Precious & Forever Memories
Mummy Solaru was an extra special elegant beautiful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, auntie, proprietress, founder, pioneer, educator, visionary, church leader, children activist, friend, neighbour, world traveller and daughter of our most High God. A fashionista, trend setter and always impeccably dressed. She diligently sowed seeds of hope in her Sunnyfields & Tenderfoot children. She lived a highly principled and exemplary happy life. She was never afraid to say the truth. She was very firm yet kind and loving. A very intelligent and smart senior citizen. Most loved her, some feared her, most respected her, some did not quite understand her.
I strongly believe that God’s plan for my almost 28 years marriage to My King & Soulmate Babajide Adebayo is deep rooted in Sunnyfields & Tenderfoot. Jide is an old pupil too, and was 4 years my senior. Jide’s sister (Sister Lola Adebayo-Onwubalili) & cousins (Olumide Dayo & Akin Dayo) are old pupils. Jide’s late mum used to work for late Daddy Solaru. I think we still have the ‘record’ as the only Sunnyfields & Tenderfoot old pupils married couple…..unless we’ve been recently overthrown.
My mother Mrs Solabomi Akiyode was a teacher at both Sunnyfields & Tenderfoot in the early days till 1977. She later set up her own school, which is now almost 33 years with me now helping to oversee in the last 3 years. My mum has told me many times that all what she’s implemented at her school were learnt under the tutelage of Mummy Solaru….even her ‘grooming’ teachers / educators to ALWAYS dress smartly. Two of my immediate siblings (Tayo & Tope) are also old pupils. While one of my aunties (Mrs Bisi Ayeni) was an ex teacher too.
I am one of those struggling from ‘senior moment’ from time to time, so I actually have limited recollection of Sunnyfields & Tenderfoot school life. However, I do have fond memories of our wonderful teaching & non teaching staff – Late Mrs King, Mrs Tugbiyele, Mrs Fanawopo, Mrs Uko, Mrs Uredi, Late Mr Adefila, Baba Sali (the gateman), Late Aunty Julie, Mr Zovier, Mr Ben (used to make the best puff puff!)…..my mum maintained lifelong friendship with some of the teachers and they became my extended mums & dads.
Since Mummy Solaru passed, I draw strength from the many happy & amazing memories shared with her. I must confess, I am one of the ‘some’ that feared her & probably did not quite understand her way back then as one of her pupils & while growing up into an adult.
Our mother / daughter relationship took a complete 360 turn when she spent 2 weeks with Jide & myself in Cape Town, South Africa as her 80th birthday gift from old pupils. Typical of her sacrificial nature, she didn’t spend the 80th ticket money gift on herself. She instead used the money to upgrade the front gate in school....and was proudly telling everyone & raving that her ‘children’ (old pupils) did it. Our time in Cape Town made me see her completely differently. We spent such fun & impactful time together – eating, gisting, laughing, touring, playing, watching movies, learning, reading & more! By the second day I think, the ‘fear’ turned to total respect, honour, admiration & mentorship. I learnt so so much! I’ve been applying all learnt daily into my life & my mum’s school since then.
I am one of those who strongly believe in celebrating & honoring loved ones no matter what while alive. Mummy Solaru was one of the few elderly non biological parent I had left. I called / whatsapp her regularly and she used to call & whatsapp me too fairly regularly. Most of the time when I am visiting Nigeria, I make sure I visit her.
Thankfully, I did visit her when I was Nigeria last month. I noticed that she had lost weight though still in great shape. She confided in me that she had been ill and was now ‘sacked’ from her school. We both joked about her now having no choice but to rest more and reduce her activities. We still gisted about school, politics, education, her sadness of the very young girl that was raped in a private school on the island few years ago, Nigeria, life, her missing her elder sister that passed away last year, sharing loving memories of her late husband, an old pupil who was made SAN late last year that invited her as special guest but she was unable to go as it was in Abuja & more…..of course she did most of the talking and I was so enjoying listening to her. Truly NEVER a dull moment with her.
When she escorted me outside to my car that day, I actually felt that was the last time I would see her alive. Though I immediately dismissed the strange thought. So in a way I did kind of say my bye bye in person. I know she knew I loved her so much and I told her so, as and when. She told / showed me she loved me too. Up till about a few weeks before she passed we did talk on the phone & she still was sending me occasional whatsapp messages until it finally stopped.
With her very strong personality, I think she did not want anyone to feel sorry for her. She wanted to leave in a dignified way on her own terms which I believe is what happened exactly.
A big vacuum, but permanent footsteps imprinted
Sun re Mama wa re re
Missing You!!
Your SPS Daughter
Oluwakemi Akiyode-Adebayo
Sunnyfields & Tenderfoot (1970 to 1977)