A Letter to professor John Sani Illah From his student- lucky Fadam

by
DAKWOM M . LONGGUL, Jos

Abraham Lincoln once wrote a letter to his son’s teacher. The letter was so popular that reference to the role of a teacher in the society was upheld in same. In the words of Abraham Lincoln :

“My son starts school today. It is all going to be strange and new to him for a while and I wish you would treat him gently. It is an adventure that might take him across continents. All adventures that probably include wars, tragedy and sorrow. To live this life will require faith, love and courage.
So dear Teacher, will you please take him by his hand and teach him things he will have to know, teaching him – but gently, if you can. Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend. He will have to know that all men are not just, that all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero, that for every crooked politician, there is a dedicated leader,Teach him if you can the wonders of books, but also give time to ponder the extreme mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hill. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if every one tell him they are wrong… This is the order, teacher but see what best you can do. He is such a nice little boy and he is my son.”

In context to the timeless words, A student who turn teacher under the tutelage of one who saw this lines before Lincoln thought of it, has decided to challenge the saying that “the reward of the teacher is in heaven” Lucky Magma Fadam is currently a lecturer with the Department of Theatre and Film Arts, University of Jos. And writes a new letter to his teacher on the occasion to mark his birthday celebration.
The letter will take a different form, because in Africa where Lucky Fadam and his teacher John Sani Illah hails from ,oralility precedes letters hence , the student in a performance to be performed in the multipurpose Hall, of the pritigious University of Jos, on the 2nd of July,2018, says to his teacher – “ You are like the princess inikpe”
In case you wonder who is inikpe kindly ask an Igala man or Woman close to you, however because am involved I choose to help you out, Inikpe is a play written by Emmy idegu which chronicles the history of the lovly princess of the Ata of Igala who laid down her life as sacrifice so her people (Igala) will not be consumed by the war. The story is a celebration of sacrifice and love.
With the command performance the student ( lucky Fadam) reminds his teacher of the sacrifice of inikpe, and re- write the words of Lincoln hence, only the student can tell the story better not the father… Happy birthday in advance Professor John Sani Illah ( The spiritual Masquerade of Nigerian theatre).
Performance time.
4pm @ unijos multipurpose Hall Bauchi Rd. see u there

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A Letter to professor John Sani Illah From his student- Lucky Fadam