Tope was an inspiring, supportive, wonderful colleague, mentor and friend. In the 16 years that I knew him he never ceased to encourage me both professionally and personally. I have witnessed, and benefited from, his energy and passion as he worked with colleagues around the world across the disciplines. He took real joy in other people's happiness. 
His laughter was a thing of beauty. The advice he so generously gave and the joy and love that he communicated will stay with me forever. I will miss him so very much and will think of him so very often. My thoughts are with his family.

I am crushed to learn the sad news of my mentor Tope Omoniyi's passing.
                                                            It was an honour to be considered his friend and his student. Truly one of the greatest minds I will ever know - a father, a poet, a hip-hop linguist, a scholar, a great believer in the kinetic power of the WORD.  
                                                         He was the one to give me my very first hip-hop linguistics book, "Roc the Mic Right" (S. Alim) and my first sociolinguistics book, and I was inspired beyond anything I had imagined. 

During my preparations for Africa Day Sofia this year, I often thought of him and how great it would be if he were to visit Bulgaria soon. On the very day, May 27th, a Cameroonian girl asked me what had inspired me to love African culture and to start our NGO, which organises Africa Day in Bulgaria. I spoke of Sky and his influence on me when I was younger. Little did I know he was leaving his earthly body meanwhile.                      

To celebrate this amazing human and cultural being, I would like to share a verse from his poetry collection "Farting Presidents":             I shall sing my own song       
(for a nation that hopes)

I shall sing my own song/
In my time/
These faultering steps would cease/
And shivers of my muscles/
Will marry the rhythms from my drum/
I shall select my costume/
Of pearls and ostrich feathers/
Of cowries and fluffy cow tail/
And when the curtain parts/
And I take the stage in its beam/
I shall blink for the world to film/
A live one in the boom of fullness/
This cold will go/
This crack will heal/
And I shall sing my song before long//

You will be missed, Tope,
Respect!
Miryana.

I used to see Tope at sociolinguistics events and was always impressed by his presence and his warmth, his charm and a kind of creative energy that seemed to emanate from him. That acquaintanceship deepened into friendship one morning at the AILA Congress in Beijing in 2011. Tope had arrived that same morning to chair a panel and was keen to get into the conference. I offered to go with him, sure I knew the way. We walked and walked in the heat chatting as we went about all and everything and got totally lost, eventually taking a taxi back to the hotel to start again. Tope arrived at the conference by the skin of his teeth to chair the panel. I was apologizing profusely when he stopped me with these words: " Mike you know, in the course of this morning I started thinking of you as a brother." And of course, from that moment on, that was exactly how I thought of him. I was present on another occasion when Tope was asked (by a Vice Chancellor) to describe an occasion when he had showed leadership. He thought for a moment and said: "Well, as president of the student' union at Ibadan, I led a campaign which resulted in the dismissal of the vice-chancellor for corruption." You could have heard a pin drop.Out of all his many qualities I pick out these to highlight: courage, tenderness, imagination, dedication. At the Sociolinguistics Symposium in Berlin I was privileged to meet Tope's lovely family. What a loss for them, for us all, my dear brother!

Oh Sky ... I am in shock, man. Just so sad. I will always remember you telling me how a friend of yours at university looked across the table at you and said, "whenever I look at you all I see is sky" and that was how you got your nickname ... I'll keep you in my thoughts as I look at the sun going down, now and for many days to come. Such a good friend, such a powerful vital presence. Farewell.

I remember meeting Tope for the first time in 2006 at a BAAL event on African sociolinguistics - I was just fresh from finishing my PhD study. He made me very welcome and the feedback he gave on my paper presentation was very positive and kind. From that point on we struck a friendship that saw me inviting him to give a paper at my University and asking him to review my research outputs to acting as my reference on research funding applications. He was always generous with his professional guidance and encouragement. My sadness at his sudden demise cannot compare to what Karen, the children, mama and Tope's relatives must be passing through right now. However, as a man of faith I draw comfort in the knowledge that he's at peace and free from the pains of this world. Adieu dear friend, adieu BIG BROS, may your soul rest in peace in the Lord's bosom.

Words are powerful but they fail us when faced with the loss of someone we love. I wish I was poet, like you Tope, as gifted and inspirational. I will miss you. Your ease, your energy and laughter, your warmth and openness. It was a privilege to know you, to spend some time with you. I will always remember you.

Tope was very generous and i'll never forget his support and encouragement. When we applied for funds with a joint project, I was touched by his enthusiasm and his belief that academic research can make the world a better place. I was lucky to work with him on a conference panel in the US although sadly he never made it there. Until the last minute he carried on working and keeping positive. He was a wonderfully modest and caring man. I can't believe he's gone. I'll miss you so much dear Tope.

Dear Karen and family,
I have such warm memories of Sky reaching out to include my work in an edited collection and then once, during my sabbatical in Finland, he happened to be there and to have time to meet. I could feel what a great and kind mine he was/ is. Thus, though I scarcely knew him, I always think of him fondly. My heart goes out to you all.

Baba....Uncle Sky as I fondly call you, you have indeed left this sinful word to rest in the bossom of our Lord, my family will miss you for your visits and fatherly counsel.....Funmi could not believe it, Iyinoluwa was scared to hear of your departure. You have been the inspiration behind my career aspirations, God's own hand in my life and our counsellor. Sleep on baba until we meet to part no more. Love from Femi, Funmi, Iyinoluwa and Inioluwa.

