May the gentle soul of my class mate, Tunde Esho, rest in perfect peace. God bless and comfort his entire family, both nuclear and extended, and give all the grace to bear the irreparable loss.. It shall be well.
Babatunde (Eshi, as we fondly called him) was a gentle soul with a wonderful sense of humor. His life is inspiring as he faced adversity with courage and resilience, and with the best and most positive attitude imaginable. This is consistent with the Eshi I knew from boarding school days in International School Ibadan, NIgeria, and the Eshi who was my close friend in our 20s — I still remember our excursions in Toronto and Calgary, Canada. Eshi, you have lived and you have conquered. Now, you get to rest in eternal peace and power! Thank you for your friendship.
I pray that the Almighty will grant your family and loved ones the fortitude to bear this incredible loss. Amen.
Tunde,, you left your mark in the sands of time. I remember your gentle and cool demeanor back in ISI. The whole class of ISI93 truly misses you . I pray that God comforts your family and grant them the strength to bear this great loss. May your soul Rest In Peace
As much as I love writing, it has been extremely difficult to write ✍️ anything about Eshi. This is not because we didn’t share memories but on the contrary we share/d too many life experiences, that I selfishly wanted to continue to re-live in my own world.
As with many of us I struggled with living in the “now” because I constantly reminisced about our past which I used in creating our future. I knew Eshi and I would build a longer lasting relationship than our mothers who started off as neighbors in 1980. They over the years become best friends, business partners, global travelers, best confidants and closest neighbors turned sisters.
I somehow knew in my mind that this was our journey as well, because this is how we started. We met at the tender age of 3/4 because our families became next door neighbors. Your older siblings automatically became older siblings to myself and my brothers but because you and I were closer in age and our spirits aligned, we got along like a house on fire.
I remember Tunde always climbing the fence or crawling under the gate to come play in our house as kids, because we were sheltered kids. I remember Tunde riding his bike around Bashorun and having to watch him ride while I and my brothers were trapped behind the long stretch of a high gated fence of my parents house. But whenever I got the opportunity to sneak out Tunde was always so gracious to allow me ride his bicycle. Through you I met Eniola (Iya) and Yemi (Rico). I finally got my first bicycle when I turned 43 years old. I forgot to tell you Tunde because you were dealing with bigger issues. I remember the days of our table soccer tournament’s, with Wale Abiri, Tope Omisore, Seun Banjo, myself and Wole Banjo, where we played with counter tops designed as world class Nigerian soccer ⚽️ players and we literally would cry and fight over a loss or laugh and dance over a win.
I remember bro Foli and bro Gbenga making boxing 🥊 gloves for us and having us practice our amateur boxing skills on each other 😂. As close as we were I remember we had our moments of physical fights. I must admit you won most times. 😂 Eshi was unassumingly strong. I remember your late cousin bro Seyi and his very good looking bro Niyi.
I remember the Christmas Eve in 1988 when my uncle Mr Akanni Omisore(Tope’s dad) died, and my brothers and I moved in with your family. Although the death was heavy on us all, being around each other somehow made it bearable over time.
Although we didn’t attend the same primary school, our primitive years were formed together. We attended the same secondary school, I knew your first proper girlfriend Esther GbadamosI, we shared funny puberty stories together. You and seun, my brother travelled together on holiday with mummy and when it was time to leave Nigeria, I followed in your footsteps, I left for England a year after you, spent time together in Colindale and Stockwell. You attended hammersmith college in london with Wole my older brother.
And when you decided to moved for yankee you told me your move and also helped and encouraged me to move. We lived in yankee together for years. I remember my trips to Atl when you and my cousin Lolu were roommates and your trips to Maryland when we went for the Isi reunion. You were always so peaceful but restless, so you transitioned to Canada 🇨🇦. Because of you I tried to move in 2007 but it didn’t happen, I tried it again in 2010 before finally giving up on the idea. Your were actually a beneficiary on my Canadian account after I left. Ohhh I remember I missed your wedding because I was transitioning to Nigeria and you totally understood. Brother indeed!
Listen Tunde, we met as mere neighbors and we introduced each other as cousins to everyone in school but in our hearts we were and still are brothers. We lived out that bible scripture that says love thy neighbor as thyself”. We did and our families still do.
