[OPINION] Isiaka Jatto (Bongo): Life Is But A Market

Abdulfatai Tomori

This month of August has once again reminded us of the fragility of life. As we were still bidding farewell to Double Chief Banji Olawoyin, who passed in early July, news broke in mid-August of the death of Mallam Lukman Raji Muhammed. Before that grief could even settle, another heavy blow struck with the passing of Mr. Isiaka Jatto, fondly known as Bongo.

His departure is not just the loss of an individual, but the closing of a living chapter in the community history. Mr. Jatto was a teacher, historian, editor, and above all, a custodian of memory whose quiet but steady influence shaped scholarship and strengthened communal ties.

He was a man of depth and detail. In his soft spoken way, he carried the history of lineages, traditions, and events, always ready to clarify doubts about genealogies or cultural practices.

For researchers, writers, and community members alike, he was a trusted voice whose knowledge was as vast as it was precise. His storytelling was a bridge between past and present, ensuring that heritage was not forgotten.

Beyond his historical insights, he played an unsung but crucial role in the world of books.

Whenever writers sought editorial support, he was ever willing to help, patient, meticulous, and unassuming. Many works bear the imprint of his steady hand, though he never sought recognition for his contributions.

This writer recalls a memorable first meeting with him. In a warm, almost brotherly tone, he said: “Do you know you are my brother? Do you know that the Jattos and Tomoris trace their roots to the same place, Igbaja?” History indeed records that Pa Ibigbami of the Jatto family and Pa Atunwa of the Tomori family both migrated from Igbaja to Offa, settling initially in close proximity. Over time, however, they established themselves in different compounds: Esso Isale for the Jattos and Ololufon for the Tomoris.

Boda Bongo fondly recalled how the two families often mingled at Ita Erin in the Oke Agba area, where their compounds still stand to this day. He also mentioned that he had once tried to trace the Jatto family’s roots back to Igbaja, believing that in doing so he might also uncover more about the Tomori lineage, but he was unable to see the effort through.

The last encounter with him came in early July, at his Lamodi residence. Though weakened by illness, his mind remained sharp. He listened with keen interest to discussions on an ongoing book project and offered valuable observations with his trademark calmness. As always, he asked to see the finished copy when it came out, a wish that sadly, he would not live to fulfil.

In the Yoruba worldview, death is regarded as a debt that every soul must eventually pay. Life itself is often described as a marketplace — no matter how sweet or prosperous the trading may be, one must inevitably depart when the time comes. Such was the certainty of Boda Jatto’s exit, a reminder that even the most cherished presence cannot escape the universal call of transition.

His passing leaves a deep vacuum in the hearts of his family, friends, and those of us who often looked up to him for knowledge and guidance. Yet, as the late Fuji music icon, Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister, once reminded us during one of his live performances, “life is not our permanent home; we are but travellers passing through, our true abode is in heaven.” Still, none can reach that eternal home without first walking through the gate of death.

Perhaps this is why the American author Charles Franklin was right when he observed: “No one gets out of this life alive.”

Yet Boda Bongo did not depart without leaving behind riches that time cannot erode: the wealth of his memory, the guidance he so freely gave, and the inspiration of a life lived in service of truth and knowledge. For Offa, and for those who knew him closely, his name will not fade. His contributions will continue to echo in stories retold, in books preserved, and in memories cherished.

May his soul rest in peace, and may his legacy remain a blessing for generations to come. Adieu, Boda Bongo.