The footsteps may retreat
As he is cloistered in remote chambers new
But in our hearts and in his work, in his seeds,
In the heavens..Beekay therein rightfully lives.

Beekay will brighten the heavens
His magic is everywhere
His legacy carries on

Tooted round Ibadan - UI, ISI , Bodija on a farewell tour
Twin sister and friends, emotional release and a soothing nostalgic allure
On the road to earth’s last retreat
The masquerade’s comrades aligned and shielded him
Escorted him with their artistic and regal robes
The oracle always did carry a bag full of brushstrokes and unique tricks
Ethnic guard of honour down that rustic and peaceful grove
Far from the maddening crowds
and perchance, wishfully, wistfully
a sojourn to refresh and retrieve magic anew!

For this Wizard of Oz
the curtains have stayed put.
We will always marvel with awe,
discount any flaws and be captivated by his Hamelin flute.
For this painter and free giver of sunshine
For this sharer of his vision and our nudges and dreams
For this bringer to life of what we thought we had an inkling of or had any clue
For this ‘gifter’ of what we did not mostly pay commensurate dues
Myriad heavenly sights and uncommon grace has bountifully accrued
Everywhere , all around us are scattered his peerless jewels.

Material substance he never craved, nor egregiously amassed
His richness was a strong belief in living and the well of innate abilities
Which he diligently drew from and grew
and by which all of us were wooed.
Worth a billion dollars
But a modest roof over his head will adequately do
His true worth we are yet to fully comprehend
Time alone my friends, our friend history will give his truest deserts
So long now we say as he behind the veil goes marching on
Adieu Bola Kujore
Beekay , we will surely meet again.

Tunde Adedipe

Alleluya! Ija D’opin, Ogun Si Tan

Alleluya! Alleluya!! Alleluya!!!
Ija d’opin ogun si tan:
Olugbala jagun molu:
Orin ayo lao ma ko.
– Alleluya!

Gbogbo ipa n’iku ti lo;
Sugbon Kristi f’ogun re ka;
Aye ! e ho iho ayo.
– Alleluya!

Ojo meta na ti koja.
O jinde kuro nin’oku:
E f’ogo fun Olorun wa.
– Alleluya!

O d’ewon orun apadi,
O silekun orun sile;
Ekorin iyin ‘segun Re.
– Alleluya!

5. Jesu, nipa iya t’O je,
A bo lowo iku titi:
Titi la o si ma yin O
– Alleluya!

Beekay!

A gentle talented spirit!
,peace forever, my friend.

Paul.

Like just about everyone who grew up on the campus of the University of Ibadan in the early 70s, I got to know the Kujore twins quite early in life. We attended the same primary and secondary schools in what could best be described as a huge village. Their father was a renowned professor of classics, and their mother, a beloved teacher at the Senior Staff School. We learnt that the parents were so excited at their birth that they named the twins after themselves, interestingly naming Femi the girl, after the father and Bola, the boy, after his mother.

After Staff School we attended the International School Ibadan, where again, everyone knew the Kujores. Femi was tall and graceful, always with a smile on her face. Bola was lean and athletic, and walked with a spring in his step. By then, Bola was known to all simply as Beekay. He and I ended up in the same class in Form 3, and immediately became fast friends. Our friendship was cemented through our mutual love for basketball and art.

In art class, Beekay was simply genius. Every work was a masterpiece. With the strokes of a 4B pencil, his work was more than just lines and shade – it was pure magic! And it was the same with any medium he chose – charcoal, pastel, watercolor, oil. He was clearly in a class of his own. But Beekay’s genius was not limited to the art room. He was constantly drawing, in and out of class, on blackboards, on furniture, on walls, sometimes on shirts. His amazing artistic talent was matched by his positive, can-do attitude, his boundless energy, and his unwavering confidence in his own abilities. He exuded great personal charm and had a deep sense of humor. Yet Beekay carried himself without the faintest hint of arrogance. He was constantly learning and was always excited to share his newly acquired skills and techniques. He patiently mentored friends and classmates, applauding enthusiastically whenever we had produced any work of merit.

