is historically recognised as the person who translated the Bible into the Yoruba language, making the Christian scriptures accessible to millions of Yoruba-speaking people.

Born in Osogun in present-day Oyo State, Crowther was captured by slave raiders as a child but was freed by the British Royal Navy and subsequently educated by Christian missionaries in Sierra Leone. He went on to become the first African to be ordained as an Anglican bishop in Nigeria. Beyond Bible translation, Crowther made lasting contributions to the development of Yoruba as a written language by producing grammar books and dictionaries.

The other options name real Nigerian historical figures but are not associated with Bible translation. Samuel L. Akintola was a politician in Nigeria's First Republic. Herbert Macaulay was a nationalist leader often called the father of Nigerian nationalism. Samuel Caulker, while a notable name in West African history, is not linked to Yoruba Bible translation.