Ayoola Salami was born into the union of Chief and Mrs. Anthony Alarape Salami of Jagun Ojoagabi House, in Oyo state, Nigeria.
He is not only a renowned author on the Yoruba culture and Ifa/Orisa traditions, he is also a high ranking priest of Ifa (Babalawo). His love for Ifa came as a result of writing books on different aspect of Ifa, Orisa and Yorubaland. Although, he was raised as a Muslim, later a Christian, he was introduced to Ifa at a very young age by his godfather, Prof. Chief Wande Abimbola. He received trainings across the entire Yorubaland but noteworthy among his teachers are Late Babalawo Babalola Ifatoogun, Chief Idowu Fasipe Fagbohun and Professor Wande Abimbola. While in the process of writing these books, he initiated to Ifa and has been practicing since. As a native of Yorubaland, Oloye Ayo Salami is good in oral and written aspects of the language and culture.
Oloye (Chief) Ayo Salami, obtained his first degree in Agricultural Engineering from the university of Ife, Ile Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University. He was popularly known and called Ogun Matthew by friends during his student days while still in the University because of his radical proverbs and identification with Yoruba as a language of wisdom. His second book, Dialects and Language Origin, would be found to be equally breathtaking.
Oloye Ayo Salami currently lives in Warri with his family.