It was during the event of AFRICA 95. “Uncle Yomi”, I fondly would call him just to nip a pound or two, but he would slyly look at me right from the corner of his eyes just like the typical British, and he would say to me “omo eko, you won’t play smart on us simply because we are from Ibadan…” Usually, we laughed it off, then he’ll give 5 pounds.
We were the ‘7 brave warriors’ (as Martin Barnam later described us) – myself, late chief Wale Ogunyemi, Uncle Tunji Oyelana, uncle Yomi Obileye, Gogo Ombo Gogo, Bros Bisi and one other assistant on trumpet (forgotten his name now)… we were invited from Nigeria as actors and musicians to be part of a play production of a newly crafted Wole Soyinka’s stage play to be directed by Judy Kelly of the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds UK.
It was a trying period for WS, it was the period he was in exile, forced on him by the late Gen. Sanni Abacha. And by association, all of us seven warriors from Nigeria who took part in that world premiere of the Beatification of Areaboy, without our permission, and unknown to us, became exiles along with WS. We were all caught up in England, not able to return home as scheduled.
Makinde Adeniran
The play was scheduled for world tour, but typically, we had to observe breaks during which time, we couldn’t return home!
That was when we saw depression written all over the faces of the old ones among us, most noticeable, uncle Yomi. It was this period I got to know that aside our collective dilemma, he was nursing an ill-health condition. In spite of his condition, he wanted to return home to brave the threat of Abacha who had sent words to us in Leeds not to return home!
But Uncle Yomi insisted, “I have to return home, let Abacha or his dogs do whatever pleases them!”
On that note, late chief Wale Ogunyemi supported the move after which myself and Gogo followed with trepidation…
Finally, despite all the unsavory encounter through the security checks at the Muritala Muhammad airport, we entered, and instantly disappeared! But uncle Yomi Obileye could not return on that tour with us… that I guess was his last outing in our midst.
Goodbye uncle Yomi. You were brave when bravery was needed, so what is death when it requires no bravery other than a MUST. Adieu!
