US-Based Nigerian Archaeologist Abidemi Babalola Wins $300K Dan David Prize for Groundbreaking Work on Ancient Glass Beads

Nigerian archaeologist Abidemi Babalola, currently based in the United States, has been named one of the winners of the 2025 Dan David Prize, taking home $300,000 for his pioneering research into the history and cultural significance of glass beads in West Africa.

Widely regarded as the world’s largest award in historical scholarship, the Dan David Prize recognizes outstanding contributions to the study of the past. The 2025 laureates were unveiled on the prize’s official platform, with an award ceremony held on May 28 in Italy.

Babalola’s research focuses on ancient Ile-Ife, a key Yoruba city in southwestern Nigeria. His award-winning work, “The Ile-Ife Glass Bead Series… and the Glass Bead Roads in West African Archaeology,” uncovers the technological, cultural, and symbolic roles of glass beads in early African civilizations—placing Ile-Ife at the heart of a previously underexplored global trade and cultural network.

Fellow Nigerian historian and 2023 Dan David Prize recipient Saheed Aderinto congratulated Babalola in an emotional tribute on social media, highlighting their shared academic journey from Nigeria to the U.S.
“For over 20 years, Dr. Babalola excavated archaeological sites at Ile-Ife, conducted advanced lab work, and held fellowships at institutions like Harvard and Cambridge,” Aderinto wrote. “His discoveries have reshaped how we view Yoruba history and the depth of ancient African civilisation.”

Babalola’s work stands out for its multidisciplinary approach, blending archaeology, history, science, and ethnography. His studies explore how glass beads intersect with identity, religion, power, and trade in West African societies.

He earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Ibadan, before completing his PhD at Rice University in Houston, Texas. He currently serves as the lead archaeologist for the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) Archaeology Project in Benin City, Nigeria, in collaboration with the British Museum.

His recognition marks yet another milestone for African scholars pushing the boundaries of global historical research.