Senator Ben Murray Bruce and Nollywood actress Dakore Akande have a few hours ago taken to their social media to mourn the death of a renowned poet and first African Modernist writer, Gabriel Okara.
According to Dakore Akande who was the first to announce the death of Gabriel Okara on her Instagram, said she was actually doing a documentary with the 97-year old before his demise. She highlighted some of the works of Sir Gabriel Okara and his views about a lot of things, which she is going to reveal in her yet to be released documentary which focuses on Unsung heroes of the NigerDelta.
Dakore Akande in her condolence message to the family of Sir Gabriel Okara who died at the rightful age of 97, had this to say:
“A Legend has gone to the Great Beyond ?????? I woke up this morning to hear of the passing of one of the Greatest literary minds of our time who used his imagination, words and wit to positively project the culture of the Ijaw man and woman…I had the great honor and privilege to interview Sir Gabriel Imomotimi Okara in his Port Harcourt home facilitated by his granddaughter @katjaksn and his daughter Madam Timi Nwafor-Schiller who were so gracious❤❤?? for a documentary I’m currently working on called #UnsungheroesoftheNigerDelta which is being edited….He was a renowned author and poet with titles such as #TheCalloftheRiverNun#TheFishermansInvocation #TheVoice#JourneytoWoyingi to name a few….He was not just the oldest writer but a foundational producer of the literary arts in our part of the world. I might very well be the last person to interview him as this video was shot this past January 2019. He was 97years old…..Papa has answered the call now, Rest well Sir….#NigerDeltaHero”
On his part, the Senator representing Bayelsa East Senatorial Zone, under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ben Murray-Bruce in mourning the death of the renowned writer said:
“Sad to hear about the death of Gabriel Okara, but at the same time, we must celebrate a life well lived. A man of many firsts – first renowned English language black poet and first African modernist writer. A true son of the great state of Bayelsa. You will be dearly missed.”