Olufemi Atoyebi and Friday Olokor
One of the children of the late dramatist, writer and playwright, Prof. Akinwumi Isola, Akinjide, on Sunday said that his father’s activities a few days before his death did not suggest that he would die on Saturday morning.
He died on Saturday in Ibadan at the age of 83.
According to him, the late Isola ate amala, gbegiri and meat on Friday night before he went to sleep.
He added that a few minutes before he died, he had conversation with people in the house.
He said, “I visited him two weeks ago and he was in high spirit. I did not notice any sign of health depreciation or serious health challenge rather than the one we were used to which was as a result of old age. In other words, he was strong and lively. We had a good discussion and joked as we always did in undiluted Yoruba language.
“On the day he died, he prayed with the family and spoke to people. A day before that day (Friday), he was served amala, gbegiri and meat and he finished everything. During the last Christmas, our children were with him at home. They had a beautiful time together. Unknown to us, it was the last family gathering he would have with the children. However, we have no cause to query God. He lived a good life and he was a good example to all. We shall miss him.”
The younger Isola added that five years ago, the dramatist, who wrote the historical play Efunsetan Aniwura when he was a student at the University of Ibadan in 1961, had a successful surgery.
“He had an operation to correct certain things in his body five years ago and came out weakened. Although, he recovered later, he was not as strong as before as a result of age. He died at 83 and that is a good ripe age to join the Lord.
“We have not taken any decision on the burial arrangement. A burial committee will be set up this week to work on the arrangement,” he said.
The Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun, said Isola’s demise was painful because it came a few months after the state lost another popular playwright, actor, journalist and administrator, Adebayo Faleti.
Meanwhile, the Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Aare Gani Adams, has lamented Isola’s death, saying “one of the illustrious sons and scholars of Yoruba nation has gone.”
Adams in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, also described the exit of the actor as a monumental loss to Nigeria in general and the Yoruba nation in particular.
According to him, Isola remained one of the leading figures that promoted Yoruba language and culture all through his life.
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