As we grew older our physical connections and location took us along the same path but different journeys, but our spirits still connected. Although we didn’t see as much we spoke quite often. You were reserved but you spoke to me. You shared your plans with me and vice versa. We advised each other.
You were always seeking for knowledge and that made you travel the world, you lived in 🇫🇷 France, moved to Spain 🇪🇸. I remember you telling me when you were moving and I remember we checked up on each other all the time.
I remember sending you a message to check on you in early 2018 as I always did and going to the gym to exercise. I returned to my phone after an hour of intense workout to get your response that you were terminally ill. I was confused. I continued sweating for hours even after the work out. I read the message so many times hoping that the meaning of those words would change or that it wasn’t your response. You also said I shouldn’t tell anyone. For 2 weeks I didn’t hear from you as you didn’t pick or return my calls. Those were the 2 longest weeks of my 40 something years of existence.
I remember one morning after my workout, I was in the shower and my phone rang, I leaned over to see who it was and I saw your name on my screen. I jump out with soap and water all over my body to answer your call and then you told me exactly what was going on.
I was strong because you were strong but I cried my eyes out as soon as I hung up the phone. I prayed that you wouldn’t die and even heard from God that you would survive this. I remember you calling when I was in a restaurant to tell me that the doctors couldn’t find the tumor and that you had previously been given 2 weeks to live. I was overjoyed but shortly after the story changed.
You had to do an operation but then you called me back and told me that the cancer had spread so you had to do chemotherapy instead . We talked but only when you were strong enough to because the treatment took a lot out of you.
You were always so upbeat that sometimes I was confused. Your voice didn’t match what was going on but always matched your spirit. You were full of life even as your body died, at least with me
We had a 2 hour conversation when you explained to me what cancer really was. I talked to you about changing your diet and I wrote you a meal plan. Which you thanked me immensely for. Years before you had encouraged me to start a fitness business, which I do today.
We never missed each other’s birthdays. Your favorite name for me as we grew older was Omo Oba and mine for you was Eshi
I spoke to you every birthday up on till the very last one. On May 5 2021 ( your birthday) we spoke for about 20 mins, it was our last conversation. Your sounded weak but we still laughed. You told me to tell Wole to call you because you were going to the hospital and you might not be able to talk after. I stupidly forgot to tell Wole.
On the 14th of June 2021 at about 9am Eastern standard time, I was in the pool and my mind went to you as it normally did. This time around something said say a prayer for Tunde and I did. In the evening of that day around the same time( 9pm) I got a message from mummy “Sorry to tell you that Tunde passed this morning“.
Again I read the message so many times hoping it meant something else. I was silent for so long. Silence never sounded so noisy in my head. I cried , I screamed, I wailed , I yelled.
But I now have a new understanding of life. We are all spiritual beings having temporary human experiences and the connection between our spirit and our bodies is our breath. The moment the breath goes the body is certified dead but nothing can ever kill the spirit. This is why we are called human beingssssssss not human been. Death of the body is inevitable but death of the spirit is impossible.
Mummy was right you “passed on“ you never died. Your spirit was peaceful but restless. You merely transitioned on to your next journey. This time without the same body. You tried so many things, you lived in different countries, your experienced different cultures and traditions, you ate good food, dinned at finest restaurants , spend nights at the best hotels, you were a brother to a mere neighbor like me, a brother to your siblings a son to your parents and many more elderly people, a loving, caring, devoted and dedicated husband, you were an amazing dad, exceptional parent. A loving and kind uncle, a fighter, a warrior and a winner, so henceforth I will celebrate your life bro.
Babatunde Esho you lived a full life in your short time. Your riches will never be measured in monetary value but in memories and the values taught and shared. Thanks for all the beautiful memories. They can never fade. Thanks for teaching me to measure my riches in memories and for encouraging me reach more people with love than with money.
Thanks for marrying Belinda and leaving us with Emelle and Liam. A physical part of you we will hold on to. I love you bro
Baba ti sun ni Baba ò ku ò . “Babs” sound weird, I never called you that. Tunde is me Bimbo.
As much as I love writing, it has been extremely difficult to write ✍️ anything about Eshi. This is not because we didn’t share memories but on the contrary we share/d too many life experiences, that I selfishly wanted to continue to re-live in my own world.
