Punctuated Song of Celebration In Memory of Isidore Okpewho
By
Chinyere G. Okafor
Oke osisi ada-a. Big tree has fallen.
He is a novelist, literary giant, teacher, author and Distinguished Professor who bestrides Africa, the African Diaspora and the globe with literary blocks and ammunitions from the African to the classical and modern worlds. SUNY Distinguished Professor of the Humanities, Isidore Okpewho retired from SUNY Binghamton where he taught literature – from Africa to the diaspora and from Classical to the Modern and Postcolonial. He also taught Creative Writing and Jazz Studies. He was the former Chair of Africana Studies, SUNY Binghamton (1991-97) and Department of English, University of Ibadan (1987-90). He won awards and honors including his 1998 Dean's Award for Honors Teaching Excellence, SUNY Binghamton; the 1993 (British) Commonwealth Writers Prize for his novel, Tides; and his 1982 Fellowship of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars as well as many others that cannot be cited in this short piece. He was a good person and family man who passed on Sunday, the 4th of September, 2016 at the age of 74.
Anyi na ebe na asi, We are crying and saying,
Na Ndo-Anyi ana-a. That Our-Shadow has left.
Anyi echefuo na, We forget that,
O nwere nyekerekpotu, It is immovable/profound,
Na ime ngborogwu nya. In the core of its roots.
The demise of my rose-tree comes to mind as I thought about a tribute to Okpewho. In 2012, an unexpected weather trouble besieged Kansas and hit the city of Wichita very badly with extended severe heat and other afflictions and allergies. My beautiful rose-tree never came back to its full beauty and after years of struggle, we dug it out in the spring of 2016. Guess what? In the summer, we noticed fresh buds coming from the spot where we removed the roots. The experience taught me and my children the "lesson of deep roots." It will take a bulldozer to uproot the house and the yard in order to get to the deep roots and maybe never get to the deepest roots that will continue to blossom thousands of years to come.
My Rose-Tree story has bearing to but not the same as my feeling and thinking about the passing of Our Teacher and My Mentor, Isidore Okpewho. This literary giant has left his marks on Women and Gender Studies through his visionary feminist novels, The Victims (1970) and The Last Duty (1976), which appeared during a period that many men did not think of gender and many women were afraid of the term, feminism. Some of his colleagues could have smirked at how the distinguished professor was thinking feminist but his literary stature could not be ignored and therefore attracted the first attention to the works. A cursory or even skeptical look at the novels demonstrated accomplished artistry in depicting patriarchal maneuvering in war and peace. This was a unique achievement. It drew my attention to this special gentleman before he wrote other distinguished and award-winning novels such as Tides and Call me by My Rightful Name. I discovered his academic complexity particularly his works on oral literature, which intersected with my study of traditional African drama and theater. I discovered African Oral Literature: Backgrounds, Character, and Continuity. I discovered other works like Myth in Africa (1983) and its forerunner, The Epic in Africa (1979) as well as Once Upon a Kingdom and numerous essays. Through these works, I discovered Isidore Okpewho, the multi-award-winning Distinguished Professor of the Humanities..
He is a person whose achievement belies his humble and affable disposition. He is down to earth, a good listener, friendly and fun person. He used to be a constant figure at African Conferences and events walking with his beautiful wife Mary Obiageli and both adding dignity, grace and beauty to the events. Remarkable couple!
I will never forget Okpewho's reaction to my manuscript on Traditional drama and theater. After reading it, he phoned me with supportive comments and suggestions. He insisted that I got a university press to publish it and that for the future, I should explore the global diasporic dimension of the work. The book, Ikeji Festival Theater of the Aro and Diaspora has been published by the University of Lagos press and I was hoping to send a copy with a letter of appreciation to Isidore BUT…
Has death cheated me? Although I am celebrative and grateful to God for creating this unique person and giving me the opportunity to know him, I am really sad and pray for his family, friends, associates and all of us who miss him dearly. I regret that he did not see how I complimented him in my book. He will never read the letter of appreciation that I composed. I am sad that I will not see this robust personality with charming smiles and his ever-ready and eager mind BUT …
Eminent people have immortalized their images and contributions and they live thousands of years after their departure from this living world. So it will be with Isidore Okpewho. His pioneering works on Gender and African Oral Literature will be studied, criticized, acclaimed and reframed forever and his smiling face will continue to grace many books, internet sites and especially the hearts and minds that he touched. What an amazing legacy.
Isidore Okpewho, Isidore Okpewho,
Na-a na udo. Depart in peace.
Ndi ichie na eche gi. The forebears await your return.
Igba na ada si ike, The drum is roaring strongly,
Ka anyi na ebe na asi, As we cry and sing,
"Dikwa ka anyi si mara gi, "Remain as we know you,
Mgbe I biara uwa nke-a ozo". When you come to this world again".
Ise, is, ise. So be it, so be it, so be it.
Professor Chinyere G. Okafor, Ph.D
Chair, Department of Women's Studies & Religion
Director, Center for Women's Studies
Wichita State University, Wichita, KS 67260, USA
Phone: (316) 978-7164, E-mail: chinyere.okafor@wichita.edu
URL <http://soar.wichita.edu/dspace/handle/10057/1222>
<http://webs.wichita.edu/wmstudy/faculty.html><http://www.chiwrite.com/>
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