Forgotten Dairies
A Tribute to a Dear Friend: Pius Adesanmi -By Tife Owolabi
His acclaimed works include the poetry collection The Wayfarer and Other Poems (which won the ANA Poetry Prize) and the satirical essay collection Naija No Dey Carry Last (2015), alongside his Penguin Prize-winning book You’re Not a Country, Africa! (2011). Tragically, he perished in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10, 2019, while en route to an African Union meeting in Nairobi.
Today, March 10, marks seven years since the devastating Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash that took you from us. Time has passed swiftly, yet it still feels surreal that I can no longer look forward to your latest article—those razor-sharp pieces laced with irreverent humor, unflinching truth, and the kind of wit that could make anyone laugh even in the darkest moments.
The memories we shared—your words that lifted spirits, provoked thought, and never failed to bring joy—remain vivid and undimmed. You had an extraordinary gift: no matter the weight of the day, reading you felt like a burst of light, a reminder that intellect and laughter could coexist powerfully.
Pius, you were more than a friend; you were a rare soul who embodied the true force of writing and activism. Through your essays, columns, and fearless commentary, you illuminated Africa’s complexities, challenged complacency, and inspired countless readers to think deeper and demand better. Your voice was unique—bold, satirical, compassionate, and utterly unforgettable.
Though you are gone, you live on in every line you wrote, in every mind you sparked, and in the hearts of those who loved and admired you. You will always hold a cherished place in my thoughts, never to be forgotten.
Pius Adebola Adesanmi (27 February 1972 – 10 March 2019) was a Nigerian-born Canadian professor, literary critic, satirist, columnist, and public intellectual. He earned degrees from the University of Ilorin, University of Ibadan, and the University of British Columbia, and served as Director of the Institute of African Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa. His acclaimed works include the poetry collection The Wayfarer and Other Poems (which won the ANA Poetry Prize) and the satirical essay collection Naija No Dey Carry Last (2015), alongside his Penguin Prize-winning book You’re Not a Country, Africa! (2011). Tragically, he perished in the crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 on March 10, 2019, while en route to an African Union meeting in Nairobi.
Rest in perfect peace, dear Pius.
Your legacy endures through The Pius Adesanmi Memory Project and in the countless lives you touched. We carry you forward.
Tife Owolabi is a crisis communication enthusiast, a development studies researcher and writes from Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
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