His immense talent and personality opened doors for him. In secondary school, Beekay was friends with everyone, and his relationships extended far beyond school to university students, lecturers, famous DJs, TV personalities, publishers, musicians, and activists. They all seemed to love and respect him as much as he did them. With his winning ways, Beekay could charm anyone. My parents thought the world of him. Even when from time to time we might be up to mischief, they were fully convinced that ‘Kujore’ was the best behaved boy in the world!

Beekay was to me a friend, an encourager, and a true brother. Over the years, distance and life’s circumstances made our interactions less frequent. When we talked, we nursed the hope that we would be able to sit together and talk and laugh, just like in the old days. Alas, that was not to be. His passing has come as a very rude shock, but I am grateful for the wonderful times we shared. I will forever miss him. May God comfort the entire family, and may his memory be forever blessed.

Rest on, Bola my Brother.

Lord Beekay!!!!
Short but sweet and just like that. Sleep well, rest easy. Lord Beekay!!!!!!!

"Gone . . . . . All of a sudden." Yours was a great, creative, kind and enthusiastic Soul that always brought a smile to my face. I feel a sense of great loss.  

I know beekay to be to a peaceful man that always want to see the cheerful part of everyone around him. He would always ask if am okay once he sensed any form of mood swings or displease. He always want to see me happy and doesn't want to offend anyone. He was truly a legend that will be missed. Rest in peace my friend... From Mrs Modupe Ramos,shop 5 national theatre

BK, Always smiling and like someone said walking with a bounce in your stride. Artist of artists leaving your mark with every one who encountered you. The tributes are a testament to your generous soul. Rest In Peace

Turbo, well spoken.

I don't even have words to add because it just hurts to the fabric losing such a great genius and talent. We did many things in that Era, too many things and BK Baba was such an integral part of it. In Ife, we created work. Muyiwa and I looked for the words, BeeKay gave it Life long before the Desk/Laptop came to being. He had a special way of walking, that Step and Bounce and even when work was tedious, BK always had a smile. Always. Always had that smile. In Ife, we made posters and flyers for World Class shows without the Computer!! We tripped one summer and produced a comic strip called Jambito. 

Why do we always lose our great ones like this?! Books, Mags, Covers, Productions, all touched by his creative genius and passion. Great Guys come once in a while. We thank God for showing us what true greatness was really like. BeeKay Baba!! World Class Creative Genius MO Bounce!!


Tokunbo Dax Kumpayi

Egbon BeeKay, words cannot explain the shock and devastation I felt when news of your demise broke.
You eptimozed humility, generosity and kind heartedness. Not for you, all those cultural airs and graces that accompany friendship or relationships across different age groups. I only knew you a short while but you surely left an indelible impression on me. You were the life and soul of Santa Maria and the hangout won't be the same without you. I will forever remember the way your eyes lit up when you talked about your art & creativity. 
Igi nla ti da o, erin nla ti wo. 'No shodo shodo!' A good man has gone. May God Almighty forgive your sins and grant you a place of honour in paradise, egbon.
Rest in peace.

What a shock, what a shock, what a shock. May you rest in peace and may your loved ones be comforted. My sincere condolences

Sincere condolences to the entire Kujore family on Bola's passing. What a shock, and what a loss for his wife, siblings, mother and other relatives as well as friends and colleagues. May his soul rest in peace, and may God bring comfort to all his family at this time.

Something has to happen for some things to happen.
But some things have to happen for something to happen.
Such is life.
A mystery?
A contradiction?
An irony?

Babs

Abimbola Kujore

BK Oosa!

That was how I hailed you anytime we met after our days at the University in Ife. It was in recognition of the fact that I  perceived you as somehow larger than life as an Artist and as a Creative.