Dear Karen and family

I first met Sky in 1996 when we both attended a language rights conference at Hong Kong University. We ended up talking and going out for dinner one night and that was the start of a great friendship. I always looked forward to catching up with him at conferences after that - not least, for his wonderful (and wicked) sense of humour - and we would often just hang out together, especially when our interest in the conference waned! I last saw him, again in Hong Kong, at the conference on language and globalisation in 2015 and, as always, I enjoyed his company again immensely.

Sky was to keynote at the Sociolinguistics Symposium 22 Conference that I'm convening in 2018 and I'm so sorry that I won't now be catching up with him again there (I had already had some potential restaurants in mind!). We will definitely organise something to commemorate his life and his work, not least because I think his work, and its influence, has not always been recognised to the degree that it should.

As for me, though, I will miss most his booming laugh, his infectious humour, and, above all, his kindness and generosity. Thinking of you all at this very sad time..
Stephen

Dear Karen,
there are many many tributes to 'Tope from the Language in Africa SIG from many countries even in such a short space of time. I've asked members to post here, but will also collate messages for you. You are all so much in our thoughts...

At the last meeting/conference of the Heavenly Acts Network in Roehampton last year, it was decided that the concluding conference of this theme of the Network would hold in Sheffield in May, 2017. We were both hopeful we would be there. Since I met you back in 2000 we had become the Arnold-Devito Twins at conferences in the UK, Europe, USA and Canada. I couldn't go with you to Hong Kong or Singapore. Thanks for the challenge of funding in Nigerian universities. I had sent in an abstract to Andrey for the Sheffield meeting to talk on: "Poetry, Performance and Journey back Home from the Market". It was meant to look at how the Yoruba guild of babalawo and hunters celebrate their departed colleagues and personages. I couldn't make this meeting. The last text from you, we had both hoped and pray that the " cup would pass over"you. But He knows best. I recall our journey on the Bakassi Peninsula in 2004 or 2005 when we would have drowned following a crazy tidal wave. But He said that would not be. Today, you are gone but you have become a four-eyed being able to see here and there and, perhaps, know more than we do here on this plane. May the light of the ineffable One see you home from this market where you have traded so well with your openness, kindness and generous soul.

I had the great pleasure of knowing Sky when we both worked at the NIE in Singapore. He was an inspirational colleague and a great friend and has left a huge gap by his passing.

"I am Tope Omoniyi from Roehampton University. I like to talk to you about a grant application .... " an early morning phone call, 1998.
"Friends call me Sky because of my height. Yes, call me Sky" ... when we eventually met at his Dad's birthday.
"If we want things to change, we must change our ways. And we can't let our leaders just get away with everything" -- another call, 2015.
"She is my sister. I lost her to cancer last year" our last WhatsApp chat.
Love, laughter, passion, action -- that is what I remember you for, Sky. RIP!

Words are not enough to appreciate you my brother. You were a great influence, inspiration and motivation in my life. In 1978 you spoke to me words that opened my spirit to excellence and took me from being an average pupil in school to becoming the best pupil in my class, best student in Secondary school, the trip to FSAS Ondo to register for A/L, a week of motivation tour of UNILAG to inspire me to get in to the University in Oct 1985, MBA at UNI Ilorin.
A great lecturer, you taught me Use of English(FSC101) in my first Year in UNILAG.
All of my friends have stories to tell of how much impact you made in their lives. You were brother to all.
You and Karen gave me invitation to the UK and gave me counsel that got me the Professional accountancy qualification I work with now. My wedding in June 2000 was funded by both of you, your counsels to my wife and I keeps us going. You gave my son his name Olukunwa and he calls you his best friend and calls you Baba. My wife Jumoke remembers you calling her Jumsy! and I was Olumen! We have not been the same without you. You are greatly missed. Our joy is that we know where you are and that is where are all preparing ourselves for. A place in Christ.
I thank God for the opportunity to bring you into salvation of Christ. Members of Christ Embassy Church Reading and Christ Embassy Basingstoke UK remember you greatly for you humility and kind words.
Rest well my brother till we meet in Christ. I love you.
Your brother
Pst Oluyomi Omoniyi

Hello Baba words are not enough to show how you have encouraged and supported us in the way of having confidence in ourselves.I remember how Olukunwa is always proud in his school to introduced you as a celebrity as he believes you are one. He once googled your name to show his teachers your publications because he was proud of you and you motivate him. And many people have said the same of you as their great mentor.
Every minute I look at the door thinking you will walk in and call me the name you always liked to call me Jumsy!. I really missed you.

Learning of your passing on was a huge shock. You will forever be missed uncle Sky, Prof. Everytime I see Olukunwa I see you.
You made an impact at Christ Embassy Reading with your ever so wonderful poems. Rest well Prof.
To the entire Omoniyi family, Karen, the girls and Feranmi may the Holy Spirit of God strengthen and comfort you.

It is night time and I am home from trip. Reading of Tope's passing away, I find it very difficult to believe it has happened. We started working together during the 2006-07 Nollywood pilot project at the OU and met again when I examined one of his students' Ph.D. Last time I skyped him some months ago to ask whether he wanted to contribute to a journal, he said he was so busy...He was a very caring man, a respected colleague, always passionate about his work. He also mentioned you, precious family, often, and I know how he cared for you Karen and the kids. It pains me we did not have the opportunity of meeting you all. I always believed there would be time, and it is too late. Take care and know you are in our hearts at this time.