Abidemi Babatunde Babalola – an unsung scholar until now has shattered long‑held assumptions about African innovation. His groundbreaking work on ancient glass bead production in Ile‑Ife has earned him the prestigious 2025 Dan David Prize, often regarded as the world’s largest award in historical research, carrying a $300,000 award .
Babalola’s research uncovers a vibrant history of indigenous glassmaking in West Africa. Excavations at Igbo Olokun, near Ile‑Ife, dating between the 11th and 15th centuries, revealed thousands of glass beads produced using a distinct high lime, high alumina (HLHA) formula unique to the region . This challenges the long-held belief that Africa lacked inventiveness in ancient technological systems.
The Dan David Prize recognises nine early‑ to mid‑career candidates who have reshaped how we understand history. Babalola joins scholars and artists from various fields, marking a new chapter in global historical scholarship .
Holding a PhD from Rice University in Houston and degrees from the University of Ibadan, Babalola did not work in isolation. His efforts are supported by the British Museum’s Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) project in Benin City. He also leads the Archaeology of Glass project in Ile‑Ife .
His work combines scientific analysis, ethnography, and field archaeology to position glass bead-making at the heart of Yoruba economic, cultural, and political life, transcending categories of class, gender, religion, and social power .
He isn’t the first African scholar to win the prize. Previously, Saheed Aderinto did so in 2023 . The Dan David Prize which awards nine winners annually, supports research that challenges established narratives and brings hidden histories into focus .
Babalola’s discoveries reveal that West African forest communities produced and traded glass beads centuries before European contact, underscoring Africa’s role in early global trade networks. These finds validate cultural pride and shift how the world perceives pre‑colonial African societies .
As he accepts this global recognition, Babalola is already planning a mobile exhibition titled Science, Technology, and Invention in the Empire of Ile‑Ife, which will tour major cities across southwest Nigeria .
