First, a cliché—“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
Detroit, Michigan. Christmas, 1996. It was my 6th day in America. Queen Onajite was introduced to my family by our hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Wanogho. She arrived in her Silver Honda Accord with her name boldly inscribed on the nameplate.
It read simply: ONAJITE.
She had come to meet with us, so that according to our host, she could get acquainted with us. We went to see a movie that same day: “The Preacher’s Wife.” On our way to the theater, she had a song playing—“I love the way you walk it—no diggity—“
She hummed silently. The movie was great. It was snowing. Everything looked beautiful.
Queen led my family by the hand, like a Light; like a Guide; like a Pathfinder; like an Angel. She checked every box of what one could describe as Heaven’s Operation Manual of what a decent human ought to be like. My eternal gratitude for her kindness was not far off.
In February 1997, our last child was born. Now, hear this. I asked Mr. Wanogho to give my baby a name. He called her Ufuoma. I named her Onajite. I am an Esan man, yet, my daughter has two Urhobo names.
Ain’t that something?
That little girl now has a PhD.
Ain’t life something?
When I got a text that Queen had passed, I cast my mind immediately back to Ufuoma Onajite’s wedding two months earlier. Queen Onajite Toweh was there with her family. She was not looking well. She was not the 100% bubbly Queen I had known through the years. Only now, have I come to the realization that she had to have dragged herself out of treatment to attend Onajite’s wedding.
That was Queen being the Queen—doing what she knew how to do best—-always smiling, always loving, always being kind, always caring. A great Act like Queen does not need a do-over, would frown at tears at her funeral.
Her family must give thanks. Those of us who had the privilege of meeting her should give thanks that we had an encounter with an Angel in human form.
May the God of Heaven be magnified for allowing us to know her.
Adieu, beautiful soul.
Michael Ovienmhada.
