Femi was so full of life, he filled the room with his exuberance! I first met Femi at my parents home in Hamilton when he was an undergrad at McMaster U. When I moved to the University of Ife (Obafemi Awolowo University) Toks and I would visit Femi and his family. He was a master raconteur. My condolescences to Lara and their children, a light has gone out. Sincerely, Jane Oshinowo

In Memoriam Adieu my dearest friend; R.I.P. till we meet again. Abiodun Solola, Classmate, GCI 1954-61.

Painful to hear he was gone. A man i got to know through another wonderful person of his kind. He played a great part in my life. Rest in perfect peace Uncle Femi. Soks, Canada

I first met Prof. Femi Ojo-Ade through my bother Dr. Olatunde Olusesi in 1989, and we remained close until shortly before he departed this world on March 19, 2019. I found Prof. Femi Ojo-Ade to be a man of high integrity, incredible wisdom, and a cheerful benefactor and an encourager. He was also very industrious, kind-hearted, humble, approachable, and forthright. He was a husband, father, grand-father, brother, uncle, teacher and a great friend. He was a family man who devoted ample time for his family, relatives and friends. My brother, Dr Olusesi and my humble self are just two of the numerous people in several countries, including Nigeria, who benefitted from his incredible acts of benevolence. He was always willing to help on each occasion that I needed him to write a reference letter for my admissions to the New York Bar, Maryland Bar, as well as the Washington, DC Bar. Prof. Femi Ojo-Ade is one of a kind in the manner in which he related with young folks and his students. He used his wealth of ideas as a Professor of European languages specialising in French, Spanish, Portuguese, English as well as his native Yoruba languages. He taught students in Nigeria, Canada, United States, Brazil, The Gambia, and other countries. He left his footprints in these countries. I learnt a great deal from his words of wisdom and modest living. When he was alive, we often spent hours together at his residence in Waldorf, Maryland, and sometimes over the phone discussing life issues, politics, and the goings-on in Nigeria and America. I learnt a lot from his wealth of experience. He will be greatly missed. It is still like a dream that he is no more with us, and it still hurts. Our consolation is that Prof. Femi Ojo-Ade lived a fulfilled life. He left a footprint with his immediate family, relatives, and friends that will for ever be remembered. Prof. Olufemi Ojo-Ade, adieu until we meet again! Abiodun Olusesi, Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America.

Ojoade family were my neighbor for the most of my childhood growing up in the Obafemi Awolowo University campus. We have since become more like family so it was a shock when I heard of Prof’s passing. A great father to his children, Professor Ojoade was very well loved by neighbourhood kids as he often brought back a lot “cool” toys, gadgets and Movies that were very hard to come bye in those days. May the lord strengthen the family he left behind and May his soul Rest In Peace. Amen 🙏🏾

Dad Ojo-Ade, you will be truly missed. We always enjoyed your endless discussions and love for Nigerian politics and Manchester United, and most especially all the academic advise you gave us on finding college for Muyiwa we thank you. May your soul rest in peace. Segun, Peju, Anjola & Muyiwa Fashanu

He was easily one of the best Professors I ever had in Obafemi Awolowo University. Jovial almost to a fault, he had an uncanny way of simplifying things with his reassuring smile. Down-to-earth, he was the kind of lecturer who had no qualms sharing peanut with a student! He lived well!

Uncle was the unifying factor in the Ojo Ade family. He took time to listen and check on everyone. He was lively and very hospitable. He was my big daddy. Would miss him greatly. Holding on to the memories of the good times you shared with us. Sleep on big daddy. Yemisi.

Was my project supervisor in Unilag, down to earth, approachable and has a listening hear. May his soul continue to find rest in the hands of his creator. ADIEU!!!

