Reminiscences of a Gardener of Men: Monu'rabi Ogbe.
I stumbled on Monu’s blog (www.ogbe.com) in my search for more information about his death. Monu and l, attended preschool together and l remember, quite vividly, the last time l saw him was when he breezed into town on a Yamaha 1000 Z to visit with his cousins. This was way back in 1979, and Monu was a sight to behold on that bike!
Monu had ridden his bike all the way from Germany, across the Sahara unaccompanied. I remember how crazy everyone thought he was to have embarked on such a daring adventure, but that was the Monu I’d always known; inquisitive, curious, intuitive and infinitely daring. He was a brave heart in every true sense. It’d be decades later before the proprietor of Didi museum would go on a biking adventure across the Sahara. I can now only sigh and bury my head between my palms, in sorrow and lamentation, at the realization that his adventurous spirit finally took him home. I don’t know how to consider this, but for good or bad, we’re all who we are, and Monu lived his life’s dream as who he was.
Reading through his blog, l couldn’t stop dripping tears. Every bit of it, is vintage Monu; witty, exhilarating, definitive, reassuring and warm; he brimmed with both cosmopolitan and native wisdom.. It hurts so bad that it took me one long year to catch up with the news of his death. Yet, I’m so glad, really thankful, he left memories enough for me to start this blog in his tribute. Monu was a great guy, never found one like him... he was my kind of guy. He just loved people, and Lord knows, how he loved to listen and observe.
Monu didn’t care about how rich or powerful anybody was, but he’d be happy for them. It was the substance of the man/woman that caught and held his attention. For him, it was of no consequence that such a man/woman was clad in rags or bedecked in gold. It was always the roots in the soil that he sought, never the vegetation that flowered above.
I tell you, indeed, l lost a great and dear friend… and he was gone without saying goodbye. I’ll miss you Monu, always.
To his dearest wife and family, l say take heart and even as you continue to mourn, remember, there are multitudes that mourn with you, for Monu watered a lot of gardens from which goodness sprung.
May the force be with you.
Another Ode:
Monu, my brother, my friend, rest in perfect peace.
ReplyDeleteMonu... one helluva guy!
ReplyDeleteRIP brother.
It just drained me to read of Monu's death on this blog. It was my friend that sent me the link about interracial marriages written hear. Upon exploring its content, l ended up here in shock.
ReplyDeleteMonu was capable of so many things, he was such a gift. You couldn't be his friend and not benefit from his immense sociocultural richness. Such a shame he left so soon.
Came across this blog having just had a random memory of Monu pop into my mind. Such kind, and accurate descriptions of him as a person - Truly one of a kind!
DeleteMonu was kind enough to loan me use of his gliders as a young and aspirational pilot at the London Gliding Club, and without this support I'd never have achieved what I have in gliding, and still do. A gift that keeps on giving long after we're forced to live with his memory rather than his presence.
The memory I had was of him coming to collect me, having taken his glider on a 'local' soaring flight and landing out in the middle of Silverstone Racetrack. Monu wasn't put off by this in the slightest, and in fact relished the adventure of driving a 30ft trailer on parts of the racetrack rather than being annoyed at me for eliminating his chance of an afternoon soaring. Whatever the situation, he always just got the best from it. So aspirational! and truly missed.