By Kingsley Dike
In Nigerian Pentecostal christian faith movement, she is known for leading worship in Reverend Chris Oyakhilome’s mammoth crusades That was before she left Nigeria for the United States.
In the United States, she expanded her reach as a gospel singer, songwriter, and worship leader known for her work within the Christ Embassy ministry in the North America. She released songs such as “Greater” and “Oyoyoma and served as a regional music director for the loveworld music and arts ministry (LMAM).
But it was not Sister Onos music talent that endeared her to our family. It was her zest for life, kindness, witty aphorism and just a great fun to be around As a close friend to my wife Tilda, she would come in straight to the kitchen with questions for my late mother inlaw Mrs. Elizabeth Bassey, ” Grandma, what are you cooking? With no pretense if the meal is one of her favorites- jollof rice, okro soup with smoked fish and shrimps, afang soup with fufu- sister Onos will settle in, helping and serving herself before joining my wife, her friend in the office for their work as a Clinical Research Associates (CRA). She celebrated my mother inlaw Mrs. Elizabeth Bassey on her 70th birthday celebration with a personal tribute recalling how much she looked forward to eat her tasty meals and how her motherly disposition towards her always energize her in her daily pursuits. When she passed recently, sister Onos who herself had taken ill and could not attend her funeral obsequies physically, requested the DJ play her chart topping gospel song “Oyoyoma “. The song was received with standing ovation by the audience as she waived from her hospital bed. Sister Onos was a people’s person, very charismatic and her enchanting charm made her a favorite of my daughters. She spoiled them with gifts and routinely checks on my growing young adults to know how they are faring in school. Most evenings I will hear one of my daughters say to her mother ” guess who called me in school today? Before the mother would answer she would bust out laughing “of course it is sister Onos and she is a trip in a good way. She was asking me about my boyfriend and when I told her that is not my priority right now, she said it better be next time I call you”. Some of her witty expressions revolves her christian faith. She would say to my wife ” there is nothing God cannot do” or God can move any mountain on our behalf. She is a very optimistic person, always forward looking.
The news of Sister Onos passing filtered in today. According to family sources she died yesterday in an Abuja area hospital. She had been medically evacuated from the United States to Abuja, Nigeria for the prospects of exploring treatment opportunities in Nigeria’s critically acclaimed “alternative medicines” approach to the cure of diseases and medical research. Unfortunately she did not survive. My wife Tilda and our family friend Mrs. Adebisi Olaoye are devastated. Sister Bisi and my wife Tilda had formed an effective support system throughout Sister Onos illness. For me personally our Delta pidgin English created a unique bond. She once had overheard me tell my wife I am longtime fan of Mr. Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), Nigerian movie star and media personality. In typical sister Onos fashion, she started making arrangement for lunch in some of Atlanta’s choice restaurants in honor of RMD who happens to be her big relative just to facilitate an introduction. May her sweet gentle soul rest in peace and her memories remain a blessing.#RIP #RipOnosBrisibi #GospelSinger #ChristEmbassy #believersloveworld #ClinicalResearch. Kingsley Dike is former Foreign Affairs reporter with The Guardian Newspapers and retired Intelligence Analyst with the United States Army. He wrote from Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A
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