Celebrating Professor Toyin Falola @ 73

Dr. Yemi Ijaola

Did you say 73 years?
Or you mean 7 and 3? which is 10!
Definitely not a decade
But 4 score 7 years shy
This earthen ware forged by Olodumare the greatest potter
Graced the hinterlands of Ilu Ibadan on Ojobo

Ojobo; the day of new beginnings in the Falola lineage

Alaamisi; heralding the graceful entrance of this Olorun’s gift to the world

Oloruntoyin Indeed

Omo agbo sasa ma sa has clocked another milestone o!
His fame roars through the Northern hemispheres like the khakhaki

The Southern poles jubilates at the sound of his name
The world gyrates restlessly at the sight of his works
And his footprints remain engraved in the sands of time

The Son of Paito (Pastor) is a year older,
The Warrior who outlived wars and still brings the spoils home years after
Is here again ni’lubadan where it all began
A true son of the soil
Omoluabi, Omoyeni ni

Permit me to call him by name:

IIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSHHHHHOOOOOLLLLAAAAAA

Have you seen my father, Ishola?
The one with a large heart and depths unimaginable
The crown of gray though balding but never waning
The palate of wisdom laced with ivory teeth
Teeth sharpened by years of cracking hard nuts and sharing the oil with kindred
Teeth that readily devours offerings of game; “oya”, “ewuju” and even “the one credited to conversing with Eve in Eden”

Isholaaaaa

The Jewel of Bisi’s eyes
The Nightingale in Florence’s garden
The Sire of Dolly, SisTo and Bisola
The Elegant Gramps of his progeny

Isholaaaa

The one who graced the world with wealth tucked in his loins
Ishola says he is not wealthy, pray, tell
Is his wealth of knowledge a joke?
Skill of writing a mere pass?
His depth of studies?
Library of literature?
Social Capital of friends and network?
Skymiles for loved ones and humanity?
Heart of compassion and thoughtful gestures to all and sundry?
Can all the money in the world buy these?
Definitely, Ishola exudes the meaning of “Eniyan Ni Aso Mi”
and that, is the most valuable currency and bank of wealth

Isholaaaa
The man of many letters, with a mouth sweeter than salt,
Eyes of the eagle, mind restless with thoughts and concept notes in waiting for the publishers ink
He bows his head in meditation and nods in acknowledgement as I recite this
But his thoughts, like still waters are running deep and crafting new projects
Projects forged in the belly of the crude and refined in the furnace of deep thoughts
His mind never sleeps even in the midst of pomp and pageantry

That, is the man we celebrate today

Yoruba bo, won ni pe, “Bi o se wu Olorun lo n Sola re,
Nitori na ni olorun fi fun wa ni ebun omo re Ishola
Awa yin Olorun to ri Olorun To Yin Indeed

Happy birthday Sir.