As with many of us I struggled with living in the “now” because I constantly reminisced about our past which I used in creating our future. I knew Eshi and I would build a longer lasting relationship than our mothers who started off as neighbors in 1980. They over the years become best friends, business partners, global travelers, best confidants and closest neighbors turned sisters.
I somehow knew in my mind that this was our journey as well, because this is how we started. We met at the tender age of 3/4 because our families became next door neighbors. Your older siblings automatically became older siblings to myself and my brothers but because you and I were closer in age and our spirits aligned, we got along like a house on fire.
I remember Tunde always climbing the fence or crawling under the gate to come play in our house as kids, because we were sheltered kids. I remember Tunde riding his bike around Bashorun and having to watch him ride while I and my brothers were trapped behind the long stretch of a high gated fence of my parents house. But whenever I got the opportunity to sneak out Tunde was always so gracious to allow me ride his bicycle. Through you I met Eniola (Iya) and Yemi (Rico). I finally got my first bicycle when I turned 43 years old. I forgot to tell you Tunde because you were dealing with bigger issues. I remember the days of our table soccer tournament’s, with Wale Abiri, Tope Omisore, Seun Banjo, myself and Wole Banjo, where we played with counter tops designed as world class Nigerian soccer ⚽️ players and we literally would cry and fight over a loss or laugh and dance over a win.
I remember bro Foli and bro Gbenga making boxing 🥊 gloves for us and having us practice our amateur boxing skills on each other 😂. As close as we were I remember we had our moments of physical fights. I must admit you won most times. 😂 Eshi was unassumingly strong. I remember your late cousin bro Seyi and his very good looking bro Niyi.
I remember the Christmas Eve in 1988 when my uncle Mr Akanni Omisore(Tope’s dad) died, and my brothers and I moved in with your family. Although the death was heavy on us all, being around each other somehow made it bearable over time.
Although we didn’t attend the same primary school, our primitive years were formed together. We attended the same secondary school, I knew your first proper girlfriend Esther GbadamosI, we shared funny puberty stories together. You and seun, my brother travelled together on holiday with mummy and when it was time to leave Nigeria, I followed in your footsteps, I left for England a year after you, spent time together in Colindale and Stockwell. You attended hammersmith college in london with Wole my older brother.
And when you decided to moved for yankee you told me your move and also helped and encouraged me to move. We lived in yankee together for years. I remember my trips to Atl when you and my cousin Lolu were roommates and your trips to Maryland when we went for the Isi reunion. You were always so peaceful but restless, so you transitioned to Canada 🇨🇦. Because of you I tried to move in 2007 but it didn’t happen, I tried it again in 2010 before finally giving up on the idea. Your were actually a beneficiary on my Canadian account after I left. Ohhh I remember I missed your wedding because I was transitioning to Nigeria and you totally understood. Brother indeed!
Listen Tunde, we met as mere neighbors and we introduced each other as cousins to everyone in school but in our hearts we were and still are brothers. We lived out that bible scripture that says love thy neighbor as thyself”. We did and our families still do.
As we grew older our physical connections and location took us along the same path but different journeys, but our spirits still connected. Although we didn’t see as much we spoke quite often. You were reserved but you spoke to me. You shared your plans with me and vice versa. We advised each other.
You were always seeking for knowledge and that made you travel the world, you lived in 🇫🇷 France, moved to Spain 🇪🇸. I remember you telling me when you were moving and I remember we checked up on each other all the time.
I remember sending you a message to check on you in early 2018 as I always did and going to the gym to exercise. I returned to my phone after an hour of intense workout to get your response that you were terminally ill. I was confused. I continued sweating for hours even after the work out. I read the message so many times hoping that the meaning of those words would change or that it wasn’t your response. You also said I shouldn’t tell anyone. For 2 weeks I didn’t hear from you as you didn’t pick or return my calls. Those were the 2 longest weeks of my 40 something years of existence.
I remember one morning after my workout, I was in the shower and my phone rang, I leaned over to see who it was and I saw your name on my screen. I jump out with soap and water all over my body to answer your call and then you told me exactly what was going on.
I was strong because you were strong but I cried my eyes out as soon as I hung up the phone. I prayed that you wouldn’t die and even heard from God that you would survive this. I remember you calling when I was in a restaurant to tell me that the doctors couldn’t find the tumor and that you had previously been given 2 weeks to live. I was overjoyed but shortly after the story changed.