In the beginning, you were simply BK, the guy next door, son of the revered Professor of Philosophy, Professor Kujore who lived on Sankore Road at the University of Ibadan. My father taught at the Institute of African Studies down the road and I had just returned from the UK to study Theatre Arts at UI so our paths naturally crossed as we had mutual friends and acquaintances. As it happened, we met up again at Obafemi Awolowo University in the Faculty of Arts where you read Fine Arts and I read Music and Drama Combined Honours

It was at Ife that I got a good measure of your creativity. Even as an undergraduate, you developed such a reputation with your extracurricular creative output that it was impossible to ignore your value on Campus. I lived in the Boys Quarters of Professor Akinjogbin on Road 2,  and you designed the graphics on my door, "More Bounce to the Ounce" taken off one of the tracks of the American Funk band, Funkadelic. You did an incredible painting of Cacofonix, the Bard that graced a wall in my room and you were the Design Coordinator for the costumes used by the Midwaves,  a youth band that I put together featuring the children of Lecturers on Campus. The band featured Ola (Oladele Ogunlana), Fela Durotoye, Tolu Babayemi (now Tolu Ewherido), Danny (Daniel Watson), Gbenga Akinjogbin, and a couple of others. You were a critical part of the Management Team of Turvy Productions, including Deola Dax Kumapayi, Samuel Latunde, Muyiwa Adesiyan, Sholeye Hughes, Ayodeji Igun, Femi Adegoke, Foga, Babs, and Funkazi Koroye Crooks. Together, we provided leadership and direction for the band much to the admiration of the parents who encouraged and supported us because they could see the impact that our work was having on their teenage children in terms of leadership and confidence-building. You were also there when we hosted the Birmingham, UK-based, world-renowned Reggae band, Steel Pulse.

The Midwaves performed at the biggest Campus Concerts at the time, becoming a regular fixture at Oduduwa Hall, at OAU and opening shows for Fela Kuti and King Sunny Ade and others at Concerts such as the Havana Show at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan. Your contribution to the success of that project is indelible and years later, it was always a delight to share pride with you, in what we were able to achieve, even as undergraduates. To the glory of God, all the members of the Midwaves have gone on to become high achievers in their different callings.

After University, I went back to the UK and returned 11 years later to help establish the Muson Centre in Lagos. I was delighted to find out that you were veering from Advertising and Marketing into Set and Production Design. It was all coming together. Your experience in Marketing and Business and your new interest made you a mold-breaking Creative entrepreneur in Nigeria, and your output in the last decade attests to the fact. Where will those Producers seeking depth and meaning to their productions find another BK? It is painful that you are leaving just when you have carved such a priceless niche in Nigeria's Creative Sector. But who are we to question God?

May God comfort and console the family and those you have left behind.

Sleep well, my friend, brother, and kindred spirit.

Tope Babayemi

The news of BeeKay’s sudden transition via a telephone call, was most unwelcome.

I last spoke to BeeKay on his birthday when I called to wish him a happy day with even happier ones ahead. He was his usual jovial self and promised to come to Ibadan soon to celebrate the day with me. But he could not make that trip, and now never will. What a shame!

I guess like everybody else, BeeKay made me feel like I had a special relationship with him. It was the main reason he was loved by many. To describe BeeKay a genius would be a gross understatement, and would also indicate a lack of appreciation of the magnitude of the gifts he was bestowed with, for he was much more. Indeed, he was a phenomenon for he was as much a creative genius as he was a genius of Creation.

Now Bola is gone, and all we are left with are memories of the many good times we had with him, his characteristic laughter, and the many expressions of himself in his works. All these with a feeling in the pits of our stomachs that he has gone with the best that he still had to offer, and wondering if God would be kind enough to let another of his kind cross our paths again in our lifetime. 

Good night, my dear friend, and as you have found your peace, may God in His infinite mercies grant you eternal rest. Amen.

ABIMBOLA KUJORE: THE PRINCE OF ART

‘The Prince of Art’ was a name I coined for you after we both agreed that we needed to start professing positively. 

I am still in denial that you are no more with us in the physical realm! Such a great pity, we had so much planned, with your numerous brainwaves.

