Akinwunmi Ishola’s son: Why my father chose book-writing over politics

Barrister Akinjide Ishola is son of the late Professor Akinwunmi Ishola. The Lagos-based legal practitioner, in this interview with TUNDE OGUNESAN, speaks on his father’s love and passion for writing and his efforts to save the Yoruba Language from extinction. Excerpts:

 

How can you describe your father?

I will describe him as a very humble, strong and hardworking man. I will also describe him as a very friendly and warm person. Someone who was kindhearted and, at the same time, he was very passionate about his beliefs and generally a nice person. From what I know of his relationship with most people, he was always ready to help and always ready to offer good advice. He also loved life and peace.That is a little of how I can describe him.

 

With his background in Yoruba Language and plays, how can you describe his relationship with members of his family?

My father was so much interested in the Yoruba Language and he always encouraged us to speak Yoruba. He always aspired, through his works that Yoruba Language grows more and become more widely accepted. He believed that Yoruba Language is going into extinction, especially among the younger generation and that most younger children between the ages of 1-20 nowadays don’t really understand Yoruba Language anymore.

Most of them can’t write in Yoruba Language and most others can’t speak it fluently. This was a situation that gave him a lot of concern. That is why he feared that Yoruba Language may go into extinction. I know that the issue bothered him a lot and that was a reason he was always trying to promote Yoruba Language as much as he could.

Even among the adults, he was worried that they are not speaking the language correctly as it should be. He was worried that most of the adults were not even interested in reading Yoruba books as they do with novels written in English Language. So, he tried his best to promote Yoruba Literature. You will recall that he translated few of Professor Wole Soyinka’s books from English Language to Yoruba Language and that shows he was a real supporter of the Yoruba Language in all forms.

 

How much was he able to influence the speaking of Yoruba Language by his immediate family?

Yes, his influence at ensuring that the language did not die within his immediate family is number one. We don’t speak English Language in the house; rather, we speak Yoruba among ourselves. It has always been like that in the family. We speak pure Yoruba Language in our house from the outset. My father encouraged us to speak Yoruba and he believed that if you understand your mother tongue, it will help you, even, to understand other languages better.

He also believed that at a tender age, you can easily learn up to five or six languages, so the fact that you’re speaking Yoruba Language couldn’t affect your ability to speak the English Language.

In most homes today, you find out that parents speak English Language to their children. This attitude did not allow the children to speak Yoruba Language fluently. These are some of the things he really campaigned against while alive. I believe, to a large extent, that he tried his best to ensure that the Yoruba Language maintains its pride of place where he thought it should be.

 

How much did you value speaking Yoruba Language while growing up and now?

Well, you know as young children, you get used to what your environment offered or what is happening around, so we got along easily and we enjoyed it. But we speak Yoruba Language very well and we don’t speak English Language at home. For example, my father will not communicate in English Language with anybody in the house, even though he has a very good grasp of the English Language; at least, this was manifested in his being a Professor and having the ability to translate Professor Soyinka’s book to Yoruba language. My father was just a strong supporter of Yoruba Language and culture.

 

Despite his deep cultural background and wide acceptability, are you in the know as to why he didn’t take up any political appointment during his lifetime?

Honestly, I would say I may not know his main reason because such decisions are largely personal to him. But I know the kind of person he was that he was not interested in politics. He was a critic and I didn’t see him showing interest in holding a political office. So, I believe he was not really interested, but was more focused on his academic work. He was not willing to leave academics for politics. He kept forging ahead in his academic pursuit; even after he retired as Professor at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, he continued writing books. I remember it was after his retirement that he wrote Saworo Ide. He later went into film production with Tunde Kelani of the Mainframe Film Productions. So, I believe it was his interest in academics that stopped him from going into politics, because I don’t think he was ready to handle the two together.

 

Given his deep cultural background, how much of cultural effects are we expecting from his burial rites?

I also believe so. There is a committee on his burial in place to handle the burial programmes and I know they will come up with beautiful and very noble ideas. I also believe there will a touch of his way of life, what he has flair for reflecting in the programmes.

 

Where is he likely to be buried?

He will be buried in Labode Village in Akinyele Local Government Area, Ibadan. He said that quite a number of times. He indicated the place as his preferred final destination.

 

How did you feel listening to some comments being made by people about him, which are new to you, especially now that he is no more?

Yes, there is a tribute book over there where people put their thoughts or words emanating from their relationships with him. There have been so many tributes; some of his friends when they come around, share with us some of their best moments together. But, honestly, most of these things are good things, good memory and positive things that make one proud of him.

 

Was he religious; what religion did he practise while on earth?

I would say he was a Christian. He was of the Methodist Church denomination. However, he hardly went to church but went for harvest thanksgiving services at Labode Village once in a year around December. It is a programme that he did not miss. He was quite religious in his own way. He had a Bible which he read religiously.

 

And you think he preferred to be buried in the Christian way?

Yes, he was a member of the Methodist Church. He never missed the harvest thanksgiving every year. That is the only church programme he attended and which I know. He would also go for the service with his friends at Labode Village.

 

How rich was the late Professor Akinwunmi Ishola?

I will say he was very comfortable, but I won’t say he was rich. He was a professor; apart from the books he wrote from which he was earning royalties and films, I don’t think he had any other source of income and that kept him on. So, he was very comfortable, but I won’t say he was a rich man because you can’t compare him with businessmen of his status. He has two houses and lived a very comfortable and very contented life.

 

How do you feel being the son of a renowned Professor who has transited?

First of all, his death is a little bit painful to me. Of course, he wasn’t young; he died at 83 years which is relatively an old age. Maybe I am being greedy, but I wished he had spent few more years, probably because most of his friends are still alive. That is not to say that he didn’t even have others who were dead since. But my joy is that most people have good things to say about him; no scandal and no negative comments. The way he lived, even in death, reflects that he was a good man. I am proud that he is my father and I am also happy that I have learnt from his lifestyle. Of course, his death was a big blow. This is someone that I see regularly whenever I come around from Lagos. I used to see him and we talk, but now, that luxury is no more. I could only give thanks to God for what has happened.

 

What did you cherish most in him as your father?

I cherish his humility, his humorous nature, honesty and his love for people. And I also cherish his friendly approach to things. If he walks in now and sees us, he will crack a joke that suits that moment. He was very hardworking, coupled with his way of life and strong principle. I will miss him a lot. He was a rare breed.