Chief Daniel Olorunfẹmi Fágúnwà MBE (1903 – 7 December 1963), popularly known as D. O. Fágúnwà, was a Nigerian author of Yorùbá heritage who pioneered the Yorùbá language novel. Early life Daniel Oròwọlé Fágúnwà was born in Òkè-Igbó, Ondo State in 1903, to Joshua Akíntúndé Fágúnwà and Rachel Òṣunyọmí Fágúnwà. He had three sisters, Mary Adéyẹmí, Ojúọlápé and Ọmọ́túndé. Prior to his family's conversion to Christianity, his name was Oròwọlé Jàáníìni. The name Oròwọlé, refers to the Yorùbá bullroarer deity, Orò. Fágúnwà's parents were originally adherents of the traditional Yorùbá religion until they converted to Christianity in the late 1910s to early 1920s. Upon conversion, he changed his name to Ọlọ́runfẹ́mi (God loves me). He attended St. Luke's School, Òkè-Igbó from 1916 to 1924. After completing his primary education there, he taught as a student teacher in the same school in 1925. From 1926-1929, he attended St. Andrew's College, Ọ̀yọ́ in order to train as a teacher. He met his wife in Mọdákẹ́kẹ́ in 1931 while on vacation from St.Andrew's. The courted for six years and married in 1937. Family History Fágúnwà's paternal great-grandfather was Faniyi Arojo, a warrior. His son, Fagunwa's paternal grandfather was Egunsola Asungaga Bèyíokú, an Ifa priest from the town of Origbo near Ipetumodu. His paternal grandmother was Sayoade Olowu, an Owu woman who was a daughter of the Olowu of Owu (before they migrated to Abeokuta). Asungaga moved from Origbo to Ile-Ife after his children continued dying (this Yorùbá process is called abiku). Asungaga himself was an abiku child. When he arrived to Ile-Ife, in the 1870s, he became the native herbalist and Ifa priest for the future Ooni of Ife, Ologbenla. After the war between the Ondo and Ife ended, many warriors were allowed to enter a new settlement they called "Oko-Igbo" meaning Farm in the Forest, and later became Òkè-Igbó. Asungaga had four surviving children, Ifatosa, Akintunde Fagunwa (who later took the name Joshua), Ifabunmi (later married and took the last name Ajibise), and Philip Odugbemi. Career Teaching Career From 1930-1939 Fágúnwà served as head teacher of the nursery section at St.Andrew's Practicing School, Ọ̀yọ́. In 1940, he was transferred to St.Patrick's School, Ọ̀wọ́, where he taught until 1942. In 1943, he moved to the CMS Grammar School, Lagos and in 1944, moved again to the Girl's School in Benin. Between 1945-1946, he taught at Igbobi College, which was temporarily located at Ibadan