WHAT was it that Mr. Awosanmi could not do?
If you attended GTTC Demonstration Primary School Ilesa in the late 60s and up till Mid 70s and you did not know or could not recall that name “Mr. Awosanmi”, we will have to re-confirm your status as an old student of that “elitist” school. Honestly, who will not know Mr Awosanmi?
It was in GTTC that you would find sons and daughters of who was who in Ilesa then; the Omoles, the Ajanakus, the Aokos, the Farores, the Dicksons, the Aleges, the Ayekos, the Ayenis and a host of others. So, imagine a teacher who was both feared and respected by all; regardless of your social status. He would make you drop that toga of affluence and discipline you in such a way that your parents would thank him for it.
Ubiquitous. That’s a perfect description of Mr. Awosanmi. Versatility. That’s a word solely coined to explain the natural talents of Mr. Awosanmi. Creativity, that imagery sat well with Mr. Awosanmi. Ha! Sporting activities nko? He was a footballer, a sprinter, a volley ball player, even sack race, remember? Through my mind’s eyes,l still see him moving about school with that his signature “pankere”.
What was it that Mr. Awosanmi could not do? Mr. Awosanmi, the Sports Master, the Drama teacher, the Literary and Debating Teacher, the Music teacher… I wonder if we bothered to know his first name then. To us, Mr Awosanmi, was Mr. Awosanmi. The name was a brand that represented action and discipline. And that name, to the serious, studious ones, was a darling name. But for the lazy pupils, that name was their nemesis.
A little confession here. I admired Mr. Awosanmi but I did not like him. I did all I could to enter his A list of actors by being punctual in rehearsals but I would always end up playing “ara adugbo”(crowd) or evil spirit (iwin), a role you would have to explain to spectators after the show that it was you that was covered with palm fronds, Calamine lotion and or Dusting powder. But my elder brother was always taking the lead role; Oduduwa, Samson et al. O dun mi o.
However, do you know that up till today, l am still trying to prove to Mr. Awosanmi in my subconscious mind that l can do it by cramming and singing all those songs he taught us over 50 years ago, at our various drama rehearsals. That’s how much I would have loved to be a cast in Mr. Awosanmi’s plays.
Oduduwa…..hmmmm…..hmmmmm….hmmmm…Olofin l’aye…..hmmmm….hmmmm….hmmmm…..Moremi Ajasoro……hmmmmm……hmmmmm…hmmm. Olofin lo ma nsodun, oun lo mure wa, oun lo wa b’ori, e ma wa wure ajalaye, e ma wa wure gbogbo…..
And in Samson and Delilah…..Okunkun okunkun okunkun biri biri biri okunkun. Delilah lo tan mi, ti mo fi bo s’owo alaikola awon Philistini o….
So don’t ask me how and where Tunde Awosanmi, my classmate in Primary School, got his theatrical talents from. It’s in his DNA. An apple does not fall far from its tree. I am hoping that someday, in the nearest future, we will document Mr. Awosanmi’s plays and songs and put him in his pride of place amongst the Playwrights and music composers of our era. Yes, we will do it. Tunde, l won’t mind playing those “iwin” and “ara ilu’s” roles again, just in honour of the memory of this great gifted teacher, activist, disciplinarian, mentor and role model.
Dear Mr. Awosanmi, the song is ended, but the melody lingers on. If we have not forgotten you and the roles you played in building us up to who we have become today, how then can we forget you till our memories fade?
But rest, rest from thy labours sir, for the seeds from your loins are proudly carrying on. That is my consolation.
Sir ‘Semoore Badejo KCW
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