Tribute to my brother: MBYE BABOUCARR MBOGE (February 8th, 1971- May 15^th 2008)

 

By Momodou Olly Mboge, Oslo, Norway

 

 

Poem Available at http://www.netpoets.com/poems/death/0521002.htm

 

Writing a tribute to someone dear and close brings in all kinds of feelings and emotions.  I am writing this tribute to my brother with misty eyes and trying to keep back tears.  My heart is heavy, loaded with sadness and my mind is in overdrive with all kinds of thoughts. 

 

However, thanks to the fact that faith in Allah’s power and guided by the light of Islam I am certain that Mbye, you’ve joined mom and dad in Heaven.   I am certain you are happy where you are.

 

You lived a comparatively short life full of contradictions yet with a light heart full of love especially, to your three beautiful daughters Adam, Sukai and Aisha. 

 

Tomorrow will be 40days since you answered to your Creator’s call.  We shall do the traditional prayers confident that the Almighty would make Jannah your final resting place side by side with mom and dad.  The Almighty was the one who blessed us with your grace and beautiful smile coupled with your kindness, hard work and thrift, traits which I wish I possessed and He is the one who knows best why this sudden, painful call.

 

Little did I know that talking to you on 14^th May whilst you were in your hospital bed would be the last time I will ever hear your soothing voice.  You deceived me with your strength and liveliness.  You sounded like you were just about to walk out of hospital, not knowing that thoracic aneurism was the culprit consuming you.

 

 I shall miss your encouraging and infectious optimism whenever I was about to throw in the towel in this worldly struggle.  That very fateful day when we last spoke and I told you I had finally submitted my Masters thesis, you said to me this was just the beginning and that you hope I will top it up with more accolades. God willing, indeed I shall follow it up to the end so as to be an inspiration to our beautiful children you left behind.  As you always said, it is better late than never.

 

Though we last saw each other nearly ten years before heaven called on you, I still feel that you are alive.  Your sense of humour and your hearty laugh has already created a void in me and affected my demeanour. I remember whenever I called home and asked how are things in The Gambia and you would answer with your usual phrase ‘Bro town nehut, fi moy chengolama base, waya nak santa yalla, we are still getting on regardless’. 

 

Mbye thank you for being Mbye and you’ll dearly be missed.  Rest In Peace.

 

I wish to thank friends and family whose phone calls and words of encouragement kept me sane and hopeful.  I must mention good people like Momodou Laama Jallow (Raleigh, NC) Pa Baboucarr Njie (my cousin who is more like a brother, Raleigh, NC), Youssou Mbye (Raleigh, NC), Abdou Mbye, Ous Sallah (DC), Ya Kumba Faal (LA), Gibril Faal (UK), Assan Jagne (Gambia), Haddy Faal (Oslo), Amadou Kabir Njie (Stavangar) and my other siblings Omar Mboge (UK), Fatou Mboge (Ghana), Amie Bojang Sissoho (Gambia) and the many more friends and family at home and in the Diaspora. 

 

I know you guys would prefer not to be mentioned in public but this is the only way I can express my gratitude.

 

Special thanks to Pa Omar Faal  (Damel) who is not only a brother but also, someone who is never tired of my family’s welfare.  All during my brother’s illness you were there for us and right now you took it upon yourself to look after his three daughters he left whilst I am away.  I just want to say THANK YOU.