Madam Obásolá Àjoké Asháolú: A Celebration Of Life.

Obásolá Àjoké Asháolú

The sorrow we feel when we lose a loved one, is the price we pay to have had them in our lives." - Rob Liano, Author of "Counter Attack."

Adversity is the thermometer to measure the inner strength of any person. It is the means to measure one's perseverance and persistence. It is like having a heart of rock. Solid and sturdy. Weather-beaten but unfazed and unbowed. The ability to survive the churning wheels of a wreckful whirlwind; to remain standing in defiance, in courage and in determination.

A determination propelled and fueled by the clarity of a vision, a clear idea of the destination, or if you like, of the end result. The vision itself, encapsulates the mission, defines it and endows it with impetus. It stimulates and motivates. It inspires and imbues with drive. While on the mission, there is obvious appreciation of hurdles, impediments and encumbrances. But there is also the beautiful ruthlessness of the Will not to be held back from the goal.

The life and times of Madam Obásolá Àjoké Asháolú exemplified the meaning of the word "sacrifice." The important instruction of the word "sacrifice" is that no one could make any meaningful sacrifice without the indispensable fundamentals like courage and determination. They are the components of sacrifice. They, along with other important qualities, form the totality of the definition of the word "sacrifice."

Madam Ashaolu was the perfect study in determination and courage. She was an exemplar of an extraordinary generation that exuded indefatigable extraordinariness to ensure the beauty and fulfilment of the dreams of our own generation. In the milieu of those times, it was rare to leave a marriage because one was determined to raise a child in a chosen way. How to raise a child, usually, was the prerogative of the head of the household, which in our patriarchy, is the husband.

In a way, Madam Asháolú was a rebel. All rebels are connubially tied to a dream. Invariably, they are inseparable from such. To separate them from that dream would be tantamount to their being exterminated, to their being murdered. In Madam Asháolú's case, there was no difference. She was a rebel with a cause. A rebel with a vision. A rebel with a mission. She gave up her conjugal stability and bliss for the sake of her son.

Though, the marriage was eventually saved, she made a statement loud and clear with her rebellion. Pa Táíwò Sylvester Fáfowórà of defunct Liberty Hotel, Ilésa and Mrs Ekúnjoré Gìdìgbí, were credited with the restoration of the marriage to late Joshua Ògúnmákin Asháolú (a.k.a No Fighting ). Pa Fáfowórà was a brother to Madam Obásolá Asháolú while Mrs. Gìdìgbí was a sister to Pa Joshua Ògúnmákin Asháolú.

One may experience waves of intense and very difficult emotions, ranging from profound sadness, emptiness, and despair to shock, numbness, guilt, or regret. One might rage at the circumstances of a loved one's death. But this is not the case with the call to glory of Madam Obásolá Àjoké Asháolú. Her call to glory at the ripe age of 90, has set off batteries of celebrations and gratitude to the almighty God of our forefathers, Elédùmarè.

Madam Obásolá Àjoké Ashaolu, was born in December, 1930, to the famous family of late Jéjé Fáfowórà and late Mrs Felicia Ògúnfoláhàn Fáfowórà of Ògbón Ìtisin. She got married to Late Joshua Ògúnmákin Asháolú ( a.k.a No Fighing) in 1949, after her training as a Seamstress at the elitist Singer training centre in Ilésa.

She had to stop schooling in Standard Three as her mother Madam Felicia Ògúnfoláhàn Fáfowórà could no longer afford to pay both her school fees, and that of her brother Late Iyìolá Fáfowórà. Besides, in the days of yore, female children had limited opportunity of going to school.

In spite of her limited education, she trained as a Seamstress, and combined this with being her husband's trusted and tested shopkeeper. Apart from being Late Joshua Ògúnmákin Asháolú's (a.k.a "NO FIGHTING") shopkeeper, she had her own trade ranging from tailoring, sale of crockery, and of course, kolanuts, which was her mother's big time business.

Madam Obásolá Àjoké Asháolú, through her lifetime attended St. Peter's Church, Ìsònà, she had followed her late mother, late Madam Ògúnfoláhàn Fáfowórà to the church from her tender age. She was baptised in the church in the 1930s and belonged to "Egbé Iná Olórun Tàn" of the church. She had the amazing Grace of being Alága (chairperson) of her Church Harvest twice in her lifetime.

At the demise of her husband in August, 1977 (44years ago) she moved from Etí -Òni to Ilésa, this enabled her to rededicate her Christian life and became a member of the prayer warriors of her society at St. Peter's church, Ìsònà, Ilésa.

In the last three years of her life she lacked the strength to attend church activities, but St. Peter's church Ìsònà, ensured that she did not miss out from the weekly “oúnje alé Olúwa” (the last Super) which she cherished so much. Incidentally, the Reverend Father was on hand to give the last Super on Wednesday 8th of September, the day she was called to eternal glory.

Madam Obásolá Àjoké Asháolú during her lifetime had a chequered past of infant mortality, this she took in her stride as she took solace in God the Almighty. She had five surviving children out of ten birthed and her supplication and fervent prayers to God were, that none of her surviving children would predecease her.

She was open hearted and welcoming and she had unparalleled passion for her extended family, as she regarded the Fáfowórà family and her mother's family, the Olúkanni's of Ìsònà, as a heritage. She never missed out of their annual meetings for over 40 years since she settled in Ilésa.

She would be greatly missed.

May the indefatigable soul of Madam Obásolá Àjoké Rachael Asháolú rest in peace. Amen.

"Those we love never truly leave us. There are things that death cannot touch."

- Jack Thome

©Rèmí Oyèyemí