May 14, 2021
May 14, 2021
*IN MEMORY OF A CLASSMATE, FRIEND AND SISTER: VIVIENNE EMBE TATAW Epse EWOLO*
Dear Embe,
Your untimely departure from our midst leaves me perplexed and very sad. The cold hands of death have snatched you away from us and, painful as it is, there is practically nothing any of us can do to reverse it. So sad, isn't it? Yet, so real!
Embe, I this missive, I attempt to reflect on a few aspects of you while you were with us.
1) *WHAT MEMORIES OF YOU?*
Death may have taken your physical body away from our sight but you shall forever be in our hearts and minds. How can we forget you, Vivienne? Or, more precisely, how can "I" forget you? I, the CNN (classmate, friend and brother) that you knew too well?
And what memories shall I mention or, indeed, not mention here? From our Fiango/3Corners Fiango neighbourhood, GSS Nyasoso, CCAST Bambili, the University of Benin (Benin City, Nigeria) etc.
Vivienne, we effectively first came in contact in September 1982 during the first term of our first year as students in GSS Nyasoso. I remember our glorious and beautiful early years in the boarding house during which, as relatively shy teenagers, we were able to make the best out of student life in various ways.
a) *Picture time!*:
I remember the pictures that we students used to take around the beautiful and flowery G.S.S. Nyasoso campus: the Botanic Garden, the Assembly Ground and its surroundings offices, etc. First, it was the "magical" Kodak instant prints which enabled us see the pictures barely a few minutes after the snapshots were taken.
And later it was the coloured films that had to be sent off to Europe for development and printing, and we would only receive the pictures back in 'Soso some two or three months later. I remember how you and our other female classmates (Alobwede Maureen, Ewane Vivian, Ambe Lum Patience, Akpu Judith Ngozi, Akwa Linda Agwi, Ekinde Patience, etc) would 'cluster' around each other, flipping through the pictures jubilantly before we the guys ever had the chance to take a glance.
b) *Club Nights & Impromptu Speeches etc*:
I remember the Club nights (Cine Photo, Drama, World Affairs etc) and how, as Forms 1 & 2 students, we used yo derive pleasure occasionally attending each other's club to see what they were up to.
I also remember the Impromptu Speeches nights and how, though still in Form 1 (later Form 2), you would answer questions confidently and still with that smiling face, contrary to the shyness manifested even by senior students when called up during such nights. With hindsight and in a positive way, your confidence level was probably comparable to that of students in higher classes like Gaston Juliet and, to a lesser extent, Belga Margaret Mary.
2) *Embe, Your Character Traits*:
You had a sense of magnetism that naturally pulled people towards you. You never forced it; it came naturally. People came towards you, from all walks of life. It was never a one-way traffic; you also went towards them. You were truly a "people person".
Vi', you were very friendly, open-minded, kind-hearted and full of love for humanity. I did not see you bear grudges against people and you did all you could to avoid them, in the first place. You had a tactful and diplomatic way of putting off nuisances and troublemakers, and "putting them off" you would polish it with your gorgeous and infectious smile. I really admired that skill of yours.
3) *CCAST Bambili*: After our five years in Nyasoso, if anyone doubted the assertion that your magnetism made you a people person, then your 'brief' stopover in Bambili undoubtedly justifies that assertion. Just two years in CCAST Bambili, the circle of friends and acquaintances that you made was unimaginable. Your legacy speaks for itself and the "reactions" of CCASTERIANS towards your funeral is a clear testimony.
4) *After CCAST*: In the nineties, the unseen hands of providence would take us to 'Naija'. And while we were at the University of Benin together, your shining star continued to make you a people person both within the Cameroonian and Nigerian communities. You did not hesitate to lend a helping hand to any initiative that you deemed worthy of support. Besides Dr Richard Caspa and Lord John OJONG AKUM (Sec. Gen) & a few others, you gave me immense moral support during my tenure as President General of NUCS Nigeria.
Embe, I remember when I would visit your family home in Kumba. During our lengthy "tori", Dad's love for you would be so manifest. He would gladly give me your parcel to bring back to you in UNIBEN and you & I would chat joyously on how I met them. Ah, student life!
Embe, over the years, you had become not only the classmate that i first met in 'Soso but also a friend and a sister. Won't be wrong to say that you knew (some of) my outings. And the opposite would not be untrue. And for the right reasons, of course!
Later in 2020, we spoke about business. You explained some of the initiatives undertaken by you and your husband. I gave suggestions on how i thought you guys could boost commercialisation of some of the agricultural products you were dealing with. You explicitly appreciated my suggestions and said that you would take them on board.
Little could i imagine that would be the last time you and I would talk on the phone. A few months later, i got the terrible news of your ill health. You could only text and would not normally answer calls.
*AND NOW . . .*:
And, now, the news is even more devastating: Vivienne Embe Tataw Epse Ewolo is no more. So sad, so painful. But what shall we do? What can we do? We, mortal humans. We loved you but God loved you more. As we all get ready for the burial of your mortal remains tomorrow Saturday, 15th May 2021, we trust and pray that He will take care of the Husband and children (and the rest of the family) that you have left behind.
May your beautiful SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE.
