It was an evening of tributes for poet and playwright, John Pepper Clark Bekederemo, in Lagos on Wednesday.
Members of the Government College Ughelli Old Boys Association (GCUOBA) were joined by Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka, Jimi Agbaje, writers and critics to honour the late literary giant.
Prof. Soyinka, who sent in a tribute titled: “’Song of a goat pepper-soup,” shared insights into Clark’s little-known “deep poetic sensitivity with an intense political discontent, frustrations from a nation that constantly short-changes itself.”
Soyinka’s tribute was read by a former Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan (SAN), who also shared a tribute of his own.
Also there were Clark’s family members, friends, writers, critics, former Delta State Governor James Ibori, Lady Maiden Alex Ibru and Princess Juliana Edewor.
Clark’s daughter, Emma, relived her fathers “loving nature”.
“He was a very loving person, very sensitive. That sensitivity lasted till he died,” she said in tears.
Emma added: “I was crying in my room one night. I was worried about him. I didn’t know he heard me. He asked me what the problem was. He was concerned about me. He didn’t know I was more concerned about his health. He encouraged me to be strong. (Nation)