Re: “Buhari’s secret twin brother”

Glad to be one of the privileged recipients of this review. Makes me realise how much I missed with my inevitable absence from the event. I would have liked to give a more comprehensive review, unfortunately, time does not permit. However, this Review by Bashorun J. K. Randle is an interesting account of the 80th Birthday Celebration of Prof ‘Folabi Olumide and the day after. It is a classic account, quite literary, quite poignant, absolutely authentic, a curious mix of subtle and yet overt humour and very “Randlelisque,” (based on some of his past writings that I have read). The review actually confirms what many have known about the “birthday boy” but have not had the opportunity to express them or see them expressed this way until now. I find the comparison with Buhari absolutely delightful and refreshing. The celebrant is not just a man of few words like Buhari but many people know that at times he speaks in monosyllables, which could be charming at times but which unquestionably has its ups and its down. It could be a virtue in some circumstances but it could also have some deep implications in committed relationships where overt communication is required for effective functioning. However, the Reviewer did not explore the most significant aspect of Buhari that has been on everybody’s lips since his inauguration. The fact that Buhari says he belongs to no one in particular but he belongs to all. As a semi retired public figure, I sincerely hope that this aspect of Buhari also applies to the Celebrant of the day.

This review definitely captures the essence of the Celebrant. Among other things, the Reviewer talked about the Celebrant’s deep awareness of and connection to God, however, with just a moderate dose of religiosity. Unfortunately, not much was covered from the celebrant’s autobiography, (merely mentioned) which would have appeased the curiosity of those of us who like autobiographies. Autobiographies are personal accounts of the writers’ perspectives of him or herself. That way Reviewer missed the opportunity to delve into the soul of the Celebrant. It would have been useful to pick some significant aspects of that autobiography, which would have revealed some important aspects of the Celebrant’s journey of life as autobiographies are usually personal narratives, and the looking-glass mirror accounts of the self.

The Reviewer nonetheless spent a lot of time on the Celebrant’s poems and concludes that the celebrant is more like William Yeats than John Keats. I absolutely disagree with the Reviewer on this. The Celebrant does not possess that underlying philosophical bend that Yeats brings into his poems. The Surgeon is simply not a Philosopher. He is too much of a Pragmatist to be one. However, like Keats he is quite direct and sentimental. It is interesting that the Reviewer’s choice of the best offering is “Ode to the Surgeon.” Rightfully it offers an insight into the Celebrant’s profession from an insider’s lens. I particularly like the reference to God as the “Ultimate Surgeon” but then I wondered about reference to “The heart of a lion and a little sadistic streak? Maybe!”. With the immense power of “life and death” in the hands of the Surgeon, any dose of sadism no matter how small seems scary. However my choice of poem is “day by day   my morning prayer”  simply because I am a Woman of Prayer, which I understand was beautifully rendered as a Song with the music composed by the Celebrant at the Birthday Service as a gift to the guests. I love that touching gesture. I would have liked to witness that. The Reviewer describes the poem “tenderly” as “a groping for love”. I also disagree with this. That poem is an expression of an intense emotional encounter, graphically portrayed by the Celebrant. “She speaks to me, she looks at me, she smiles at me, she touches me”. I find the poem quite intriguing. I believe it says a lot more than it dares to reveal. Unfortunately we do not know the “object or subject” of that deep emotional yet amorous encounter so vividly and powerfully portrayed by the Poet, the Celebrant. I also wonder if Mr. Randle attempted to elicit from the Celebrant his personal favourite of all his poems. All poets have their own favourite poem(s) that are usually a second level revelation about them.

The Reviewer also captures the essence of the Event, when we are reminded that the last vestiges of civilization still exist even in the cesspool that the country has become. We could deduce that it was a classy and intimate outing, with the chosen exotic location of Harbour Point, which squarely fits the romantic profile of the Celebrant. The Reviewer also mentioned the food, the drinks (wine mostly), the music, the poetry. What type of Event would it be without these elements, all known qualifiers of the Celebrant? As for me, I chose “ethereal” and “sublime” to summarize the Event as they capture all that I had envisaged it would be. Thank God for the Celebrant. Thank God for the Event. Thank God for the Guests, Family and Friends who made the occasion worthwhile. May God bless them all. Amen.

For my final reaction to all this, I would borrow from the Theme Song of Phantom of the Opera, my favourite love story of all times, which I believe from the Reviewer’s expression of “infectious joy, abundance of conviviality” summarises the effect of such an Event on most people of equal leanings.

“In sleep you sing to me, in dreams you come to me, in that voice which calls to me, and speaks my name. For now I find that you are there inside my mind.

Your spirit and my spirit and your voice all in one combined; inside my/your mind”.

The Celebrant and the reviewer have both penetrated our collective subconscious minds. Thank you.

 

Adenike Yesufu