Joseph Ayodele Babalola was born on April 25, 1904 to David Rotimi and Madam Marta Talabi who belonged to the Anglican Church. The family lived at Odo-Owa in Ilofa, a small town about ninety kilometers from Ilorin in Kwara State. His father was the Baba Ijo (“church father”) of the C.M.S. Church at Odo-Owa. Mysterious circumstances allegedly surrounded the birth of Babalola. On that day, it was believed that a strange and mighty object exploded and shook the clouds.
David O. Olayiwola (Sat,) studied this question.