My dad

My dad- Professor Olumuyiwa Akinade Sanda

I have not been able to write since 2021.

I am just having the courage to write. My dad passed in 2021. I have grieved him since then. I am crying as I write this. But I want to write now to remember who my dad was.

I am his only daughter out of seven of us; three of us from my mom.

I miss my dad everyday. Even though, I’m married with three children of mine.

My dad, Professor Olumuyiwa Akinade Sanda was well respected in the community. He loved education. He loved to read. He wrote and authored many books. He loved his country Nigeria and his hometown, Ibadan. He served his people in Nigeria, in the city of Ibadan and even in the rural Alegongo where he was from.

He was a mediator in the family and in the community. I remember as a child, aunts and uncles will come to see him at the house to have their conflicts resolved. I guess that is why I am a Mediator.

Community members came to my dad at the house to have their disputes resolved.

He was kind to his people to a fault.

He finally became the head and chief of the community. He later became The ‘Baale’ of Alegongo.

I will forever be grateful to my dad for his love for me. For how he brought myself and my brothers up to be disciplined.

He was not perfect at home but he gave his best to us his children. He sacrificed everything to make sure we his children got the best in life including education. I am in the United States of America all because of my dad. I will forever be grateful.

I wish I was with him when he passed. I was in the United States and he was in Nigeria.

I am however glad that despite his past mistakes, he found God in his later years. I believe he is with God.

I am praying that my dad’s legacy continues and is forever remembered.

Forest Whitaker and Cape Town poet Brian Williams working for peace in Africa

Yazeed Kamaldien's avataryazkam

Written by Yazeed Kamaldien

It is perhaps ironic that American actor Forest Whitaker won a string of awards for his portrayal of an African dictator and is now involved in peace efforts on the continent.

Whitaker must have been motivated by his role as dictator Idi Amin from Uganda as he is now playing a role in ending Africa’s conflicts. He is a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador.

Cape Town poet Brian Williams (left) with American actor Forest Whitaker. Picture by Yazeed Kamaldien Cape Town poet Brian Williams (left) with American actor Forest Whitaker. Picture by Yazeed Kamaldien

Whitaker was in Cape Town this week at the launch of a poetry book penned by Brian Williams, who works with him as a mediator in countries like Sudan and Uganda.

Williams, who lives in Kensington suburb, left for South Sudan on Friday, shortly after launching his book, Daughters of the First, at the University of the Western Cape on Wednesday night.

Williams works as a professional mediator…

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