Canadian music troupe celebrates late Nigerian scholar

Adesanmi was a staff member of Carleton University and had worked at the university’s Institute of African Studies. In his honour, the school recently organised the Festival of Life, an event of performances including music sessions, speeches and poetry readings. 

“This festival was the best way of celebrating someone who was so important to so many different people from around the world,” Carleton University president Benoit-Antoine Bacon said.

At the event, Adesanmi’s wife spoke about the man who was her husband. “How does a wife articulate the life and times of a genius who departed too soon, where do I begin?” she asked, adding that even as she mourns she will “celebrate the life that you lived.”

The West African Rhythm Ensemble, which belongs to the Carleton music department, performed at the event. The troupe’s director, Kathy Armstrong, told local media that the group was “honoured to have been asked to perform tonight”. The event, Armstrong said, “embodies a lot of what Pius espoused in his teaching and his being.”

Adesanmi's friends, including South Africa’s high commissioner to Canada, Sibongiseni Dlamini-Mntambo, were in attendance and also spoke to Canadian media.

“I am deeply honoured to count myself among the lives that Prof Pius Adesanmi touched,” Dlamini-Mntambo said. “Our hearts are still heavy with grief, mourning a friend of the mission, a friend of a beautiful country – South Africa.”

“Today, it feels like a member of our family – a son – has left,” she added. “But, I accept that we should not forecast on the sadness in his passing, but let us celebrate his life – the life of a brother. I am blessed to have known him.”

Carleton University has announced a fund in Adesanmi’s honour. Donate here.

Watch Carleton University's tribute to Adesanmi below: