May someone tell me this ain’t true. May I simply be dreaming and not really reading these words, about the death of Wole Ogundele, a person I consider to be a true friend, the first friend I made in Nigeria when I enrolled in my MPHIL program at the University of Ibadan in 1975. He was a very soft spoken, wise, kind, and faithful friend We were both residents of Balewa Hall, the post-graduate residence, one of the most lovely and scholarly residences for graduate students I have ever lived in, even compared to Buchanan Hall ( Iowa State University) and International House ( The University of Chicago). After my studies at the University of Chicago I was appointed as a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University ( faculty of technology) where I met my friend Wole again. Once again, he was the person who made my three years stay at Ife a very memorable one, in the days of Modakeke-Ife conflicts. I remember taking a trip to Akure with Wole and his wife a day after the election that Shagari’s party claimed to have won Ondo state. We drove into a chaotic situation just at the outskirts of Akure where armed and drunken Nigerian troops were controlling the riots that erupted after the elections. The troops, who were visibly beating up civilians mercilessly ordered us out of our car for interrogation. Lord, I thought that was the end of my life. A ‘big’ man was taken out of his Mercedes benz and clubbed in front of us and I immediately saw our fate. Women and children were screaming. Wole walked to one of the officers and uttered a few words. To my surprise the officer ordered his boys to clear the way for us to turn around and drive back to Ife. He had that charm. He was the kind of guy with superb persuasive skills, a good man, a kind man, a very, very honest man. As we say in Ashanti, damirifa due, wo ne nyame nko! This is a cruel world. In the last couple of months I have lost 2 great Ife buddies, Valentine Ojo, and now Wole. May their souls rest in perfect peace.
Kwaku Mensah
Chicago
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Toyin Falola
Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 11:46 PM
To: dialogue; Yoruba Affairs
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Obituary: Professor Wole Ogundele
It is with sadness that I announce the death of Professor Wole Ogundele, Professor of English Literature, Obafemi Awolowo University, and the executive director of the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding in Osogbo, Nigeria.
Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
104 Inner Campus Drive
Austin, TX 78712-0220
USA
512 475 7224
512 475 7222 (fax)
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