I remember your 60th birthday on the 5th of December, 2020 vividly. During the Zoom party you were in tears at the out pouring of love from your friends from all parts of the world. At the subsequent small get together we had -Soji, Deji, Babs, yourself and I - you were so happy and full of life, and we reminisced on our past escapades dating back to the ‘80s when we were in Ife. I treasure the video clip that Babs made of us during that evening of merriment.

We remembered Bob, B Willy, Pola, Foga & Rayo and imagined what would have happened if they were still here with us. I guess you are with them now with a lot of banter and laughter, and have answers to those unanswered questions….

At a point, I reminded you of my outstanding project…the stained glass for the Cathedral, ‘Sho Bee , no vex I don do am, very baaad! ’ I am still waiting.

Beekay, I saw you for the last time at Efun’s wedding. I was still upset with you. You told me I could not be upset with you on such a special day… and I answered that I still was … Now with much regret.

I however say a big thank you for the dedication with which you handled all the stationery for the wedding, which came out so beautifully well... Sade was so certain that this was going to be the beginning of another business line for you.

To say you will be missed is an understatement, because you have created a vacuum that will be so difficult to fill, especially for me.

My dear friend and brother sleep well. May God almighty forgive your sins and grant you eternal rest.

Mumsey, Femi and Abbey, God almighty will surely console you all and grant you the fortitude to bear this unfathomable loss. "E pele!"

"Ori ti wowe!"

This one hurt me to my bone marrow

My Dearest BK!
My Dearest BeeKayyyy!!
My Dearest Abimbola!!!
I'm speechless!!

I remember in the first few days of starting Rykers ride, I needed to create a logo.
I reached our to my friend , my brother and told him what I intended to do, what Rykers ride was all about, my ideas for a logo and he said don't worry. I got you covered.
In the next few hours he sent me something and it was just perfect. I asked how much I should send for it and he said,  my brother its my contribution to the ride .

From that moment on he did all graphics and designs for Rykers ride as he said - his contribution to the ride.

Beekay its been a long ride from the Sankore days, where you helped me develop and encourage my creative side to Lagos where I stayed with you on my very first trip, to all the moments we shared, the dreams we had and talked about, the exhibition we were planning.
Hmmmmmm. Beekay.

I remember you asking 4 days ago if I was enjoying 50 as much as you were enjoying 60.
You were my Egbon but we always related as twin brothers .
I still remember our last conversation 4 days ago
Abimbola K.
Beekay!

My brother, my friend Rest in peace.

PML

This news came out of the blue. It is difficult to process and accept that our amiable friend BeeKay is no longer here in the physical. Thank you BeeKay for who were - a kind, gentle and very loyal friend.

Even though we hadn’t seen each other face to face in a long while, you always commented on my photograph posts on FB, always applauded the news of our boys playing rugby.

Thank you buddy. God speed. Rest in perfect peace.

You were such a good friend to me at school - gentle, so talented, so kind. Am so desperately sorry. I have a painting of yours that you painted when we were at school - of an ISI boy in the turquoise shirt. Treasured.

May you now rest in perfect peace.

The ISI Alumni Association is saddened by the passing away of Bola Kujore (BeeKay) a few days ago.

Glowing tributes have been paid to his endearing and amiable personality but on our part, we will not forget his invaluable contributions to the Association, especially in 2014 when we were starting out and needed assistance with artwork. He graciously accepted to assist and created the Alumni logo that has now become the unifying symbol for ISI Alumni worldwide. He also designed the graphic images used for ISI’s 50th anniversary events.

BeeKay, as he was fondly called, was a highly talented artist and an accomplished professional in book publishing and the commercial design industry. We offer our condolences and prayers to the family at this difficult time May his gentle soul rest in peace.

