At precisely 8 p.m., like a ritual steeped in memory, I settle down with my Oti Oyinbo, feeling the familiar warmth of its taste as I tune in my aging radio. It’s like a portal, transporting me to a time when the world felt vast and mysterious, a time when stories could paint vivid pictures of distant lands.

Then, that familiar melody fills the room: “Ajala travels all over the world, Ajala travels all over the world…” The song awakens memories, a bridge to a world of stories about Ajala—the man who wandered, explored, and became a legend across continents.

Ajala wasn’t just a traveler; he was a symbol of curiosity, fearlessness, and the spirit of discovery that resonated deeply in the heart of every listener. To many, he was more than a name—he was an invitation to dream beyond borders, to imagine life in places one could only hear about on the radio or read in the paper.

I remember the first time I heard the late Ayinde Barrister, the Agbajelola of Fuji, sing praises to Ajala. It was a tribute wrapped in rhythm and poetry, as if Barrister himself felt the pull of Ajala’s journey, that shared pride in a man who made the world his playground. Barrister’s praise wasn’t just for Ajala the man, but for Ajala the dreamer, the unrelenting spirit that refused to be confined by borders.

Now, years later, as that tune fills the room, I find myself wondering if Ajala ever knew just how deeply he touched our lives, how he made us feel that the world, no matter how vast, could one day be ours to explore. In that moment, with Barrister’s lyrics echoing in my memory, I feel the ache of nostalgia mixed with pride for a man who wasn’t just ours—he belonged to the world.

Ajala’s travels may have taken him far, but his legacy will forever remain in our hearts, a reminder that you too can dream, you too can venture into the unknown.