Kaduna,
Zaria - written 10th June, 2016
At the moment thousands gathered to pay
tribute to Muhammad Ali in his home city Louisville, Kentucky; in what seemed
like another funeral service – a Jenazah in absentia - academic community of
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, gathered to celebrate Ali in an event convened
by the school’s Department of English and Literary Studies.
The ex-heavyweight American boxer died
June 3, 2016 at Scottsdale, Arizona, aged 74 and was buried in a private
service for family and friends today, Friday.
The atmosphere in the hall was a
mixture of somber mood and joyfulness.
Solemn and reverential, the audience
rose in silence to pay respect for Ali.
“Look at us seated here discussing his
legacy,” said Chair of the event Professor Tanimu Abubakar, a senior member at
the department.
“Why Ali is relevant to us, even though
he lived far away?” he added. “Human beings become attached to phenomenon that
is attractive.”
Professor Tanimu described Ali as an
embodiment of human spirit and resilience. “He withstood odds and succeeded and
became attractive to even those who hated him. He had never been defeated by
problems. This is the lesson we can learn.”
Ali’s life and struggles would inspire
millions in circumstances he had once lived.
“Muhammad Ali represented the black
spirit, the capacity to resist oppression,” said Professor Tanimu. “For us, he
is a legacy of decolonization. That is why we remember him. It is our
responsibility to ensure that the world revolves around equity and justice.”
Tanimu defined Muhammad Ali’s life “as
the best example of what it means to be Muslim, the question of charity and
humanity,” he said. “Despite differences, human beings share common humanity.
He is ambassador of his religion. All Muslims should copy him.”
“Muhammad Ali is one of us.” Said Dr.
Edward Abah, organizer of the event, and expert
in African American literature at the English Department.
Muhammad Ali’s death and the passing of
Stephen Keshi, an accomplished Nigeria’s Super Eagle coach, Wednesday, was an
era of exit of great personalities, said Edward.
Drawing audience from across
departments and units, the program was graced with poems recitations in honor of the Greatest. Units
in attendance included French, Archeology, History, Biological Sciences and
Centre for Excellence on Development Communication.
Abdul-Jalil Adeyemi, a junior at
English and Literary Studies gave meaning to Ali’s passing with his Away From Home to Home poem while Samuel
Dan Daura reflected the condition of man in relation to life and death. His
poem titled Life read with gentle ease and gracefulness.
Muhammad Ali is not just a right
activist and boxer, he is also a poet.
Hssaina Sufyan, a student at the event,
read from Ali's collection, a couplet delivered on the demand of his audience at 1975 Harvard
lecture.
“Me, Whee,” she said, “I am one of you.
We are one of ourselves.”
It is the shortest poem ever written
apart from Tijjani Muhammad Musa’s one-letter poem.
Williams Zakka read out Ali’s life
history while Khadija Abdullah recited one of Ali’s poems.
Recounting Ali’s achievements, Dr. G Y
Pam, a boxing enthusiast and Ali’s fan from Mechanical Engineering said, “Ali
is the most confident boxer I know in boxing history. I remember him as a young
man watching him on TV in Jos. I am a fan of Ali.”
Ali’s involvement in peace mission
efforts at Middle-East and elsewhere took his name and influence beyond the
ring.
Dr. Lawan Tafida, a faculty member at Political
Science, said Ali is not only a right activist. “He is a diplomat.”
Ali could be remembered in several
ways.
“I remember him for his Parkinson
disease,” said Dr. Suleiman Jaji, watching Ali at Hollywood event. “I was
watching on TV, he couldn’t stand to his feet. He was the only person whose
star was written on wall, because of his name.”
Ali died of disease stemming from Parkinson's
syndrome,
a condition attributed to boxing-related brain injuries. He never regretted his
career, reasoning that he might have ended up a laborer. And the story would
have been different.
Ali has left notable mark on American
history and civil right movement.
“He is great in the ring, greater
outside,” said Dr. Edward Abah. “He can be studied in university classes.”
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