Alfalle.

Sain torstai-iltapäivänä - kymmenien muiden Villa Karossa olleiden suomalaisten tavoin - suruviestin, jota en vieläkään tahdo uskoa. Alfa-Kaza Kondon, togolaissyntyinen muusikko oli kuollut kotikylässään Badoussa 36-vuotiaana. Viesti tuli yllättäen, vaikka tiesinkin Alfan olleen todella kipeä viime aikoina. Sattumoisin olin juuri tuona torstaiaamuna kysellyt Victorilta, kuinka Alfa voi ja saanut vastaukseksi: "Alfa is fine, but seriously sick" - tulkitse nyt sitten tuosta! C'est ca, l'Afrique...

Vielä tammikuussa Alfa potki palloa futisvetimissään Grand-Popon rannalla, liityin seuraan hetkeksi laiminlyöden työni joksikin aikaa...Vielä helmikuussa olin viimeisellä rumputunnillani Alfan musiikkikoulussa, kookospalmun varjossa, koska sisätiloissa lämpötilat nousivat jo liian hikisiksi. Vielä Beninin lähtöpäivän aamuna, helmikuun 9. päivänä kävin hyvästelemässä Alfan ja kumppanit ja join kupposen teetä polttaen kieleni. Alfa saattoi minua Grand-Popon päätielle asti, kuten aina ennenkin ja toivotti hyvää matkaa sekä jälleennäkemistä. Niin toivotan nyt minäkin. Hyvää matkaa Grand-Popon hengenluojalle, ystävälleni, veljelleni. Lepää rauhassa.


Alfa Lomén asunnossaan syyskuussa 2006.
Togotogo!





























Aamiaisella Loméssa yhden Alfan äidin (heitä oli yhteensä neljä) luona.

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