Mama Jolaade, my mother’s senior sister
The call to glory of Mama Felicia Jolaade Fakinlede (Ojo-Ologun) came to me as a shock and at the same time brought me to quite a lot of memory lanes. My maternal grandmother, the late Mrs. Omomo Ojo-Ologun, a virtuous woman of her time, was survived by seven children: Mama Osasogie (late), Mama Ajayi (late), Daddy Omolagba (late), Mama Jolaade (being celebrated), Mama Titi (late), Mama Mary (alive), and Uncle Abiye (late).
Even though my biological mother was Mama Titi, my formative years were spent with Mama Osasogie, right from age 2–3 until I became an adult. In between the formative years, each time I misbehaved as a juvenile, Mama Osasogie would send me on exile to Grandma at Igisan’s Quarter until I showed remorse, and this went on and for a long time until outgrew my childishness.
While in Igisan, I co-lived with the late Ayo Fakinlede, Mama Jolaade’s second son, whose bright future was obstructed by an unknown sickness that could not be medically diagnosed at the time (1950s). He had an understanding of all Yoruba language alphabets and read the numbers to some extent. He could take instructions but had difficulties expressing himself in the real sense beyond the alphabets and numeric he knew before the sickness started. Both of us used to carry out assignments for grandma (Iya Agba) at various levels. Despite Ayo Fakinlede’s illness she ensured that all other children did not lack and yet she made efforts at ensuring that Ayo was taken care off till death.
I had it on records that Mama Jolaade used to visit us at Igisan at regular intervals with materials and food stuff and once a month with money specially procured by Brother Olubodun Fakinlede through Mama Jolaade for grandma’s monthly upkeep. It was then a common and consistent feature throughout my grandma’s life!
During my stay with Mama Osasogie at Igboliki, I used to hawk buns. The hawking would take me to the length and breadth of Akure in the mid-1960s across various marketplaces. One spot I particularly visited for selling my wares used to be PWD (Ministry of Works), with the aim of targeting their workers during break hours.
Notably, marketing my wares at PWD would afford me to have a fill at Mama Jolaade’s restaurant. Mama Jolaade then operated one of the best bukas (restaurants) around and gave me the privilege to meet my younger brother, Alaba, who had been under her tutelage and care from a tender age.
Alaba used to be troublesome in those days, and each time I came around, Mama Jolaade would gladly use me as an example for Alaba to emulate. Despite his shortcomings, both Mama and Brother Olubodun endured, persevered, sponsored his primary and secondary school education, and made him what he is today. Mama Jolaade built bridges of love and care amongst her siblings, and their children and grandchildren were all impacted by Mama Largesse. She was always the last resort whenever needs arose!
Often times, Mama could be highly temperamental, and she hates injustice, ingratitude, and greed. She was very bold and courageous had no fear addressing issues especially family related issues.
My last visit to Mama was in June 2023, and I met her in the company of her younger sister, Mama Mary, who was bereaved of her husband sometimes earlier. She invited her to stay with her for a while out of love. She was very furious with her for putting on incompatible clothes and for walking barefooted by the balcony, while Mama was neatly and colorfully dressed up with head gear (gele)!
Mama Jolaade at 97 led my wife, whom we came visiting together, to her bedroom and showed her assorted clothes in her wardrobe that she recommended to her younger sister at 91 to be wearing, but she failed to comply. She felt so unhappy! My wife and I comforted her; we counseled Mama Mary with wisdom, and we all laughed over it all!
Mama Mary, being the last of the matriarchs, would definitely miss Mama Jolaade Fakinlede the most!
Lawrence O. Ojo, Kaduna Nigeria