Dear All:
Exactly 10 years ago today (May 25, 2009), we lost in a Kenya road auto accident one of Africa's most brilliant minds and celebrated scholars: Oxford-educated Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-Rahim, a Nigeria-born Rhodes Scholar. On that day, as we later learnt, Comrade Taju, as many of us knew him as a magnificent Activist in our midst, was travelling on that fateful day on the Mombasa road, in Kenya, to the airport to fly to Rwanda to join President Kagame and other Pan-African luminaries in celebration of Africa [Freedom] Day. His sudden passing, a decade ago, has been remembered and memorialized each blessed year.
Today, several activities are being held to remember our fallen Comrade and Brother Taju. For example, Amnesty International Executive Director Irungu Houghton has penned an eloquent tribute to celebrate Africa [Freedom] Day 2019 and also to memorialize Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-Rahim. In an axiomatic introduction, Comrade Houghton, inter alia, wrote the following touching words, in italics, followed by his brilliant essay in Kenya-based Standard newspaper:
It is often said, all human beings die twice. Once when we breathe our last, the second time when the last person speaks of us. Today is the 10th Anniversary of the death of Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-Rahim, one of Africa's most passionate supporters. How has the continent changed since his tragic 2009 Mombasa road accident?
I revisit Taju and Africa in the Kenyan Standard Newspapers #StandardSettingKE, enjoy it here: https://bit.ly/2HXBoUN
Happy @#AfricaDay2019 all,
Irũngũ Houghton
Mob: +254-733-635-354 | Skype: irungu.houghton
Kilimani, Nairobi, Kenya
On Sat, 25 May 2019 at 00:45, Assensoh, Akwasi B. <aassenso@indiana.edu> wrote:
-Brother/Comrade Kole:
Bless you and your Planning Committee Associates for making sure that the brilliant mind and intellectual bravery of our dear Taju are not forgotten, even aftera decade of his departure from this "wretched earth"! I can see him smiling as he gives a brilliant Lecture (on Nigeria's first celebration of Democracy day) to someof our older intellectuals with him in the ancestral home (or Heven), including Professors Chinua Achebe, Ali A. Mazrui, Abiola Irele, Kofi Awoonor, and several others!The Legendary and Iconic South Africa's Emeritus President Nelson Mandela may chair such a function for Brother/Comrade Taju to speak word to power!
We will await additional planning logistics! Brother/Comrade Taju deserves our love and perpetual remembrance!!A.B.
--------Rev. A.B. Assensoh, LL.M., Ph.D. (e-mail: aassenso@indiana.edu; assensoh@uoregon.edu)
Professor Emeritus, Indiana University
Courtesy Professor Emeritus
Department of History
University of Oregon
Eugene, Oregon 97403
USA [Oregon Telephone #: 541-953-7710
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From: Kole Shettima <koleshettima@yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, May 24, 2019 6:25 PM
To: irungu.houghton@gmail.com
Cc: comfortero@gmail.com; Abdel-Fatau Musah; AFI GMAIL; Assensoh, Akwasi B.; Alejandra Martins; Aliyu Shehu; Anthony Akinola; Assumpta Oturu; Atamps Nicolas; Atukwei Okai; Bayo Olukoshi; Comfort Lamptey; Danbala Danju; Horace Campbell; Hussainatu Abdullah; Jenerali Ulimwengu; John Opoku; Mounira TJ; Mounira Tajuuden; Najat Akdouren; Napoleon Abdulai; Okwiri Rabwoni; Tominke Olaniyan; Yusuf Hassan; chrisatim1@gmail.com; comfortlamptey@gmail.com; daleypatricia@googlemail.com; datugiya@aol.com; daudasuru@yahoo.com; fatoumata toure; ibbo.mandaza@icloud.com; kadu@hotmail.com; kantaraka; kwesi@casas.co.za; kyeretwie.opoku@gmail.com; medina wesseh; medinaawesseh3@gmail.com; pkapenteng@hotmail.com; sagariba@yahoo.ca; thomas.jaye@gmail.com; tituskis@yahoo.co.uk; tokofosu@yahoo.com; wassa fathi; yalex@uerogon.edu; ynyeya@yahoo.com; Horace Campbell
Subject: Taju Memorial 2019
Dear All,
We are planning the 10th anniversary of our departed Comrade on June 11th to coincide with the first celebration of Democracy Day in Nigeria.
I will share additional information.
Kole
On Sun, 27 May 2018 at 10:38 am, Kole Shettima<koleshettima@yahoo.com> wrote:Thanks for drawing attention to this very important issue.
On Sun, 27 May 2018 at 10:08 am, Irungu Houghton<irungu.houghton@gmail.com> wrote:Dear Kole and comrades,Hope you are all well and engaged powerfully for justice and unity for our continent. Thought you might like to see an article I published yesterday for Africa Liberation Day / Taju Day. Here it is https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001281742/let-s-speak-up-on-palestinian-israeli-conflictIrungu
Irũngũ Houghton
Mob: +254-733-635-354 | Skype: irungu.houghton
Box 52871-00100, Kilimani, Nairobi, Kenya
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