It feels surreal to write a tribute to Marlon. How can someone so full of life be no more?
We could give a list of adjectives to describe Marlon and that list might include some contradictions or inconsistencies which is no surprise to the man Marlon was. For example, he was opinionated and yet tolerant, unassuming regarding his fashion sense and yet he had a flair for the arts and fine dining, argumentative and yet he could not hold a grudge… A man of many parts.
Our recollections of Marlon, ‘sexy Marlon’ or cousin ‘Marl’ as he was affectionately known to Afua and Siba and “MP (Marlon Praises) without a constituency” to Dad are full of laughter and joy.
On our travels as a family to the UK, Marlon’s home served as a transit point or a place of abode to us. He opened his home and welcomed us generously. He spared no expense treating Mom and Dad to West End shows like Miss Saigon, Sarafina, and Phantom of the Opera. He would book tourist trips to Buckingham Palace and heritage sites. He preferred this to meals in the pub or shopping in Shepherd’s Bush– the latter he considered a waste of time.
As a family, we have had several celebrations to which Marlon’s involvement and input was prominent, revealing his organizational nature and diligence. Notable is when Mom celebrated her 60th birthday, Marlon spearheaded the management of this occasion as an ‘unofficial’ organizer. Even though a paid event’s organizer had been tasked with planning the event, Marlon was the unpaid unofficial coordinator a role he took on with ease and expertise. He engaged in choosing and organizing the layout of the content, colour, pictures etc., for the brochure. He sat with the publishers late into the night calling and haranguing anyone he felt was not pulling his weight. Even Dad was not spared his late night calls on even the minute details. This went on right up to the day of the event where he kept coordinating with the family, the organizer, and the MC to ensure the occasion went smoothly. With Marlon in charge, the burdensome task of management and harmonization was taken away and we had space to genuinely enjoy the day. This was again replicated when Dad celebrated his 70th birthday.
Marlon stood by his convictions and layered his opinions with well thought out arguments. He would listen to opposing views and displayed irritation and occasional anger when he felt he was right. However, these bursts of irritation quickly dissipated like dew at the appearance of the sun. In this regard Marlon was childlike as he did not bear grudges. As a cadre during the revolution, Marlon would not hesitate to report family members who flouted the ‘control price’ ceiling set by the government. This drew ire from the family but also earned him respect and admiration. He lived for his political beliefs, but we know he loved his family more and maintained a cordial loving relationship with family members irrespective of their political persuasions.
We are still arguing about what Marlon’s favourite dish was. He kept us guessing as once you thought you had it figured out, he would change his mind. Also, we are still debating whether he was vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian or a meat-eater? He was the vegetarian who would take the meat out of the soup and eat the soup without hesitation. I guess he would not mind us saying he was the vegetarian who ate fish and sometimes ate chicken.
Marlon, we enjoyed every minute of our association with you. Even 54 hours before your call to eternity at Bob’s residence after his late wife’s funeral you walked Mom and Dad to their car when they were leaving as if to bid them a final farewell.
Marlon, Heaven has called you
death has taken your body
but our minds hold the memories
and our hearts our love for you
our faith tells us that we will meet again.
Afadzo are
