Daddy,
It is so hard to believe that you are gone. I remember seeing you in Bamenda a few years back for the last time and that memory still seems so fresh as if it was yesterday. You had so much presence, such a charisma around you that drew everyone in. I remember you always calling '
junior' likening me to Omerine who was your own 'junior'. From the time l was a little girl, I remember you teaching me new words and as l grew older, challenging my thought processes, engaging me in deep intellectual discussions. And oh, I remember the pinching. How the pinching hurt. I would refuse to hug you hen you came because l knew you loved to pinch me but l always eventually forgot and you would catch me unawares and gave me a good pinch.
Talking with you was always so stimulating and your sense of humor was just amazing. We could talk about anything and you never made any topic seem irrelevant, you always had something to say. You were such a fountain of knowledge and l am glad not just me but countless others were touched by you. Daddy, you are gone but the memories of you remain etched indelibly in our minds and our hearts. We thank God for the good life you lived and the wonderful family you left behind. Rest in peace.
Junior
Dear Daddy,
Of course I cherish growing up in the big Youndé MvogBetsi compound at the time, mid 80s, aside Mummy Yembe, Enaka, Fai (dodo and egg!), Ebot and Omerine (Nginyu and Enaka I never met very often, I was really too much of a kid then ...). It was enjoyable growing up near the big Yembe family. It was always a serious moment when Daddy Yembe came back into the compound from work, from my 'child's' observation: dead silence for a while, then a little recreation later. I was nearly always playing with Omerine, whom we all knew as my father had told me, 'this is Daddy Yembe in a girl's way', and like she herself put it very perfectly, 'Omer the girl'. I remember that Omerine loved her Daddy very much, and since I played a lot with her as the big sister I never had, I loved him just as much.
I was amazed at my tender age how intelligent and BIG and TALL a Daddy could be, and I was convinced that if as a Daddy he was that intelligent and wise, then my own Daddy would surely be the same, which I guess is the case, undoubtedly, because he was a brother to my Daddy too as Omerine was to me (except that my own Daddy never grew to be that tall, neither did I ever catch up with Omerine ...). But both Daddy’s are very similar in many respects, especially educationally and of course CULTURALLY. Daddy (and Daddy) is the most 'Nfuh'-loving man (men's cultural and dance group) I ever knew, while growing up.
He called my younger brother right from baby Raymond 'Doctor Raymond Mr Ko', and here Raymond is, graduating as medical doctor this May 2012: they say what an old man sees sitting, a child cannot see even standing on a hilltop. He always said he was waiting for me to pay 'the money' into his account, and here I am, successful accountant, though I never got to pay the money in on time, and I regret that. Ray n I are happy to have shared with him our future career plans last August/Sept 2011 and received his comments and encouragements: he always had time to listen to you say anything you want, in your attempt to feel and be wise like Him. He had blessings and wise words for all who wanted to tap from his wit and intelligence. No one needs to tell all of we who are so privileged to have his signature on our certificates, to now have a second look at that 'wow' signature and keep the certificates jealously.
Like HRH Fon of Mbot earlier said; ‘ …you can remember him only that he is gone, or you can cherish his memory and let it live on … or you can do what he’d want, smile, open your eyes, love and move on’. I think this is what he’d like to know, that we are moving on ambitiously and wisely as he did, and that is what I would like you, Daddy, to know that Raymond and I, and Evelyn and Vanessa, are doing just now, with the help of our mummy and daddy, whom are so blessed to still have with us now.
Thank you for being a part of our lives. We love you, we will miss you, we WILL work hard and with a SENSE OF DIRECTION, as you taught us always.
Rest in Perfect Peace BIG Daddy.
Eric and Maureen Awudu.
Dear Daddy, I was looking forward to seeing you this month with your grandson AJ, who as you know almost came on your birthday. I had so many wishes and plans but God had a better plan for your life.
I will live with the memories of your never ending jokes and words of wisdom. I remember the very first week we met, you sat me down for a long conversation during which I discovered how much of a wise man you were. My relationship with Omerine thrived because of your acceptance of us and continous support despite our shortcomings. Thank you for your love, kindness, admonishment and accepatance into your family. May your light continue to shine in our hearts and may your footprints never fade. Rest in God's peace until we meet again.
Abraham Aseh
A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.
It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.
Sorrow is better than laughter, because a sad face is good for the heart
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 AJ
Daddy, It has always been tough dealing with you. Be it in my preteens, when I had to disappeared to my room when you came home from work, or in my thirties, waiting outside your office at the GCE Board, in front of a note, at the door that said: "do not knock and do not come in if I am busy”, or more recently, when it took almost three years to convince you to return to the USA for treatment.
I thank God for the last ten years that has brought us very close. Together we shared our mutual love for plants, wildlife domestication, culture, and acquiring land. We have also shared traditional gowns, suits, research tips and the list goes on and on.
Amongst our many adventures, I vividly remember your visit to The University of Ibadan, our Alma Mata, in 1997. There, you had a hard time convincing my then Head of Department, that your name was not Dr Fai, but Dr. Yembe. The same happened at Kuti Hall, where you had stayed thirty years before I did. At the gas station near the house in Mvog Betsi, Yaounde, you were often asked: “ou est ton petite frere la?". Even as we all say bye to you today, I know that I will have to spend some time convincing your guests that I am NOT your younger brother. I am your third child and second son.
Daddy, now that you have left us, I want you to know that I have never felt stronger. I am okay. The family is okay and united again. We will stay united. I give you my word this. As it is said here in the USA, "I got this".
Daddy, thank you for coming to see us. Thank you for coming all the way to America to bless us and say goodbye.
My best friend, it now time for me to say bye bye.
Say hello to Ebot for me.
Most people would be sad at a time like this and it is okay to be sad but I am not sad because I know my grandpa is in Heaven with God.