You had to do an operation but then you called me back and told me that the cancer had spread so you had to do chemotherapy instead . We talked but only when you were strong enough to because the treatment took a lot out of you.
You were always so upbeat that sometimes I was confused. Your voice didn’t match what was going on but always matched your spirit. You were full of life even as your body died, at least with me
We had a 2 hour conversation when you explained to me what cancer really was. I talked to you about changing your diet and I wrote you a meal plan. Which you thanked me immensely for. Years before you had encouraged me to start a fitness business, which I do today.
We never missed each other’s birthdays. Your favorite name for me as we grew older was Omo Oba and mine for you was Eshi
I spoke to you every birthday up on till the very last one. On May 5 2021 ( your birthday) we spoke for about 20 mins, it was our last conversation. Your sounded weak but we still laughed. You told me to tell Wole to call you because you were going to the hospital and you might not be able to talk after. I stupidly forgot to tell Wole.
On the 14th of June 2021 at about 9am Eastern standard time, I was in the pool and my mind went to you as it normally did. This time around something said say a prayer for Tunde and I did. In the evening of that day around the same time( 9pm) I got a message from mummy “Sorry to tell you that Tunde passed this morning“.
Again I read the message so many times hoping it meant something else. I was silent for so long. Silence never sounded so noisy in my head. I cried , I screamed, I wailed , I yelled.
But I now have a new understanding of life. We are all spiritual beings having temporary human experiences and the connection between our spirit and our bodies is our breath. The moment the breath goes the body is certified dead but nothing can ever kill the spirit. This is why we are called human beingssssssss not human been. Death of the body is inevitable but death of the spirit is impossible.
Mummy was right you “passed on“ you never died. Your spirit was peaceful but restless. You merely transitioned on to your next journey. This time without the same body. You tried so many things, you lived in different countries, your experienced different cultures and traditions, you ate good food, dinned at finest restaurants , spend nights at the best hotels, you were a brother to a mere neighbor like me, a brother to your siblings a son to your parents and many more elderly people, a loving, caring, devoted and dedicated husband, you were an amazing dad, exceptional parent. A loving and kind uncle, a fighter, a warrior and a winner, so henceforth I will celebrate your life bro.
Babatunde Esho you lived a full life in your short time. Your riches will never be measured in monetary value but in memories and the values taught and shared. Thanks for all the beautiful memories. They can never fade. Thanks for teaching me to measure my riches in memories and for encouraging me reach more people with love than with money.
Thanks for marrying Belinda and leaving us with Emelle and Liam. A physical part of you we will hold on to. I love you bro
Baba ti sun ni Baba ò ku ò . “Babs” sound weird, I never called you that. Tunde is me Bimbo.
My friend Eshy!
The intelligent observer,
The ever smiling and joyous friend,
The very thoughtful and considerate supporter,
The guy looking too cool in all the pictures,
For a while there people might have thought I was following you around, first ATL and then Canada. Truth be told, I always thought you had the best ideas. Whether it was real estate development and investing or, the London cabs at your wedding or moving to Spain or doing the podcast. I am really thankful for the support and advise you shared so freely with me in the past. I was honored to be the best man at your wedding and spending the day with you and Belinda, old friends and family is still one of my best memories. I promise to take every opportunity I get to remind Emelle and Liam how awesome you were as a friend. I feel certain that they have inherited your spirit, zest for life and ability to build strong relationships.
I feel so inspired by you and the tenacity you have showed through this battle. The courage and strength you displayed speaks to your character and that of the people who went through this with you day by day. You will continue to live in our hearts and memories and we will celebrate the life you lived and not the loss we feel with you not being around.
May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace. You fought and you won. Glory be to the Almighty.. For all of us who you left behind the battle continues. Some day at the appropriate time we will meet as winners.
Your kind hearted nature and your smile is what I will always remember. Although we are family friends, you respected my mom as your own. Truly you lived as I recall how well travelled you were and how fulfilled you were in your career. Sleep well TUNDE. God keep Belinda and the girls. And may the lord comfort the entire Esho family.
