By Akeem Lasisi
It was about seventy-two years ago. The place is Agberire, a village in the Iwo area of Osun State. A veteran and popular Islamic preacher, Alhaji Busari Yayi, was on a waasi (Islamic missionary/lecture) visit to the village. A gas lamp, which was the chief source of light at the time, announced the preacher’s arrival and drew many villagers to the centre of the village where the programme would hold.
A young boy, who was in Primary 4 then, at Ibadan District Council Primary School, Agberire, was in the crowd. That was young Muyideen Ajani Bello, who, unknown to everyone then, had ahead of him the great destiny of an accomplished Islamic preacher. Young Muyideen was living with his father, the late Alhaji Ajani Bello, his mother as well as other members of the family in the village. Like most other children born and living in Ibadan and environs, he used to call his mother ‘Moomi’, meaning, ‘My Mum’.
From the depth of his heart, spirit and passion, he loved what he saw that night. He loved the sight and disposition of Alhaji Busari Yayi, who was accompanied by a number of his omo keu – the apprentice/learners of the Arabic language, the Quran and Islamic knowledge in general. Something struck Muyideen right there. Why couldn’t he be among the boys, including the ajanasi, the peculiar back-up lad who spices up the sermon by echoing the preacher’s expression, at times in a dramatic manner.
But Master Muyideen has also for long been a man of faith and courage. As a result, he did not keep the aspiration to himself and neither did he allow it to die inside him. Rather, he went to his father and told him what was reigning on his mind.
“Alhaji Busari Yayi was a brother to my father (uncle),” Alhaji Muyideen Bello now recalls. “He was an itinerant Oniwaasi (Islamic cleric). He took the mission to different villages and towns. I loved the way he delivered his message that night. I also loved the announcement that ushered him into the village. They said, ‘Oniwaaasi ti de o/ Omo Alujanna, e jade wa o.’ This means the preacher has arrived. Children of Al-jannat, come out and listen to him.
“When Alhaji Busari Yayi was about to leave and return to Ibadan where he was based, I went to my father and said I wanted to follow him. My father never said ‘No’. Perhaps this was because of the confidence he had in his brother. They respected each other and were interested in the progress of each other. My father told his brother, ‘This boy is interested in joining you. I want you to take him along. I want him to have Islamic and Arabic knowledge. I want him to be able to read and recite the Quran. And I want him to be able to spread the words of Allah.’
“Alhaji Busari Yayi granted the request wholeheartedly. He said, ‘Aburo mi, ko si wahala rara, meaning, ‘There is no problem at all.’ That was how I started living with Alhaji Yayi and that was how a long journey I am still pursuing started.”
From Sheikh Muyideen Ajani Bello’s biography-in-the-making, Missioner of Truth, by Akeem Lasisi
