The grace of right timing positions the routine as a stroke of genius. Wrong timing often makes a fool of even the best of minds. -Simbo Olorunfemi, 2022
Life can be likened to a horse, galloping on the strength of its own wings, even if it has a way of indulging the rider into running away with the assumption that he is the master of his destiny.
We think that because the reins are in our hands, and we can sit pretty on the back of the horse, we are in control. It only takes a moment for us to realise how much of control that we really have. Full of life, confidently hopping around as we like, life jolts us back to reality with one challenging turn, and then we realise that the reins are not quite in our hands.
Of all that transpired in the public space last month, nothing resonated with me as much as the touching and inspiring story of Farooq Oreagba, who was propelled to fame on the strength of his photograph, which has now become an iconic representation of Ojude Oba, or better still, the definition of ‘steeze’, which we are told, has made a comeback on the back of a fleeting moment frozen by the sense of occasion of a photographer. How one photograph can capture the imagination of so many people that the object in the frame will be instantly catapulted from anonymity onto fame strikes me as a feat akin to a miracle.
Beyond every other thing though, what I found most striking about this is the reminder of how little of control we really have over life, even we like to think we are in control and have the likely outcomes of our actions largely figured out. We think we are the ones riding the horse, while it just might be that, in many cases, it is the horse that is riding us. One moment, all that has been carefully stacked up can come crashing down. On the other hand, one moment, one chance encounter is often all it takes to spin our lives around for good.
For Farooq Oreagba, that photograph not only made him the story of the festival, it has turned him to a celebrity of sorts, even when his life story, up till that moment, was already a compelling one, but for the fact that it was unknown to most of us as at the time. But that photograph of him on the back of horse, in the paraphernalia of steeze, hands tattooed, cigar in mouth, has thrusted him to the spotlight. With that many were forced to go digging, to be confronted by the fascinating story of this Investment Banker.
There is no doubt that Farooq’s story is much more arresting than a single photograph could have fully told us, yet that one photograph, a spontaneous shot as it is, captures in one frame his compelling story of courage and defiance in the face of high odds. That photograph offered us a lens though which we were able to see that beyond the steeze is a heart fired up by courage in the face of challenges that would have buried the faint-hearted.
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Nothing about that moment that has captured our imagination was rehearsed or curated, according to Farooq. The choice of the fabric for the day was not his but that of the family. He also was not the only one who rode the horse. Indeed, it wasn’t the first time he was riding a horse for the day. It had long been the tradition for his family and others as well. It couldn’t have been about the cigar. There were others who puffed for effect that same day. But it was him that life carefully curated everything for, arresting the moment for. When the moment has chosen its person, it just has a way of choreographing it, aligning bits and pieces of everything to make the moment what it has purposed it to be.
As I see it, life is ultimately the master, no matter what. The reins might be in our hands, but life has the ace for the race, indulging us as we march along. The reality is, we only hold the reins in trust, helping nudge the horse in the direction we desire, because, it has made up its mind to let us have the moment.
That a ‘Cancer Survivor’ who actively fought ‘cancer of the bone’ for almost a decade, took to riding the horse, knowing that a fall could come with dire consequences is in itself a statement of courage. Indeed, it is that choice to defy the challenges, live on his own terms, embrace the moment for what it means to him that I find most inspiring about him.
Listening to him talking about how he was on chemotherapy for years, going for treatment every day for 3 weeks in a month, with only a week for the body to rest before another round of 3 weeks, you marvel at his composure recalling this. Even as he is conscious of the fact that there is yet a chance of remission, he stands his ground, resolute that he would also deal with that should it come.
How he manages to maintain his composure in the face Every moment is precious, he reminds us. Maintaining a positive frame of mind, keeping hope alive, as long as one is alive. By all means, one must stay in the game, for everything is possible as long as one is in the game. “No matter how bad it is, there is always somebody who is in a worse situation. Grab what you have, make the most of it, and leave the rest to the Almighty.”
He reminds us of the fairweather nature of what we tag as ‘friendships’, when they really are not. He tells of how he lost a good number of friends, first, when he left high office and later, with the turn in his health. The point being that when one’s fortune or health takes a bow, ‘friends’ too get to take a bow. Such indeed is life.
In my thinking, there is a higher purpose to the story of Farooq beyond the steeze. I see that he sees it as such too. There has got to be a reason behind that orchestration by life to give him that moment and thrust him into our consciousness. I believe it was life again simply being itself. In this instance, life was both a photographer and amplifier.
As I see it, life is ultimately the master, no matter what. The reins might be in our hands, but life has the ace for the race, indulging us as we march along. The reality is, we only hold the reins in trust, helping nudge the horse in the direction we desire, because, it has made up its mind to let us have the moment.
Life breaks itself into moments for our sake, knowing we can only take so much per time, knowing that whatever challenge or burden we are faced with is often only for the moment. With patience and perseverance, those challenges often become stepping stones, paving the path onto more fulfilling platforms.
For reasons I believe to be in our interest, life indulges us with today, keeping tomorrow away for the moment, for our sake, so we can truly embrace and enjoy the moment for what it truly represents. Life hides tomorrow for us so we can fully enjoy the moment for what it is, without the anxieties of tomorrow intruding.
For me, there is so much more about this moment than some might think. I believe it has taught us to be ourselves, be bold with our dreams, irrespective of the challenges that we might face, take on our horses, do away with our fears and the fear of falling, of failing, embrace our today with confidence and courage, and ride with steeze. Who knows where the horse might yet take us if we will be bold enough to mount and ride it? Who knows what this moment, or the next one might have in its belly?
*Simbo Olorunfemi works for Hoofbeatdotcom, a Nigerian communications consultancy and publisher of Africa Enterprise. Email: [email protected]