8 thoughts on “CONDOLENCES”
May the gentle soul of my class mate, Tunde Esho, rest in perfect peace. God bless and comfort his entire family, both nuclear and extended, and give all the grace to bear the irreparable loss.. It shall be well.
Babatunde (Eshi, as we fondly called him) was a gentle soul with a wonderful sense of humor. His life is inspiring as he faced adversity with courage and resilience, and with the best and most positive attitude imaginable. This is consistent with the Eshi I knew from boarding school days in International School Ibadan, NIgeria, and the Eshi who was my close friend in our 20s — I still remember our excursions in Toronto and Calgary, Canada. Eshi, you have lived and you have conquered. Now, you get to rest in eternal peace and power! Thank you for your friendship.
I pray that the Almighty will grant your family and loved ones the fortitude to bear this incredible loss. Amen.
Tunde,, you left your mark in the sands of time. I remember your gentle and cool demeanor back in ISI. The whole class of ISI93 truly misses you . I pray that God comforts your family and grant them the strength to bear this great loss. May your soul Rest In Peace
As much as I love writing, it has been extremely difficult to write ✍️ anything about Eshi. This is not because we didn’t share memories but on the contrary we share/d too many life experiences, that I selfishly wanted to continue to re-live in my own world.
As with many of us I struggled with living in the “now” because I constantly reminisced about our past which I used in creating our future. I knew Eshi and I would build a longer lasting relationship than our mothers who started off as neighbors in 1980. They over the years become best friends, business partners, global travelers, best confidants and closest neighbors turned sisters.
I somehow knew in my mind that this was our journey as well, because this is how we started. We met at the tender age of 3/4 because our families became next door neighbors. Your older siblings automatically became older siblings to myself and my brothers but because you and I were closer in age and our spirits aligned, we got along like a house on fire.
I remember Tunde always climbing the fence or crawling under the gate to come play in our house as kids, because we were sheltered kids. I remember Tunde riding his bike around Bashorun and having to watch him ride while I and my brothers were trapped behind the long stretch of a high gated fence of my parents house. But whenever I got the opportunity to sneak out Tunde was always so gracious to allow me ride his bicycle. Through you I met Eniola (Iya) and Yemi (Rico). I finally got my first bicycle when I turned 43 years old. I forgot to tell you Tunde because you were dealing with bigger issues. I remember the days of our table soccer tournament’s, with Wale Abiri, Tope Omisore, Seun Banjo, myself and Wole Banjo, where we played with counter tops designed as world class Nigerian soccer ⚽️ players and we literally would cry and fight over a loss or laugh and dance over a win.
I remember bro Foli and bro Gbenga making boxing 🥊 gloves for us and having us practice our amateur boxing skills on each other 😂. As close as we were I remember we had our moments of physical fights. I must admit you won most times. 😂 Eshi was unassumingly strong. I remember your late cousin bro Seyi and his very good looking bro Niyi.
I remember the Christmas Eve in 1988 when my uncle Mr Akanni Omisore(Tope’s dad) died, and my brothers and I moved in with your family. Although the death was heavy on us all, being around each other somehow made it bearable over time.
Although we didn’t attend the same primary school, our primitive years were formed together. We attended the same secondary school, I knew your first proper girlfriend Esther GbadamosI, we shared funny puberty stories together. You and seun, my brother travelled together on holiday with mummy and when it was time to leave Nigeria, I followed in your footsteps, I left for England a year after you, spent time together in Colindale and Stockwell. You attended hammersmith college in london with Wole my older brother.
And when you decided to moved for yankee you told me your move and also helped and encouraged me to move. We lived in yankee together for years. I remember my trips to Atl when you and my cousin Lolu were roommates and your trips to Maryland when we went for the Isi reunion. You were always so peaceful but restless, so you transitioned to Canada 🇨🇦. Because of you I tried to move in 2007 but it didn’t happen, I tried it again in 2010 before finally giving up on the idea. Your were actually a beneficiary on my Canadian account after I left. Ohhh I remember I missed your wedding because I was transitioning to Nigeria and you totally understood. Brother indeed!
Listen Tunde, we met as mere neighbors and we introduced each other as cousins to everyone in school but in our hearts we were and still are brothers. We lived out that bible scripture that says love thy neighbor as thyself”. We did and our families still do.
