By Dare Lasisi
Tears and emotions flowed freely at the Candle night organized in honor of UK-based Nollywood star, Nigerian actress, make-up artist, film producer and CEO of Yemak Films, Yemisi Omowonuola Akande alias Yemisi Eleto on Wednesday 6th July, 2011.
She passed away aged 39 on Saturday June 25,2011 after a brief illness in London.
Friends, Nollywood members and family attended the well-packaged evening event in memory of a lady with a promising career in Nigerian movie industry.
If tears could bring Yemisi Eleto back to life, the amount of tears shed by her close friends, family and co-artistes were more than enough to wake her up from her final sleep.
Penarth Center on Ilderton Road in South London was so crowded with mourners that came out to celebrate the short but successful life of Yemisi Akande in the Nigerian movie industry.
The five-hour event which was expected to start by 6pm could not begin until 6.35pm to allow guests and friends traveling from cities outside London.
Lady Bunmi West who also recently lost her husband of 20 years to cancer in London was the moderator cum MC of the event and she gave a stellar performance despite her state of grief. She cracked harmless jokes to reduce the sadness that enveloped the gathering as Nigerians came to honor fallen star.
She passionately narrated how she coped with grief when her beloved husband was given just one year to live. How she could not sleep properly for close to one year while caring for her terminally-ill husband day and night. She was the female version of late popular American Comedian, Richard Pryor.
Late Yemisi Akande was the founder and life president of Eleto Association of Theater and Entertainment Practitioners UK (EATEP) and all her members also attended the event to pay their last respects.
Prominent among members of the Nigerian entertainment community in London that graced the occasion are Prince Hakeem Adetoro, Mrs Banke Adetoro, Mr Razaq Ayinde (Anabi Jones), Ms Morenike Abiona Akinsanya, Alhaji Isiaka Kokumo Mogaji, Prince Osinusi, Pastor Akande (Yemisi's elder brother), Mr Rotimi Aberuagba and his wife (known as Queen), Lady Abike Ade, Lady Bunmi West, Mr Ayo Stanza, Yetunde Oduwole (Yemisi's bossom friend), Fatai Atiba, Lady Lola Aliu and many others.
Several musicians also performed at the event namely Sunny Melody, Mr. Solek, School Boy Fuji, Funmi Omo Jesu and other gospel musicians.
Mr Rotimi Aberuagba, London-based Nollywood actor and broadcaster while paying his tribute, described Yemisi Eleto as very hardworking lady with a great passion for theatre and entertainment.
He narrated his last telephone conversation with the deceased where she appealed to him to appear in her new movie production. Mr Aberuagba could not accept the offer as he had an urgent appointment to honour in Nigeria at the time which would take him out of London for some four weeks. Since Yemisi could not suspend the film production till his arrival back to London, she eventually engaged another actor to take his place, Mr. Aberuagba told the gathering.
Toyin Aimakhu, another Nollywood Star who flew from Nigeria to pay her last respects wept uncontrollably and was overwhelmed with emotions as she tried to put herself together to say something about late Yemisi Eleto.She explained that when she arrived to shoot her film, Yemisi Eleto was quickly contacted and she was ready to help when they spoke on phone but Toyin noticed her falling state of health from the tone of their telephone conversation.
Lady Lola Aliu described Yemisi as her 'younger sister' and right from the first day they met many years ago, they both instantly transformed to the level of 'blood sisters' relationship as they 'clicked' together till her last day.
In an emotion-laden voice, Lady Aliu explained how the deceased struggled to promote Nigerian entertainment especially the film industry right from her first day in England. She was filled with remorse as she recalled her inability to see the late Yemisi before her death on learning of her brief illness.
She said her efforts to check on her after their last telephone conversation were frustrated by her busy work schedule which did not permit her to visit. Full of remorse, she openly apologised to the late Yemisi Akande Eleto who often advised her to reduce her daily stress of "chasing 'pounds sterling' since health is wealth."
"When I heard the sad news on that fateful Saturday, I locked myself in my bedroom and informed my children to step away while I wept heavily in memory of my younger sister, Yemisi Eleto and also tendered my unreserved apology for not checking her on the sick bed."
The event was brought to an end around 11.20pm with a closing prayer that Almighty God shall provide for the needs of her two little boys and also an appeal to put a stop to sudden death of young but promising people in the society.
Nollywood star, Yemisi Omowonuola Akande alias Yemisi Eleto was survived by aged mother and two sons (both sons still under 8 years old).
Grieving fans and mourners in Nigeria and across the world have been posting condolence messages on her Facebook and Fan pages expressing their grief and noting that her legacy of promoting Nigerian music and movies in the Diaspora shall live for ever for both present and unborn generations.Yemisi Wake-Keeping was slated for Thursday, 7th July, 2011 in South London's Penarth Center while her remains was buried this Morning Friday 8th July, 2011 at Wood Vale Cemetery. Forest Hill Road in South East London.
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