TY
Bello has just paid a tribute to the late Madam Ekundayo, from Isanlu Makutu in
Kogi state.
Some call her the Mother Theresa of Africa and she lived a life that
is full of lessons for us, the current generation. She spoke no English yet she
spoke to the hearts of many. She had no millions of dollars but the wealth she
possessed will make the world’s richest green with envy for her wealth was
intangible.
Without a political connection or patronizing those in power, Mama
Ekundayo managed to leave her footprints on the ageless rocks of time. Mama
Ekundayo was married and she had five biological children of her own -four
males and one female. She said taking care of children came naturally to her
and she enjoyed the company of children.
Mama Ekundayo had five children but that did not stop her
from adopting others and changing the lives of almost 500 children forever.
Read TY Bello’s tribute below: Mama Ekundayo, the prophet
I have an amazing story I’ve been itching to share about my encounter with this woman.. Truly amazing story….The Gift of
Holding my camera really close to her.. Silence fell again..In between
her songs of praise she would suddenly pause and look up and out..lost
in an trancelike gaze at what only she could see . It felt like the
earth stood still …Then she would fall back into song again.
This must have happened six times while I made portraits of her. The
moments were holy .. I didn’t interfere but I knew it was fine to
photograph. It felt like if I came close enough with my lens I could
partake in what ever it was that had her transfixed .. Strangely I was
never too close .. It was almost as if I wasn’t even there.. That was
exactly seven years ago.
A year later , @tosynbucknor
and a group of people had taken a trip to see her.. They came back with
a gift. Mama had taken time to knit me a green and white ‘ oja’, a
traditional swaddle or scarf used for carrying a baby on ones back.
Mama and I had never really spoken about babies..
I was also sure she
knew I didn’t have any kids so it baffled me that She specifically told
them to tell me it was for my son.
Madam Ekundayo passed away barely a year after her gift came. Shortly
afterward I got a call from someone else who had gone to see her before
she passed.’Mama made a gift for you TY… She sent it through someone
and it’s taken a while to come.
When the gift came I was brought to tears.. She sent a photograph of her
self and had knitted the exact green and white scarf she sent a few
months before .
Five years later I’m a mother of twin boys.. I stare at her photos and
wonder what she gazed at in a distance.. Did she see God.. ?Did she see
the future ..? I can say this for sure …. I’m certain she saw my
sons.#tybellophotography #photostories #madamekundayo#chrisandchris
