Bishop Michael Samuel Cole and the Early Yoruba Translation of the Qur’an

Before Qur’an translations became widely accepted among many Muslims in Africa, Christian missionaries had already begun rendering the text into African languages. One of the earliest known African-language translations was Bishop Michael Samuel Cole’s Yoruba edition, published in Lagos in 1906 as “Al-Kurani Ni Ede Yoruba” and republished in 1924. Cole was also the founding principal of Abeokuta Grammar School. During his tenure, Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti became the school’s first pupil, while Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti was its first female pupil after the school admitted girls in 1914. He later served as vicar of Christ Church Pro-Cathedral in Lagos and became the first principal of Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife. Cole was also an ancestor of former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode through his sister, Sophia Cole.

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