BeeKay
This is a very hard goodbye. Our memories of your seemingly effortless creativity, your bubbly personality, your love of your craft filled us with joy.
May the Lord comfort your loved ones
Rest in Perfect Peace Bola
YG

BeeKay...we love him BeeKay... we love him I still hear the chants in my head!! Definitely gone too soon. Beekay (1st from right) was an integral member of the Unifę QPB brotherhood, a great friend who also had a joke, smile or a hug for everyone. Soft spoken and mild mannered, awesomely talented, he will be sorely missed. Say hi to those who went before you (Bob, B-Willy, T-Foga and Rasco) and may your lovely soul rest in peace till we meet again to part no more. RIP BeeKay, from Bonje ‍♂️

Really saddened to hear of Beekay’s passing. By far the most talented artist of his generation, he was also an incredibly warm and kindhearted person, with an infectious sense of humour. He will be sadly missed. May Almighty God comfort and strengthen all those he has left behind. May his kind and gentle soul rest in perfect peace

My dearest brother and friend, its so sad that you left us so soon, but l am thankful because l know,that OUR GOD is so, so merciful, HE has taking you into HIS REST, BEEKAY, a lot of people didn't understand you, you were different and Special in your own ways, you were a good man with a good and free spirit, REST ON MY BROTHER AND FRIEND, even as your soul, is at peace with your MAKER, IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME, My condolences to his immediate family members,THE GOOD LORD WILL SURELY COMFORT, ENCOURAGEMENT AND STRENGTHEN YOU ALL, IT IS WELL IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME

BeeKay, a gentleman and a gifted artist. Creative , multifaceted. Worked in so many media and domains; oil, acrylic, sculpture, iPad, and classic and interpretive portraits of both ordinary and famous people.

I met him in 1974, tall lanky thoughtful schoolmate, couldn’t be a bully if he tried. Kind to all, especially juniors, happy to teach those of us with no talent some of the techniques guaranteed to get at least an A- in Mr Ugunwa’s art class.

We loved to watch him work. He was always sketching. He was his own person, uninterested in many of the crazy fads of the time; art was his true North.

Generous with his talent, and the school magazine “Microcosm” and the year book always featured his work.

Always took everyone a year or three to figure out that he and Femi were twins.

We were privileged to grow up with him and to see that talent developing in our school years.

The Kujore’s lived on UI campus and we would occasionally run into each other during our University years, he at Ife and me at Ibadan.
Our paths diverged and we lost touch until our class WhattsApp brought us all together six years ago and I was impressed but not surprised by how his talent had blossomed.

He would share pictures of recent works, a portrait here, a parade float there, a festival logo, but was a man of few words. We were all impressed and proud of him. The work of my now famous schoolmate adorned film and play posters, and his commissioned paintings and sculptures, festival logos and portraits were everywhere, including one of Nigeria’s only Nobel laureate.

His work brought joy, inspiration and admiration to so many. As recently as last year, the Provost of my Alma mater commissioned several “Abimbola Kujore” original sculptures to beautify the campus of the Ibadan College of Medicine as part of the 40th Anniversary celebrations.

By all reports, from those classmates in Nigeria, he was the same kind, steady, dependable guy, no airs and graces, and generous with his time, mentoring young artists and helping their talent to flourish.

None of us saw this coming as is often the case when God decides to put a full stop to earthly life so that the heavenly journey can begin. I took our new reacquaintance for granted, not seeing it for the gift that it was.

Sincere Condolences to the entire family especially Femi Olayebi, his running mate from Birth. God will comfort all of you. Beekay’s legacy will last long after we are all gone.

Beekay, an artist and a gentleman. Rest In Peace 

It was Art that brought us together, at such an early age he was light years ahead of those blessed with the gift, many years his seniors .
As far back as I remember, the vastness of his special talent , which flowed from him effortlessly, constantly astounded me..... but he also had other attributes which shone in my eyes brighter than his art ,as I got to know him better over the years.... kindness, generosity,compassion, loyalty to every brotherly bond he had forged through the years.... Beekay!... my brother, the last time we saw, (I paid him a surprise visit)...... he ran around the front of the house in circles shouting my name .... that was Beekay!....... unrestrained brotherly love.
This is painful.... unbelievable.... surreal....but our God Almighty knows why.....knows best.
Beekay ....rest well in perfect peace

