Our guest today is a Professor of Yoruba Language and Literature, and a Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ife(Obafemi Awolowo University).In addition to the fact that Professor Ògùnwándé Abímbọ́lá is a well-known scholar, as well as a religious leader, he was also the Senate Majority leader of the Federal Republic of Nigeria between 1992 and 1993. Professor Ògùnwándé Abímbọ́lá gave us the honor to respond (in Yoruba Language) to our many questions. This is the first part of the interview.
The Cotonou Times: We are extremely honored to have you as our guest today, can you please tell us where you are from originally?
Professor Ògùnwándé Abímbọ́lá: I am a native of Ọ̀yọ́ Aláàfin, the current Ọ̀yọ́ town.
The Cotonou Times: Where did you grow up?
Professor Ògùnwándé Abímbọ́lá: I grew up in Ọ̀yọ́, and also at my father’s farm in a small village named Aketan, seven miles from Ọ̀yọ́ town. It was from this village that I was going to school in Ọ̀yọ́ town in the morning, and then coming back home again in the evening. Then the next morning, I would wake up again at 3am,4am to go to school and then come back. But I grew up in Ọ̀yọ́, where I did my primary and secondary school.
The Cotonou Times: Where are your parents from? What were they doing during their lifetime?
Professor Ògùnwándé Abímbọ́lá: My father (May His Soul Rest In Peace), His name was Abimbola Iroko. He was a Senior Hunter. He was also given the Chieftaincy Title, Aṣípa of Ọ̀yọ́ Town . He was also a Native Doctor. My mother, she belonged to the Ṣàngó worshippers. Her name was Ṣàngódáyọ̀ Òjòawo Àwẹ̀lé.
The Cotonou Times: What was your mother doing for a living during her life time?
Professor Ògùnwándé Abímbọ́lá: She was a palm oil seller. She lived long. My father was 105 years. In the year 1916, he fought the First World War.
The Cotonou Times:You mean the First World War?
Professor Ògùnwándé Abímbọ́lá: Yes, alongside the French people in Cameroon.
The Cotonou Times:Did he Volunteer?
Professor Ògùnwándé Abímbọ́lá: Yes, he volunteered.
The Cotonou Times: Why did he volunteer?
Professor Ògùnwándé Abímbọ́lá: British soldiers came to Ọ̀yọ́ to speak with the King, saying that they needed people who could help them fight the war, so the King sent a town crier to convey the message to the people of Ọ̀yọ́ saying that there is a war going on somewhere, anyone choosing to go there would bring money and become famous. So my father and six of his friends were playing Ayò in front of our house in Aketan near Ọ̀yọ́ town. So they heard the king’s town crier, and they asked themselves out of curiosity where is this war being fought and we don’t even know about it? So they went to the palace to know where the War was taking place. Upon getting there, they were asked if they wanted to join the people going for the war. And they responded that they were interested. It was just the six of them who volunteered so they were instructed to go home and prepare and to also say goodbye to their families. And they did it, and it was that same day they were taken to Ibadan, from Ibadan they were placed on a train, and then put in a ship in Lagos. They all had their local guns, charms etc., as they got into the ship; everything was taken from them, destroyed and thrown in the water. My father’s friends now screamed.Ahhh Abímbọ́lá Ìrókò!!! Ahhh!!! So you are a wicked person, you sold all of us to the white men. They are taking us overseas, we are all slaves now. My father responded and said, you all are monkeys. If I had sold all of you, would I still be in the-same ship with you with all the white men inside the boat? You all should better brace up we are going to war.
The Cotonou Times How old was your father when he volunteered?
Professor Ògùnwándé Abímbọ́lá: My father was born in 1865, and he participated to the First World War, so my father was in his fifties at that time.
The Cotonou Times: Okay he was old enough, but you were not born then?
Professor Ògùnwándé Abímbọ́lá: I wasn’t even born then; it was when he got back from the war that he married my mom.
The Cotonou Times: So what happened when they got there?
Professor Ògùnwándé Abímbọ́lá: Seven of them participated to the war. English soldiers came to take them from Ọ̀yọ́, to Cameroon. It was the British and the French who clubbed together to fight the Germans. With reference to my father, he was placed among the French speaking soldiers; this is what enabled him to understand French a little bit.
The Cotonou Times: Was the war he fought waged at the border between Cameroon and Nigeria or in Europe?
Professor Ògùnwándé Abímbọ́lá: No, it was waged on Cameroonian soil. They did not go overseas. It was this war that enabled Cameroon to gain independence from the Germans. It was then divided in two, a small part was given to the British and the larger part was given to France. My father had an injury during the war.
The Cotonou Times: Was it a serious injury?
Professor Ògùnwándé Abímbọ́lá: He was hit on the shin by a bullet. A bone was broken which was the size of a middle finger. He then took a knife from his pocket, cut off the bone and buried it. The absence of the bone he cut off made it difficult for the wound to heal faster. The war had not ended before he was taken back to Lagos where he was taken care of for a very long time, but still the wound did not heal. The doctors decided that they were going to amputate the leg, so while he was in the bus being transported to the military hospital in Lagos, the doctors who wanted to amputate his leg were all speaking French. They were unaware of the fact that my father understood French, they were saying to that my father’s leg had completely damaged, and it would be amputated the next day. Upon hearing this, very early the next morning my father sneaked to were clothes were kept (normally you will be asked to take off your clothes while the hospital provides a hospital outfit for you during your hospital stay) and went there in search of his clothes, but could not find them, so he just wore what he found, then leaped with one leg to the railway station which was nearby. That was how he got to Ibadan. From Ibadan, he entered a bus to Ọ̀yọ́.
To be followed…………..
