THE MAMA THAT I KNOW (EYE OLOJA 1)
I know Julie Graham and Mama never met but Julie’s word and mama’s life has shown to me that eternity is written in man’s heart. Permit me to quote Julie, “I don’t know exactly what the future holds. But I’m stepping forward with grit anchored in grace”. The tenacity with which mama Felicia Omoseke Odumakinde (Nee Fashua) faced the world proven that she came to conquer the world not just to see it. I grew up to know her as my father’s older sister. Though she and her siblings lost their mother at a very tender age and the responsibility of mothering them all fell on her so quickly. This duty she embraced and never failed to fulfil till her eyes were closed in death. Her care knows no bound, her love for her siblings, siblings’ children was limitless, her industry proved she knew her game very well and her never die spirit has shown the world is surmountable.
Mama was very passionate. Therefore, “she saw that her resting place was good and that her land was pleasant, so she bent her shoulder to the burden and submitted to labor as a servant”. She was involved in so many trades she was known to be; Eye Ologede (Plantains seller), Eye Olobi (Kolanut trader) she would do everything and anything legitimate to provide for us her children. A very industrious woman who never had any formal education but went to the best school ever “The Street University” where she got her bachelor degree and further her education in the University of Life Experiences and bagged her master degree. No wonder these words of her classmate in the university of life experiences continually ring a bell; “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, “I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.” You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
Mama cherished education so much so that she ensured all her children went to school; Mama encouraged herself with her popular song at P.T.A (Parent Teachers Association) meetings, Unity Secondary School Ikere- Ekiti will not forget her in a hurry
Song:
O o mi ewa o (My fingers are ten)
Ose mi ewa (My feet toes are ten)
Ogun li mo se (Total twenty)
Ki me r’oni ran mi li sukuru (If I can't find someone who will send me to school)
Ma ran mo’mi (I will send my children)
Olorun mbe le’yin a tapata died o (God is the support of those with no silver spoon)
Let me use this medium to list some of mama spoken English;
Awa you re (How are you?)
O rite ti dat so (Alright that’s all)
Orin-gin- al daadaa (very original)
E dat’s all (That is all)
Mama, a woman of many parts, to some she was a daughter, a wife, a mother, an aunt, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, a helper, a care giver, a family matriarch, a fashionista, a confidant, but for me I will simply put a virtuous mother. Because she exhibited the full attribute of the woman described in Proverb 31:10-31.
Rafeli (Raphael) as she fondly called me, I will miss her call with such a dramatic emphasis. Every morning you wake up with mama you are sure of the family oriki which she recites effortlessly.
She was a pillar of support to all; mama is dependable and ever willing to help in any situations. Her fighting spirit is second to none even till death she kept asking after her family. Aunty Bola told me that few days to her demise she asked;
Mama: Bola, wo gbero Alaba (do you hear from Alaba)
Bola: mama mi O r’Alaba (No mama)
Mama: we di kesi lori phone. O ye ki ti de be i. ( try and call him on phone. He should have been here)
Bola: Ma pe, mama e lo’gun yin (I will him. Mama take your drug)
In closing Permit, me to quote from the words of C. JoyBell C; “Elegance is a glowing inner peace. Grace is an ability to give as well as to receive and be thankful. Mystery is a hidden laugh always ready to surface! Glamour only radiates if there is a sublime courage & bravery within: glamour is like the moon; it only shines because the sun is there.”
Omo loora
Omo eja gboro gboro
Ijesha a mu di bara kun
Kan ba ti ru’gba titun loora
Odun bo fo l’ijesha
Omo o ki’run se gbigbo fa o
O m’aso aligboran tenu etu
Omo ologbon ranyi ona usae
Ogbon t’aso ro, ogbon ye ni j’aso
Sun re o. Eye Oloja 1..
Eye Oloja 1, k’aba mi Olufemi Joshua (Lay reader) your very close pal and confidant, ke’ye Kemi your only sister and don’t forget to say hi to aunt Dada your daughter whom you loved so much. Olaluyi, se lede leyin re. Adieu
Raphael Alaba omo Oluwafemi Fashua.