A Tribute to Professor Femi Ojo-Ade: A Father, Mentor and Great Teacher It was just recently we lost Professor Pius Adesanmi, (Director, Institute of African Studies, Carleton University, Canada) a remarkable writer, poet-scholar, educator and political commentator, to the cold hands of death. He was killed alongside 156 others from 35 countries in the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash close to Addis Ababa airport, shortly after take-off. When I heard about his sudden death, I sent an email to Professor Femi Ojo-Ade, to confirm the news but he did not reply. I tried calling Prof. Ojo-Ade to no avail. Then, I sent a message to his brother Tony Ojo-Ade on Facebook to know if Prof. was in Nigeria or USA, and Tony confirmed Prof. Ojo-Ade was in the USA and that he would be online soonest. Logging into my Facebook account to wish a friend a happy birthday, I suddenly saw a pop-up message from an unknown friend, sending a condolence message to the family of Ojo-Ade with Prof.’s picture. My heart sank and quickly I dashed to Professor Femi Ojo-Ade’s Facebook page where I saw three other condolences. “I MUST be daydreaming,” I said to myself, not wanting to believe the posts. I sent a message to his brother, hoping to have the rumor debunked. After some minutes, his brother replied: “Bad news. My brother died yesterday in Washington DC.’’ It was as if the world was coming to an end for me. Hardly had I recovered from Professor Pius Adesanmi’s sudden and sad demise, then this... Another great Iroko has fallen again. What is happening to great Professors of Humanities? We are struck by the demise of consequential intellectuals, scholars, and thinkers of admirable quality these recent days. I met Professor Femi Ojo-Ade as a 200 Level French student of the European Languages Department, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Nigeria; where he spent a two-semester stint as a Visiting Professor. He was very approachable and full of knowledge. I took two of his courses where he widened our horizons as far as African and Caribbean literature is concerned. His office door was always open to all students. There was no gap between Professor Femi Ojo-Ade and his students. He would share some soft drinks (Coke and Fanta) with us, as well as give us some chocolates. Upon Professor Femi Ojo-Ade’s advice, after my National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, I applied to continue my graduate studies in Canada and he was one of the Professors that accepted to write me a reference letter. After I had arrived in Canada for my graduate program, he hooked me up with his brother Tony Ojo-Ade, his Son Dotun Ojo-Ade and his wonderful family residing here in Canada; and it felt as if I am one of his sons. He did not only show me the way to Canada but also to Maryland, USA. A fatherly figure, Professor Femi Ojo-Ade touched many lives and I am a living testimony to that. In 2015, this was my email of thanks and appreciation to a great Professor like Femi Ojo-Ade: Good morning Prof; I hope you are doing great in Lagos Prof? Once again, happy birthday. Also, as you celebrated your birthday July 23, 2015, and as I rejoiced with you that very day, I want to double your joy because your birthday this year brought joy to my life as well. In a nutshell, I did my swearing-in ceremony that day as a Canadian citizen. Your beloved son and student is now a Canadian citizen. A walk down memory lane makes me recall how you advised me in 2007 to undergo my graduate programs in Canada wholeheartedly and you equipped me with every means to further my studies. As a matter of fact, you did not only show me the way to Canada but also the way to almighty America (USA). I stepped into that territory (USA) through one of your book launch, Obama Phenomenon in 2011. You made it possible for me to discover two territories. Today, I am a citizen of Canada, thank you, Prof; for showing me the way to Canada... Please, find attached some pictures for the swearing-in ceremony. Memories: When I started my graduate program at York University, Toronto, Canada, I asked Professor Femi Ojo-Ade these questions in my email: Hello Prof; How are you doing Sir? Hope great! I just want to let you know that I just finished reading your recent book on Aimé Césaire. I thank God that I purchased this book, for, you have widened my horizon once again as far as Francophone African and Caribbean literature is concerned. I was just smiling, very enthusiastic and motivated while reading the book, for, it is full of research, especially the introduction and the conclusion. The corpus or the chapters are well back up with insightful passages. Hence, the