By Engel Nawatiseb
TSUMEB – I was surprised and very sad to learn of the recent death of Filemon Pops Iiputa, who was greatly and family member surpassing friendship.
My memories of him are personal rather than anything else. Pops was really a memorable character who added value to friendship and made friendship interesting and fun because he was upbeat and kept us all on our toes whenever we engaged each other. I know this man influenced thousands of people during his life.
From a young age we came into contact with different people, some we bonded with to form lasting friendships and others come into our life for a limited time.
I remember this man for his sense of humor with no ending, very hilarious in action and verbally, movement and even his look into your eyes spread laughter.
He was someone that I thought of as a kind soul, the kind you may know very well but one that emanates a sense of warmth and humanity. Since hearing of “Pop”s death on November 08, 2013, I have been struggling to write a remembrance, because I simply did not have the words to express the depth of my sadness knowing that pops is gone or the depth of my appreciation for everything that he did for me and my family and friends during his too-short lifetime.
Friendship dating back time in memory, decades to be specific, our intimate relationship got a boost upon hearing that he has fathered a son in my family, son of a mother (Wendy) who was so dearest to us, suggesting a special friendship that crossed tribal orientations.
I was his friend from another mother, I remembered him always saying to me.
Pops knew “Juffrou Elly”, my late mother and last year in December he would relate to me the stories about life my mother used to tell in his presence.
I was always surprised by the deep affect that his association had on me especially now that he is no more.
Pops was a true friend, he was a neat person, his interest was in cooking and cleaning up used cutlery minutes after utilization, he had phobia towards untidiness.
He is remembered dearly and will be missed dearly.
Pops enjoyed friendship across the length and width of this country and leaves wonderful memories behind that we hold onto forever.
Over the years we still kept in touch with each other and when we met the love was still there. One friendship I was blessed with and learnt a lot from, was with a lady called Frieda, it was Pops friend as well, certainly in a much more special way, a very reserved personality that would over years develop the characteristics her mentor and lover would impart upon her.
Her quality attracted her friends and we came to know that Pops had great respect for Frieda, when she press a button, the hilarious Pops would jump, when we attempted to press the same button, Pops would have all sorts of jargons to throw at you.
The man had a genuine interest in people from all walks of life. When he visited Khorixas at one point, he relates, the friends from that part of the country would welcome him like, “Eto, Pobbejanie, are chu here, belkom to khorixas.”
Make no mistake, Pops spoke the “Damara” language with the deep clicks associated with it, gossiping him was the last think on the menu, he would crash you with the same click extended to him. And I also remember meeting him when I was doing a story about the TIPEEG initiative of government for the New Era newspaper.
His message was and I quote,” Seun (my childhood name), Please when you write the article please make sure that you tell TIPEEG not to end up in Tsumeb alone.
Tell him whoever he is-also to cross the Oshivelo gate because Pops have been awaiting his arrival in Ongwediva impatiently.
Pops was such a generous host and we always had fun. Pops barely had an off weekend, friends will invite him to parties, funerals, inauguration of newly purchased farms by close allies, he was the main entertainer we knew and he would never live life that was predictable and boring.
Pops took so much pride in the success of his friends. He was not envious. He made himself available to celebrate successes together. A celebration without him was not meaningful, boring and very empty.
His passion shined in everything he did and there was never a dull moment. His energy and enthusiasm were magnetic engagement and engaging us in the joy of friendship discovery. I realized that for Pops life was an adventure and he approached it with the enthusiasm and excitement of a child.
About 3 weeks ago I walked into Frieda in a bookshop at Maruea Mall where I decided to pick some books to read including a Bible and another book authored by Lani Leary titled “No one has to die alone”, the content prepares you for a meaningful death.
Being the unique spirited woman she is Frieda telephoned Pops, informing him about his friend and his latest move towards his spiritual orientation.
“My Damara friend, are you repented all of a sudden, or is your Herero wife driving you insane. Tel me if there are problems cause you don’t deserve hell,” Pops said laughingly.
That was the last word I heard of our friend, it is as if God used the occasion to relate the fate of someone very close to me, it was a very unusual encounter, I parted with Frieda in the bookshop so did I part with Pops in the bookshop hearing him out for the last time. Upon analysis when I learned about the untimely passing away of our friend, I came to the conclusion that the Lord spoke through us in the bookshop about what was to happen, he placed the bible on the shelves visible enough to be spotted by those last read was when they were teenagers and he used Lani leary’s book to assure us that no one has to die alone, even when the love ones depart, only the relationship changes but it does not end.
Pops passing away in last week leaves a huge gap not just in my life but in the lives of all those who knew him. Some people come into our lives and quickly go, some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never, ever the same.
My heart goes out to his friends, who are also my friends, as well as the community of Ongwediva that was made so much richer for having Pops amongst its ranks, sharing his life for the past 23 years when he moved from Windhoek to Ongwediva.
Go well, rest in peace friend. Your legacy will inspire us more and more and more.
• Engel Nawatiseb is the former Mayor of Tsumeb.