Babaafemi Meredith

Mr. Babafemi Meredith, 42, of the Oyotunji African Village, Sheldon, SC passed away peacefully and surrounded by love, in Emory Hospital Atlanta GA on April 16, 2024 . Allen Funeral is in charge.

Babafemi Abiodun Esulade Meredith (Awolowo), affectionately known as “Awo” or “Wozi”, was born on May 7, 1981 in Savannah Memorial Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. He left the marketplace of earth on April 16, 2024. From an early age, Esulade was adventurous and went wherever he wanted to go.  At 8 years old, he could be found on Savannah’s Westside, having biked the whole way from his Eastside home.   Also a natural at ‘tinkering’, his Yeye nicknamed him “The Expert'' because he knew how to take things apart, put them back together and make them work. 

In 1989, his family moved to Port Royal, SC to be closer to Oyotunji Village.  His mother wanted the children to be trained by the men’s society. And so it was in March 1992, he was initiated into the ancient mysteries as a traditional Yoruba priest in the cult of Esu.  This immense milestone was fostered by Godfather Obajalaye Ifagbenro and Ajigbona EsuOgo Oyewole.  Growing up, he attended Yoruba Royal Academy (Oyotunji Village, SC), Battery Creek High School (Beaufort, SC) and Job Corp (Kentucky).

Esulade’s love for technology was sparked  in 1996, when his Aunty Blanche gave him a computer to ‘fix up’.  Thus began a long career in Information Technology, starting with Computer Dynamics (Beaufort, SC) and ending at Wellstar (Atlanta, GA).  But his greatest love was that of his Yoruba culture. He completed his rites of passage into the Egbe Akinkonju Men’s Society in 1997, and was initiated to Ayan on August 14, 2014.   He was a member of the Egbe Ayan Onilu, Egungun, and Dokpwe Society of Oyotunji. 

Upon his move to Atlanta in 2007, he  became a fixture in the local community, lending his heart and talent to teaching, drumming, singing and community work.  His dedication impacted numerous societies, iles and egbes.  “Esulade showed up for everyone in the Atlanta African Traditional Religious (ATR) community. He was known as a genuine and authentic man, focused on the righteous attributes of the culture and tradition. He was not in it for fame. He wanted to push the community and culture forward. He showed his dedication through his support and the way he taught every chance he got. Esulade embraced his culture in its entirety regardless of denomination, faction or religious lineage.” ~ Friend Enoch DeMar Finally and most notably, he was a dedicated and loving father who provided support, protection, and love to his children.  He made sure each of them knew the importance of Yoruba culture and tradition. Rarely one to say ‘no’ to them, he was a funny, playful dad who loved park trips, gaming, movie watching and Six Flags.

Esulade was preceded in death by his parents, Esuogo Oyewole (Diana Meredith) and Tumajean Awolowo (John Erwin) and his uncle, Orisamola Awolowo, a pioneer in the African Cultural Restoration Movement.

He is survived by his wife and his children: daughter Omikunle Iyatunde Oluwakemi Titilayo Awolowo, 16 (mother Omiyinka Akinsegun); daughter Nia Adelola Thomas, 10 and her sister Camille Freeman, 13 (mother Arissa Thomas) and son Ayodele Erick Meredith Gonzales, 3 (wife and mother Yarisbel Meredith); Godchildren Esutolu Ojetunde Afamefuna and Osajenriola Anwar Jackson. One of 6 siblings, he is also survived by: brothers H.R.M. Oba Adejuyigbe Adefunmi II, Olubiyi Oyewole Ogunleye Meredith and Akintunde Meredith; and sisters EniEsu Oyewole Meredith and Marquetta Beldin-Wallace (mother Angela Beldin). He will also be sorely missed by his many nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

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