- C. N. Ngwa
Classmate, friend and brother
Friday, 14th May 2021. . .
Dear Embe,
Your untimely departure from our midst leaves me perplexed and very sad. The cold hands of death have snatched you away from us and, painful as it is, there is practically nothing any of us can do to reverse it. So sad, isn't it? Yet, so real!
Embe, I this missive, I attempt to reflect on a few aspects of you while you were with us.
1) *WHAT MEMORIES OF YOU?*
Death may have taken your physical body away from our sight but you shall forever be in our hearts and minds. How can we forget you, Vivienne? Or, more precisely, how can "I" forget you? I, the CNN (classmate, friend and brother) that you knew too well?
And what memories shall I mention or, indeed, not mention here? From our Fiango/3Corners Fiango neighbourhood, GSS Nyasoso, CCAST Bambili, the University of Benin (Benin City, Nigeria) etc.
Vivienne, we effectively first came in contact in September 1982 during the first term of our first year as students in GSS Nyasoso. I remember our glorious and beautiful early years in the boarding house during which, as relatively shy teenagers, we were able to make the best out of student life in various ways.
a) *Picture time!*:
I remember the pictures that we students used to take around the beautiful and flowery G.S.S. Nyasoso campus: the Botanic Garden, the Assembly Ground and its surroundings offices, etc. First, it was the "magical" Kodak instant prints which enabled us see the pictures barely a few minutes after the snapshots were taken.
And later it was the coloured films that had to be sent off to Europe for development and printing, and we would only receive the pictures back in 'Soso some two or three months later. I remember how you and our other female classmates (Alobwede Maureen, Ewane Vivian, Ambe Lum Patience, Akpu Judith Ngozi, Akwa Linda Agwi, Ekinde Patience, etc) would 'cluster' around each other, flipping through the pictures jubilantly before we the guys ever had the chance to take a glance.
b) *Club Nights & Impromptu Speeches etc*:
I remember the Club nights (Cine Photo, Drama, World Affairs etc) and how, as Forms 1 & 2 students, we used yo derive pleasure occasionally attending each other's club to see what they were up to.
I also remember the Impromptu Speeches nights and how, though still in Form 1 (later Form 2), you would answer questions confidently and still with that smiling face, contrary to the shyness manifested even by senior students when called up during such nights. With hindsight and in a positive way, your confidence level was probably comparable to that of students in higher classes like Gaston Juliet and, to a lesser extent, Belga Margaret Mary.
2) *Embe, Your Character Traits*:
You had a sense of magnetism that naturally pulled people towards you. You never forced it; it came naturally. People came towards you, from all walks of life. It was never a one-way traffic; you also went towards them. You were truly a "people person".
Vi', you were very friendly, open-minded, kind-hearted and full of love for humanity. I did not see you bear grudges against people and you did all you could to avoid them, in the first place. You had a tactful and diplomatic way of putting off nuisances and troublemakers, and "putting them off" you would polish it with your gorgeous and infectious smile. I really admired that skill of yours.
3) *CCAST Bambili*: After our five years in Nyasoso, if anyone doubted the assertion that your magnetism made you a people person, then your 'brief' stopover in Bambili undoubtedly justifies that assertion. Just two years in CCAST Bambili, the circle of friends and acquaintances that you made was unimaginable. Your legacy speaks for itself and the "reactions" of CCASTERIANS towards your funeral is a clear testimony.
4) *After CCAST*: In the nineties, the unseen hands of providence would take us to 'Naija'. And while we were at the University of Benin together, your shining star continued to make you a people person both within the Cameroonian and Nigerian communities. You did not hesitate to lend a helping hand to any initiative that you deemed worthy of support. Besides Dr Richard Caspa and Lord John OJONG AKUM (Sec. Gen) & a few others, you gave me immense moral support during my tenure as President General of NUCS Nigeria.
Embe, I remember when I would visit your family home in Kumba. During our lengthy "tori", Dad's love for you would be so manifest. He would gladly give me your parcel to bring back to you in UNIBEN and you & I would chat joyously on how I met them. Ah, student life!
Embe, over the years, you had become not only the classmate that i first met in 'Soso but also a friend and a sister. Won't be wrong to say that you knew (some of) my outings. And the opposite would not be untrue. And for the right reasons, of course!
Later in 2020, we spoke about business. You explained some of the initiatives undertaken by you and your husband. I gave suggestions on how i thought you guys could boost commercialisation of some of the agricultural products you were dealing with. You explicitly appreciated my suggestions and said that you would take them on board.
Little could i imagine that would be the last time you and I would talk on the phone. A few months later, i got the terrible news of your ill health. You could only text and would not normally answer calls.
*AND NOW . . .*:
And, now, the news is even more devastating: Vivienne Embe Tataw Epse Ewolo is no more. So sad, so painful. But what shall we do? What can we do? We, mortal humans. We loved you but God loved you more. As we all get ready for the burial of your mortal remains tomorrow Saturday, 15th May 2021, we trust and pray that He will take care of the Husband and children (and the rest of the family) that you have left behind.
May your beautiful SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE.
- C. N. Ngwa
Classmate, friend and brother
Friday, 14th May 2021. . .