This note is written in honor of Omoshalewa Oluwadamilola Alonge (Nee Ashimi) - the kindest and most considerate woman I ever shared my heart with.
Rest in Power, Omoshalewa 🌹
Adebayo Ojora and I were students at Bamex Educational Center, Ibrahim Taiwo Road, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. We were studying for the Interim Jamb Matriculation Board (IJMB) A-Level exam. I had failed JAMB but through much sacrifice, my parents emptied their accounts to send me to pursue that remedial program.
My mom especially took a risk on me and I am grateful to the Most-High who granted me success. I finished with 11 points (out of 15) and my name came out on the University of Ilorin Merit list of course with the assistance of my distinguished professor Aunty, Dr. Olabisi Margaret Araoye.
Time passed and my path again crossed with Adebayo who would go on to introduce me to Omoshalewa; the most kind and considerate woman I ever shared my heart with. Bayo could not stop talking about Shally and why I needed to meet her. In his words, he just had such a good feeling that we would be a perfect match. They were colleagues at Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS).
A date was eventually set up and it was the most authentic date ever. Shally was everything that Bayo said and more. Her modesty was glaring from the get-go. She exuded the aura of a person with great parentage and home training. Light-skinned (yellow paw-paw like many would describe her), Shally had these indistinct freckles and accentuated cheekbones which made her dimples very apparent whenever she smiled. Shalewa had such a beautiful smile.
When I met Shally, I was a Consultant at Deloitte Nigeria (Akintola Williams Deloitte). I was this rusty fellow just coming up. A classic hustler by Lagos standards. I had no car and was sharing a very inconvenient apartment with a cousin somewhere at Ojodu Berger. Omoshalewa was not fazed by my condition. I would later find out that she lived in a sprawling maisonnette consisting of a Duplex and several flats owned by her mom. She simply was understated for someone who came from such a Good Stock.
It was not the fact that she came from means that drew me to her but I was hooked to her kindness. I have not met a kinder soul. Shalewa was truly considerate. She made being in love such a beautiful thing you see. Nothing was going to stop me from making her my wife, but life happened.
Over two years into our relationship, it dawned on us that we didn't even know each other’s Genotype. My mom seeing that I was serious about Shally encouraged us to confirm our genotype status. It was after much trepidation that we took the test and then discovered that we were both AS. It was a difficult decision but this discovery led to our separation. We were both distraught but Shalewa remained graceful.
It has been over two weeks since Shally was buried and I am still finding it hard to come to terms with her passing. I am hoping that someone will wake me up from this very bad dream. I have much to write about Oluwadamilola but I will share two remarkable stories etched in my soul.
#1. Open mic nights with a struggle artiste. I was the struggle artiste and Shalewa believed in me. At this time (2012/13), I knew I wanted to do something musically but I was very unformed. All I had was a dream you see. I didn't even have an original song at this time but the fact that music mattered to me, was enough for Shally. We would go to places like Bogobiri at Ikoyi and other places including this particular spot at Ikeja GRA where the Freedom Hall crew led by Poet Torpedo Mascaw hosted a weekly Friday variety show. Thank you Shally for believing in me when there was nothing to hold on to.
#2 JJJ 86 AM. I got my first-ever car, a Honda Accord 1998 Bulldog with great support from Shalewa. I had saved for months but needed 50,000 naira to cover some expenses. I didn't have to ask Shally. She offered to loan me the amount. This was a particularly encouraging act. Nothing beats having a supportive partner. Shally was one-of-a-kind. I felt so privileged to have her in my corner. She was reliable, dependable, and teachable. What an honor to have shared my heart with this angel. I have many stories to tell but I will stop here.
My prayer to the Almighty is that the loved ones that Omoshalewa left behind will have the strength (serenity) to carry on. I ask the Almighty to strengthen her mom, sibling and her widowed husband in particular. May the days be easy for everyone. May we all take solace in the fact that Shalewa lived a meaningful life. May we draw inspiration from her life to be authentic and present with those whom life has brought us in contact with.
Odaaro Omoshalewa “Love” Alonge (Nee Ashimi).