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Egin Folorunsho. ShoSho man. It’s been over a week since I got that call. And I’m reminded that it’s real every single morning. I knew this day would eventually come, but we’re never prepared, are we?
I miss you. I miss your smile. I’ll miss your sneeze. I’ll miss your WhatsApp broadcasts- those ones I hated. I’ll miss your stories. I’ll miss you gisting us of your days in advertising, and your days in paper milling and your days in plastic manufacturing. You lived a full life, that’s for sure. You know when I began to be in awe of you?… When I asked how many countries you’d visited and you said “I stopped counting at 65”. Ajala!
I remember tagging along with you when you were hunting in Ondo when I was younger. I remember eating red bananas and groundnut for the first time. Again, red bananas over green bananas any day! I remember you taking me on a tour of the house in Fagun and me oohing and ahhing at the architecture, me dreaming of coming for the holidays and playing hide and seek when it was completed. I remember plucking lots of huge fist-sized guavas and bringing them back to Lagos and drinking guava smoothies.
I wish we went on one of those trips again. I wish I was able to take us on that trip to Oluwo market Epe, like I said I would, and we were just able to roam around and buy all sorts of meats. I tell everyone who cares to listen, I’ve eaten all sorts
because of you- and they were delicious- armadillo, grasscutter, snake, antelope, tortoise, alligator, porcupine, monitor lizard. Can’t even remember half of
them.
I remember using your binoculars and your telescope in you and mummy’s office to “people watch”. We never did find out what happened to those binoculars. They just disappeared. I wish we still had them.
Gosh, were you stubborn. A stubborn, stubborn man. You were adventurous. You were fearless. You were a traveler. You loved hunting. There are so many memories that stick out. I remember our trip to Niger state during my summer holiday when I was 11. Boy, did I have tales to tell in my “How I spent my holiday” composition. It was one of my most memorable holidays ever.
I remember taking drives with you in Bida. I remember eating tuwo with gbegiri and ewedu with you for the first time at that lya’s canteen and loving it. We went and saw the factory and the guest house and I couldn’t believe how massive they were and how huge the grounds were. I visited the Emir’s palace with you. I remember drinking tons of yoghurt on that trip and me getting incredibly sick after, right before school
resumed.
I remember you giving me my first shot of Johnnie Walker whiskey when I had cramps. I remember it like it was yesterday. A shot from your huge 4.5 liter bottle. So huge, it had its own cradle. Confession time… Guess who began to lie and say she had cramps when she most certainly did not. Just because she wanted a shot
of Johnnie. Lol. Sorry pops.
One of our final conversations is stuck in my head. I was explaining what love languages are, and trying to figure out what yours were. I’ve settled on words of affirmation and quality time. I’m glad I took those days off work and was able to spend some quality time with you, daddy.
I wish I didn’t listen to you every time I tried to take photos and you said you weren’t dressed appropriately. The recent photos I have of you are
limited.
Hmmn! Egin ShoSho, who’s going to transcribe my Yoruba scenes for me now? Who’s going to send me 5 minute-long voice notes of my lines in Yoruba Who’s going to send me annoying broadcasts on WhatsApp every two days? Who’s Egin Bunmi going to be gisting with all day? After being married for over 47 years. Who?
You mean I’ll never see you sign your beautiful, elaborate signature ever again? So, I won’t come to see you guys and shout “Egin Folorunsho, le o”. You’re just gone? O ga!
What’s that thing people say when they’re trying to console loved ones of people who have just passed… “It is well”. I don’t know what the hell that means, but I guess “it is well”. Yoruba people will say “O y’Olohun”. Ko ye mi o! But, I guess “O y’Olohun”.
I’m taking consolation in the fact that you’re no longer in pain. We all are. We’re glad you’re no longer suffering, ShoSho. I miss you, my father. January 6th, 1947- June 21st 2024. 77 years lived.
My father, the badass. Love you forever. Rest in Peace, Egin Folorunsho. The J F Aladese!