As we grew older our physical connections and location took us along the same path but different journeys, but our spirits still connected. Although we didn’t see as much we spoke quite often. You were reserved but you spoke to me. You shared your plans with me and vice versa. We advised each other.
You were always seeking for knowledge and that made you travel the world, you lived in 🇫🇷 France, moved to Spain 🇪🇸. I remember you telling me when you were moving and I remember we checked up on each other all the time.
I remember sending you a message to check on you in early 2018 as I always did and going to the gym to exercise. I returned to my phone after an hour of intense workout to get your response that you were terminally ill. I was confused. I continued sweating for hours even after the work out. I read the message so many times hoping that the meaning of those words would change or that it wasn’t your response. You also said I shouldn’t tell anyone. For 2 weeks I didn’t hear from you as you didn’t pick or return my calls. Those were the 2 longest weeks of my 40 something years of existence.
I remember one morning after my workout, I was in the shower and my phone rang, I leaned over to see who it was and I saw your name on my screen. I jump out with soap and water all over my body to answer your call and then you told me exactly what was going on.
I was strong because you were strong but I cried my eyes out as soon as I hung up the phone. I prayed that you wouldn’t die and even heard from God that you would survive this. I remember you calling when I was in a restaurant to tell me that the doctors couldn’t find the tumor and that you had previously been given 2 weeks to live. I was overjoyed but shortly after the story changed.
You had to do an operation but then you called me back and told me that the cancer had spread so you had to do chemotherapy instead . We talked but only when you were strong enough to because the treatment took a lot out of you.
You were always so upbeat that sometimes I was confused. Your voice didn’t match what was going on but always matched your spirit. You were full of life even as your body died, at least with me
We had a 2 hour conversation when you explained to me what cancer really was. I talked to you about changing your diet and I wrote you a meal plan. Which you thanked me immensely for. Years before you had encouraged me to start a fitness business, which I do today.
We never missed each other’s birthdays. Your favorite name for me as we grew older was Omo Oba and mine for you was Eshi
I spoke to you every birthday up on till the very last one. On May 5 2021 ( your birthday) we spoke for about 20 mins, it was our last conversation. Your sounded weak but we still laughed. You told me to tell Wole to call you because you were going to the hospital and you might not be able to talk after. I stupidly forgot to tell Wole.
On the 14th of June 2021 at about 9am Eastern standard time, I was in the pool and my mind went to you as it normally did. This time around something said say a prayer for Tunde and I did. In the evening of that day around the same time( 9pm) I got a message from mummy “Sorry to tell you that Tunde passed this morning“.
Again I read the message so many times hoping it meant something else. I was silent for so long. Silence never sounded so noisy in my head. I cried , I screamed, I wailed , I yelled.
But I now have a new understanding of life. We are all spiritual beings having temporary human experiences and the connection between our spirit and our bodies is our breath. The moment the breath goes the body is certified dead but nothing can ever kill the spirit. This is why we are called human beingssssssss not human been. Death of the body is inevitable but death of the spirit is impossible.
Mummy was right you “passed on“ you never died. Your spirit was peaceful but restless. You merely transitioned on to your next journey. This time without the same body. You tried so many things, you lived in different countries, your experienced different cultures and traditions, you ate good food, dinned at finest restaurants , spend nights at the best hotels, you were a brother to a mere neighbor like me, a brother to your siblings a son to your parents and many more elderly people, a loving, caring, devoted and dedicated husband, you were an amazing dad, exceptional parent. A loving and kind uncle, a fighter, a warrior and a winner, so henceforth I will celebrate your life bro.
Babatunde Esho you lived a full life in your short time. Your riches will never be measured in monetary value but in memories and the values taught and shared. Thanks for all the beautiful memories. They can never fade. Thanks for teaching me to measure my riches in memories and for encouraging me reach more people with love than with money.
Thanks for marrying Belinda and leaving us with Emelle and Liam. A physical part of you we will hold on to. I love you bro
Baba ti sun ni Baba ò ku ò . “Babs” sound weird, I never called you that. Tunde is me Bimbo.
Written by Olu Abimbola Banjo
Dictated by TMA
As much as I love writing, it has been extremely difficult to write ✍️ anything about Eshi. This is not because we didn’t share memories but on the contrary we share/d too many life experiences, that I selfishly wanted to continue to re-live in my own world.