I remember his smile, even though I haven’t seen him in a long time.
I remember how pleasant he was, such a gentleman.
I remember BeeKay being busy, he always had something to do.
Even though I haven’t seen him in such a long time, I miss You, BeeKay!
May God Comfort Your Mum, Femi and your brother.
This Life is such a Vapor, a Mist!
Bola Kujore, Rest in Perfect Peace
No More Sadness, No More Worries!
Bola Kujore, You Are Loved
‘Kemi Omotoso (nee Akinsete)

Beekay, what a rude shock to hear of your sudden passing to be with your maker.I will surely miss your legendary , but comforting smiles and laughter . You were a brother whose exit is a great loss to the University of Ibadan and the good people of Great Ife families. May God grant your soul eternal rest.
Good night !!!

Robbie Omole

Bk,
My colleague, my friend, my brother,
I’m sure you’d be as shocked
As we are
I’m sure you’d laugh it off
But we can’t
May God forgive your sins
And ours
Amen

Beekay,
Wow! It is in shock and awe I'm pencilling these tribute down, you were a boisterous and creative colleague at Masterstrokes. You took your stride in doing every design brief and never failed to churn out mind blowing designs. The was no dulling around you. Beekay you always had a philosophical angle to life matters. My bro, and paddy for jungle. All I can say to the loved ones you've left behind is. It is well.
Adieu my illustrator of life you were a pencil in God's Hands! Memories never leave like people do, they linger on forever!

BeeKay
O ga o! May your wonderful memories be a blessing to us all. Sun re o! Till we meet in glory. Adieu

Mr. Kujore

Ever supportive gentleman. Always smiling and ready to help. You will be greatly missed.

BeeKay,

Unreal! Both the fact that you are gone already and the man that you were. I've always said that you were like a big brother to us all back in UI. You were always the guy that would stop on the side of the road to ask if I needed a lift. And if it was raining you would make sure you took me all the way to where I was heading, even if this meant going out of your own way. Always around with a wise word or a piece of encouragement. Rest in perfect peace Egbon, rest in peace.

BeeKay, rest in peace.

Bk
Like a shooting star, you flashed past.
We set our gaze and marvelled at sheer genius.
Then you disappeared into the horizon.
Peace Bro, you took an early bow but bow we all must.
See you when we get there.

Still stunned! Sholeye, Deji, Yomi and l celebrated his 60th with so much laughter, joy and many thing a few weeks back. Just 5 of us! It was refreshing as l expected!
It's been a long journey! Had not seen him for a while. Looked skinny as usual and felt slightly worried seeing him. But was too excited to mark such a day with him than pick up my usual banters with him.
Dont know what to say anymore! People very close to me are leaving in droves.
A good guy. Loved his friends to death. Thank you Beekay for the design and logo of Metal Base Ltd which you blessed me with in 1989. The significance of your kind gesture was never lost nor will it be for the rest of my life.
Adieu brother and mate!

BeeKay!

I still remember when we first met at the University of Ibadan Staff School in the late 60s/early 70s. He was such fun, in and out of school, lighting up our lives in the university campus where we lived with his antics. He maintained his effervescent personality from then even up till we last met early in January. One always came off with smiles and encouragement after an encounter with him. Bola was that kind of person. Such a gifted artist. Bola was faithful to his calling, and certainly has made his mark.

Bola will certainly be sorely missed.

Rest in eternal peace, Bro.

Beekay, it was a shock to hear u had gone, may u rest in peace. U were more than great u were way ahead of ur time, ur talent n friendship knew no bound. You painted a portrait of Shola and I way back in our ISI days that I still have. No one who saw it way back then in 1980 could believe it wasn't a picture that's how good u were way back when. You will surely be missed rest in peace my brother may the lord comfort all ur loved ones

A proper gentleman and lovable soul from the day I met 'them',right to the end.
He couldn't and wouldn't hurt anyone.Rest on genius .