It was an evening of tributes for poet and playwright, John Pepper Clark Bekederemo, in Lagoson Wednesday.
Members of the Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA) were joined by Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, Jimi Agbaje, writers and critics to honour the late literary giant.
Prof. Soyinka, who sent in a tribute titled: “’Song of a goat pepper-soup,” shared insights into Clark’s little-known “deep poetic sensitivity with an intense political discontent, frustrations from a nation that constantly short-changes itself.”
Soyinka’s tribute was read by a former Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan (SAN), who also shared a tribute of his own.
Also there were Clark’s family members, friends, writers, critics, former Delta State Governor James Ibori, Lady Maiden Alex Ibru and Princess Juliana Edewor.
Clark’s daughter, Emma, relived her fathers “loving nature”.
“He was a very loving person, very sensitive. That sensitivity lasted till he died,” she said in tears.
Emma added: “I was crying in my room one night. I was worried about him. I didn’t know he heard me. He asked me what the problem was. He was concerned about me. He didn’t know I was more concerned about his health. He encouraged me to be strong.
“He said to me ‘I don’t want to see your weakness. I want to see your strength.’”
Emma thanked God “for using him to make us all strong.”
She noted that even in his final moments as he lay ill in a hospital, he was very concerned about my mother, I and my brother.”
Clark’s second and last child noted that his father’s “principled nature” often resulted in misconceptions about him.
“Many people cast aspersions on him in the past. Most of them were untrue. All of them were untrue,” she said.
Emma said she wishe he could lower his tough principles sometimes, and “just bend a little”.
Nevertheless, she credited his principled-mindednessfor helping her become a strong woman too.
Clark’s eldest child, Elaye, revealed a similar tender side to the poet, recalling: “Around 2008 when I visited my father in our hometown, he took me to his school. He showed me around. We walked for about an hour. That was when I found out my dad loved cricket. He said he played cricket when he was younger. He was extremely proud of his school.
“On behalf of my mum and sister, I thank you all for this honour… We didn’t expect we were going to bury him this year.”
Alluding to the perception that his father was difficult, Elaye disagreed, saying he saw him as an example of principled lifestyle.
He said: “My father cared so much for people…he didn’t pretend that he knew it all, but, whatever he felt was right, he defended it.”
GCUOBA Lagos Branch President Sam Omatseye, shared insights on his relationship with the poet in his tribute ‘JP Clark: unfinished poet.’
He noted how Clark’s poems, Abiku, Ibadan and Night Rain, led a Facebook poll in which Nigerians picked “what gems still whispered to us.”
Omatseye, who wondered why Clark did not gain wider global attention, said: “Maybe, he was just not lucky. He was never marketed well outside, like Soyinka and Achebe, or Chimamanda (Adichie) today. He probably never needed it. He was such a contented man.”
The Chairman and CEO of The Guardian, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru, described the late JP as a man of principles.
She said: “He would speak the truth regardless of the consequences. She also commended the wife of the late JP Clark for her role in her family life.”
Princess Juliana Edewor described the late Clark as her father, mentor, friend and icon.
“He stood as my father when I got married again after the death of my husband,” she said, fondly noting that was the only man who wrote poems in honour of both her late and current two husband.
“I thank him for his support. I’ll continue to be a friend to the family, a sister, a daughter,” Edewor added.
Prayers were offered for the deceased wife, children family members.
Clark’s wife, Prof. Ebun, Vanguard publisher Sam Amuka-Pemu and renowned haematologist and clinical geneticist, Prof Olu Akinyanju, both of the GCUOBA 1949 Class, were among the old boys, friends and family at the event.
They were treated to eulogies, readings, rhapsodies and remembrances for the “beloved poet” and GCUOBA old boy.
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