It was my first visit to South Africa, and my great friend Chikwe, and his family, hosted a BBQ in my honour and invited their Jozy crew. I'd heard of Ije, this artsy, strong but sweet lady, but I had no recollection of ever meeting her even though we would have been contemporaries at different campuses of the University of Nigeria. 

We hit it off quickly, almost like we'd been old friends. And just before she announced she was ready to leave, we exchanged numbers. But there was one last ritual to perform beforehand: pictures.  Another friend, Imoh, whipped out his camera as Ije readied herself, and just at that moment, Imoh's wife, Laura, stepped up to take a picture with me at the poolside. 'We need a full shot o!' she shouted across to hubby. As he stepped back, I thought it wise to do same. Big mistake. I ended up in the pool fully dressed and with both my phones in my pocket. 

After the laughter abated, and I'd swiped a change of clothes  from my hosts, I re-emerged to find Ijey still there. We never got that picture, but we got much more. A close friendship with a truly genuine soul, who came to love my family and care for my daughter whilst she boarded in Jozy almost a decade after. 

Calling my daughter this morning to inform her that Aunty Ijey was gone was one of the hardest things I've endured. We are devastated. Death couldn't have come for a wronger person and at a worse time. This is hard to rationalize. 

PS: We got our photo much later...in 2020, just as the Almighty ordained it. And we both had wonderful daughters to share that moment with. 

God rest you dearest Ije! You will always have a place in the collective hearts of my family and I. Forever. 

The Uche Okeke children were a recurrent part of the Onobrakpeya children's childhood. Our dad's were best of friends from their University days and our mums too were close. Ijeoma was a great girl, very confident, always talking with a smile on her face as she engaged me in diverse topics. In our adulthood our interactions became more intense. We had common backgrounds and passion and we saw from time to time to discuss. Recently, I wrote an article about Asele Institute and she called me to say she did not know I wrote so well.I liked Ijeoma! Now I hear she passed on. Shock is an understatement about how I felt. But I never asked why. Thank you for being my friend Ijeoma. Greet Uncle Uche and other loved ones on that side. Goodnight Ijeoma.