va-et-vient or flashback of the ideas is very convincing and explicit. However, I have some vital questions to ask so as to prepare myself for academic research. I don’t mind if you can bequeath (permit me to use that verb) some of the writing secrets to me: - Prof; how do you come about all these research and significant passages and references? - Please, what time of the day or night do you write? - Sir, how do you archive all these references and how do you put them together? - What are your secrets or strategies of writing? Please, I need those answers as soon as possible. Your student Marius And these were the answers he gave me: Good day, Marius: Well, well, you make me blush, even though I am black! Really, there is no answer to your questions; for, as they say, to each his/her own. I cannot even tell you categorically the process of writing. It all depends on my mind and mood, and on the project concerned. I focus on the subject (for a critical text), read as much as possible of the extant literature, and THINK. This is where the originality would emanate from. I write any hour of the day, and anywhere imaginable. If I'm sleeping and an idea comes to mind, I get up and jot it down. (Some use recorders for this, but I remain old-fashioned)... In essence, I have no secrets, and you'd better believe it! Hmm, some talk of natural gift, but I prefer to underline assiduity and commitment to one's vocation. Maybe there is a gift of creativity. But, there as with all else, without application, "natural" gift remains an unfulfilled potential. My advice: stick with the hard work. Apply yourself. Along with everything else, make sure to ENJOY what you do. Do not make a chore of it; rather, a pleasure. That way, you'd stay in a positive mode and mold and the final achievement will leave you feeling good and light. Best. Ojo-Ade Another memory: Professor Femi Ojo-Ade connected me to one of the great poets of our time, Professor Niyi Osundare: Hello Marius, The Contributors' Note in the just-released book on Obama, edited by Femi Ojo-Ade cited your location as York University, Toronto. Of course, that name rings a bell with me. but I'm actually writing to congratulate you on your contribution. Prof Ojo-Ade tells me you were one of his sterling students. I am not surprised. Hope you're finding York an agreeable place. It was for me some three decades ago, and it created a turning pointing in my academic and creative career. Stay well. Very best wishes, NiyiOsundare Professor Femi Ojo-Ade was also the second Nigeria Professor of French in a national university, one of the icons of Negritude movement. This is how Professor Femi Ojo-Ade defines the movement: “Negritude, that controversial but essential movement the ideology of which cannot be wished away by any detractor. Negritude is flush with contradictions but its general representation lies at the core of African/black experience. Without pride in our identity, without anchoring our existence upon concrete culture, without pride in our blackness and readiness to affirm and confirm our color and culture and struggle for Black and Africa, we run the risk of dying psychologically and, yes, indeed, physically, under the jackboots of the self-proclaimed “civilized” masters of the increasingly daring acts of racism euphemistically called globalization. Negritude lives in every black movement of protest and resistance, in America, in Brazil, in Jamaica, in the United Kingdom, in every nook and cranny where children of Africa refuse to be silenced. Black lives matter”. Professor Femi Ade-Ojo, lover of Africa and blacks, this is how you describe Africa: “You are the mother of the world The cradle of culture and civilization You’re not homeland but home To innumerable children whose past and present and Future remain forever attached to your soul You symbolize impeccable beauty of heart and soul Unmatchable are your humility and generosity Qualities that have been rather problematic In a world mired in selfishness and spite for You and your offspring In a world where your color and culture are vilified Without respite”. Professor Femi Ojo-Ade has gone to rest. He is not missing but will be missed by families, students, teachers and the entire world. Professor Femi Ojo-Ade, why did you look death in the eye and laugh? Indeed. Your death brings sadness. Your death leaves a hole in the psyche of those you imparted. Professor Femi Ojo-Ade, may you rest in perfect peace. Sleep well and may God, Almighty, comfort your wife, brother, children, grandchildren, and the entire Ojo-Ade’s family. Adieu, Prof.!!! Marius Sunday Anagonou (One of your sterling students in Canada)