As with many of us I struggled with living in the “now” because I constantly reminisced about our past which I used in creating our future. I knew Eshi and I would build a longer lasting relationship than our mothers who started off as neighbors in 1980. They over the years become best friends, business partners, global travelers, best confidants and closest neighbors turned sisters.
I somehow knew in my mind that this was our journey as well, because this is how we started. We met at the tender age of 3/4 because our families became next door neighbors. Your older siblings automatically became older siblings to myself and my brothers but because you and I were closer in age and our spirits aligned, we got along like a house on fire.
I remember Tunde always climbing the fence or crawling under the gate to come play in our house as kids, because we were sheltered kids. I remember Tunde riding his bike around Bashorun and having to watch him ride while I and my brothers were trapped behind the long stretch of a high gated fence of my parents house. But whenever I got the opportunity to sneak out Tunde was always so gracious to allow me ride his bicycle. Through you I met Eniola (Iya) and Yemi (Rico). I finally got my first bicycle when I turned 43 years old. I forgot to tell you Tunde because you were dealing with bigger issues. I remember the days of our table soccer tournament’s, with Wale Abiri, Tope Omisore, Seun Banjo, myself and Wole Banjo, where we played with counter tops designed as world class Nigerian soccer ⚽️ players and we literally would cry and fight over a loss or laugh and dance over a win.
I remember bro Foli and bro Gbenga making boxing 🥊 gloves for us and having us practice our amateur boxing skills on each other 😂. As close as we were I remember we had our moments of physical fights. I must admit you won most times. 😂 Eshi was unassumingly strong. I remember your late cousin bro Seyi and his very good looking bro Niyi.
I remember the Christmas Eve in 1988 when my uncle Mr Akanni Omisore(Tope’s dad) died, and my brothers and I moved in with your family. Although the death was heavy on us all, being around each other somehow made it bearable over time.
Although we didn’t attend the same primary school, our primitive years were formed together. We attended the same secondary school, I knew your first proper girlfriend Esther GbadamosI, we shared funny puberty stories together. You and seun, my brother travelled together on holiday with mummy and when it was time to leave Nigeria, I followed in your footsteps, I left for England a year after you, spent time together in Colindale and Stockwell. You attended hammersmith college in london with Wole my older brother.
And when you decided to moved for yankee you told me your move and also helped and encouraged me to move. We lived in yankee together for years. I remember my trips to Atl when you and my cousin Lolu were roommates and your trips to Maryland when we went for the Isi reunion. You were always so peaceful but restless, so you transitioned to Canada 🇨🇦. Because of you I tried to move in 2007 but it didn’t happen, I tried it again in 2010 before finally giving up on the idea. Your were actually a beneficiary on my Canadian account after I left. Ohhh I remember I missed your wedding because I was transitioning to Nigeria and you totally understood. Brother indeed!
Listen Tunde, we met as mere neighbors and we introduced each other as cousins to everyone in school but in our hearts we were and still are brothers. We lived out that bible scripture that says love thy neighbor as thyself”. We did and our families still do.
As we grew older our physical connections and location took us along the same path but different journeys, but our spirits still connected. Although we didn’t see as much we spoke quite often. You were reserved but you spoke to me. You shared your plans with me and vice versa. We advised each other.
You were always seeking for knowledge and that made you travel the world, you lived in 🇫🇷 France, moved to Spain 🇪🇸. I remember you telling me when you were moving and I remember we checked up on each other all the time.
I remember sending you a message to check on you in early 2018 as I always did and going to the gym to exercise. I returned to my phone after an hour of intense workout to get your response that you were terminally ill. I was confused. I continued sweating for hours even after the work out. I read the message so many times hoping that the meaning of those words would change or that it wasn’t your response. You also said I shouldn’t tell anyone. For 2 weeks I didn’t hear from you as you didn’t pick or return my calls. Those were the 2 longest weeks of my 40 something years of existence.
I remember one morning after my workout, I was in the shower and my phone rang, I leaned over to see who it was and I saw your name on my screen. I jump out with soap and water all over my body to answer your call and then you told me exactly what was going on.
I was strong because you were strong but I cried my eyes out as soon as I hung up the phone. I prayed that you wouldn’t die and even heard from God that you would survive this. I remember you calling when I was in a restaurant to tell me that the doctors couldn’t find the tumor and that you had previously been given 2 weeks to live. I was overjoyed but shortly after the story changed.
