But for the words of my line head about separating emotions from one’s profession, I would have joined in the tears on Friday, July 11, 2014 as I watched the body of late songbird, Kefee, lowered to the ground at her Okpara Inland hometown in Delta State. It was my first time at an internment and the crying men and women didn’t make it any easier for me.
I pitied her elder sister as she screamed ‘Kefee wake up’ before slumping to the ground in tears. She had on a pair of oversized glasses to cover her eyes but her grief was vivid for all to see.. As I struggled to reply countless e-mails while still taking pictures and conducting interviews, I busied my mind with memories of the two times I met her in person. The first was at her Branama Kitchen, where I ate coconut rice for the very first time, and the second was at her Maryland residence where I had gone to interview her. I remembered the way she excitedly answered my questions and smartly dodged the controversial ones. She spoke with high hopes about her career and plans for the future. Kefee was a bold and fearless woman who refused to give into the fear about how her divorce would affect her perception as a gospel singer but rather plunged ahead and eventually survived. Seeing that Kefee was only 34 years old, a few years older than I am, brought home the reality of death. Gone are the days when only the old died. These days, it seems, no one is too young to. I imagined what thoughts would be running through her mind, if she still had any. Perhaps a few more singles, more collaborations or more videos? Sadly, none of that matters anymore. The only thing that does is that she put to use her talents and gained relevance for it. I wanted to cry but the reality I had just discovered made it hard to so I shut my eyes tightly and let the whole experience sink in my subconscious. When I opened it, I was shocked at what I saw. I saw him. He had an unusual calmness around him. His eyes darted to and fro as though in search of a particular person. He seems to be enjoying the show. What manner of creature would be this happy at the death of a lady at her prime? I needed no other hint. He is a thief. A cold blooded one. He’s stolen Kefee and has come to do it again. He stills time and steals dreams, plans and aspirations. The thief is death.
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