By Professor Felix Olaolu Alalade Femi and I were classmates in government college Ibadan,he was an excellent scholar and then we met again in the university of Dakar Senegal where he excelled greatly. As God will also have it he moved back to Nigeria after spending some years in Canada where he got his degree in French and Spanish literature. His impact was tremendous in ife as he did all in his best to change the learning culture for good. Femi was an all rounder in sport and academics he loved football with a passion to the extent that he gave his sons nickname Pele (Dapo) and Tostao (Dapo) who were famous footballers at that time. Femi was a valuable friend and adviser. His academic influence on me made me excelled with first class in political science and later professor of political science at ife. Femi though was not religious he showed so much love and forgiveness. He was a great family man supported by his faithful wife omolara .His great philosophy of life which I shared was "it is of no use to run and rush but rather to leave on time". Throughout his life he demonstrated love for his friends and he was a man of great principles. I will miss him exceedingly but I take solace in the fact that we shall meet again at the feet of the lord Jesus Christ on the resurrection day. Adieu Femi

I remember Femi as a very unique and charismatic person, a very important friend, and a great mentor and teacher. He had a powerful influence on my view of the world. He helped me develop my critical thinking skills and taught me how to "read between the lines" of mainstream news reports, articles and books. Thanks to him I have become much more confident in my intellectual capacities and skills, and at the same time much more committed to justice and equality. He also taught me so much about Nigeria and Africa in general. In recent years I have shared with Femi the most important events in my life. I particularly appreciated his support when my dad had become ill with brain cancer. I am so happy that I have been one of his friends. May his soul rest in perfect peace. My deepest condolences to all his loved ones. Joanna Tegnerowicz

The greatest uncle ever. My uncle was selfless in all he did. He held the whole family together. A great scholar and an even greater humanitarian. You can never ever be forgotten. Your legacy lives on and on. Mr.B as you always called me. RIP uncle mi.

To me you were simply Prof. who was set apart from others. There were no airs and graces. Very humble and always had time for everyone. I remember you with your short sleeved shirts . You will always be fondly remembered

When I first met Prof Femi Ojo-Ade in January of 1959 in Carr House of Government College Ibadan, little did I know that our association would last a life time. He was ahead of me by several years but because of some unique qualities he possessed he was quite visible and easily admired. He was bright, agile,opinonated,artistic and practically competitive. His mastery of the soccer game made him an instant celebrity in those days. He gave an excellent academic account of himself at the school and later traveled to Canada for University education. We reconnected in Obafemi Awolowo University where he was Head of the Department of Languages. All those close to him in his sphere of academia have attested to his forward looking approach in his faculty. He always chose to exhaust all available opportunity for progress, never wanting to stand still in the rot. Femi cared about relationships and would go to all length to ensure that his friends are comfortable. My brother- in- law was his classmate and friend. For this reason he was particular about our family situation. He gave true meaning to being roundly educated. He expressed his views as clearly and loudly as possible so no one can hide under equivocal expressions. He did regular workouts, jogging and playing tennis and racquet ball all through his active years. God blessed him with a mate made from heaven in the person of Mrs. Molara OjoAde. She had answers to all matters around Femi OjoAde. God will continue to give you the strength to carry on now that Femi can,t run or jog no more here on earth- who knows he might be doing the same thing in heaven. To the children who are now parents and professionals , thank you all for making him proud of you. His example of life is a fantastic starting point for you all. He has shown you that you truly have no limits. God will give you the strength to carry on. We all love him but God loves him better. Adieu, Femi OJO-ADE ! By Bade Akintan for Bade& Joke Akintan.

I'll miss my uncle. Very loving and kind.

I never knew him personally because he was always abroad, but his presence was always felt at his home at Road 7, OAU Ife Quarters. His betamax movie collection offered me some of my most unforgettable movie experience as a child. My interactions with his children confirmed he was a good father who raised very good children. His wife and my late father were colleagues at the Hezekiah Olwasanmi Library, OAU, Ife, and they worked together to improve us, the children, academically. During our years in primary school, we, the children, attended the same 'lesson' (Mr Emmanuel's) and our parents used to rotate among themselves who would take all the children to 'lesson' and back on weekly basis. I always looked forward to his wife's turn because her car (white Volkswagen Santana) was the only one with functioning AC and sound system that always played Gospel music. I know his family would miss him dearly. I pray the Lord gives them the grace to bear the loss. I also pray his soul finds rest in the Lord's bossom. Amen. - Femi Afolabi-Brown.

Uncle Femi like I fondly call him was a man of the people! Very thoughtful in all his ways and kind; hilarious too. We will miss you greatly. Oluwa a gbe yin si afefe rere o. Awon omo, ebi ati ore nsele de leyin re o. Awa fe o sugbon Jesu fe e ju; sun re, sun re egbon mi atata. 'Banke Sekoni.

Tonton, like I fondly called you, it was a rude shock to hear about your transition. So many unsaid words, felt you would always be here. You talked about the pain in your leg but that was all. Even as I write, I do not have details of what happened. But whatever was the cause, you will be deeply missed. You are a rare gem Tonton. You lived a good life, lending a helping hand to all who came around you. You left a good legacy. You impacted and encouraged the younger generation. The world has lost an icon. May the Lord console all friends , family members and acquaintances. Sleep on Tonton... Take your rest Patron... Sighs... Adieu Tonton. (Samuel Ayodele-Andre)

We hope that you find this tribute to Femi a place of comfort, support and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.