You had to do an operation but then you called me back and told me that the cancer had spread so you had to do chemotherapy instead . We talked but only when you were strong enough to because the treatment took a lot out of you.
You were always so upbeat that sometimes I was confused. Your voice didn’t match what was going on but always matched your spirit. You were full of life even as your body died, at least with me
We had a 2 hour conversation when you explained to me what cancer really was. I talked to you about changing your diet and I wrote you a meal plan. Which you thanked me immensely for. Years before you had encouraged me to start a fitness business, which I do today.
We never missed each other’s birthdays. Your favorite name for me as we grew older was Omo Oba and mine for you was Eshi
I spoke to you every birthday up on till the very last one. On May 5 2021 ( your birthday) we spoke for about 20 mins, it was our last conversation. Your sounded weak but we still laughed. You told me to tell Wole to call you because you were going to the hospital and you might not be able to talk after. I stupidly forgot to tell Wole.
On the 14th of June 2021 at about 9am Eastern standard time, I was in the pool and my mind went to you as it normally did. This time around something said say a prayer for Tunde and I did. In the evening of that day around the same time( 9pm) I got a message from mummy “Sorry to tell you that Tunde passed this morning“.
Again I read the message so many times hoping it meant something else. I was silent for so long. Silence never sounded so noisy in my head. I cried , I screamed, I wailed , I yelled.
But I now have a new understanding of life. We are all spiritual beings having temporary human experiences and the connection between our spirit and our bodies is our breath. The moment the breath goes the body is certified dead but nothing can ever kill the spirit. This is why we are called human beingssssssss not human been. Death of the body is inevitable but death of the spirit is impossible.
Mummy was right you “passed on“ you never died. Your spirit was peaceful but restless. You merely transitioned on to your next journey. This time without the same body. You tried so many things, you lived in different countries, your experienced different cultures and traditions, you ate good food, dinned at finest restaurants , spend nights at the best hotels, you were a brother to a mere neighbor like me, a brother to your siblings a son to your parents and many more elderly people, a loving, caring, devoted and dedicated husband, you were an amazing dad, exceptional parent. A loving and kind uncle, a fighter, a warrior and a winner, so henceforth I will celebrate your life bro.
Babatunde Esho you lived a full life in your short time. Your riches will never be measured in monetary value but in memories and the values taught and shared. Thanks for all the beautiful memories. They can never fade. Thanks for teaching me to measure my riches in memories and for encouraging me reach more people with love than with money.
Thanks for marrying Belinda and leaving us with Emelle and Liam. A physical part of you we will hold on to. I love you bro
Baba ti sun ni Baba ò ku ò . “Babs” sound weird, I never called you that. Tunde is me Bimbo.
Written by Olu Abimbola Banjo
Dictated by TMA
My friend Eshy!
The intelligent observer,
The ever smiling and joyous friend,
The very thoughtful and considerate supporter,
The guy looking too cool in all the pictures,
For a while there people might have thought I was following you around, first ATL and then Canada. Truth be told, I always thought you had the best ideas. Whether it was real estate development and investing or, the London cabs at your wedding or moving to Spain or doing the podcast. I am really thankful for the support and advise you shared so freely with me in the past. I was honored to be the best man at your wedding and spending the day with you and Belinda, old friends and family is still one of my best memories. I promise to take every opportunity I get to remind Emelle and Liam how awesome you were as a friend. I feel certain that they have inherited your spirit, zest for life and ability to build strong relationships.
I feel so inspired by you and the tenacity you have showed through this battle. The courage and strength you displayed speaks to your character and that of the people who went through this with you day by day. You will continue to live in our hearts and memories and we will celebrate the life you lived and not the loss we feel with you not being around.
Rest In perfect peace my friend.
May your gentle soul rest in perfect peace. You fought and you won. Glory be to the Almighty.. For all of us who you left behind the battle continues. Some day at the appropriate time we will meet as winners.
Your kind hearted nature and your smile is what I will always remember. Although we are family friends, you respected my mom as your own. Truly you lived as I recall how well travelled you were and how fulfilled you were in your career. Sleep well TUNDE. God keep Belinda and the girls. And may the lord comfort the entire Esho family.