Ansa, my answer.

I still think it’s a bad dream, only problem is I can’t seem to wake up from it.  It’s very hard for me to accept that Ansa is no more. We had so many plans for the future.

Only last Saturday, the sub lead in my script died, her friend spoke about her being a ray of sunshine and one of the best things that’s ever happened to her.  The next day my friend Ansa dies, she was a ray of sunshine and one of the best things in my life.  

No matter how hard I think about it, I can’t remember how and when I met Ansa, I know it was in the course of our work  but the details won’t come to me. Perhaps because it feels like I had always known her.  She was there with me from my very first film; Okon Lagos and this year we worked together for six weeks on the set of Losing Control while my sister was away on maternity leave. It’s the longest I’ve ever filmed and many times I wanted to quit. It was Ansa’s strength that kept me and many of the others going.

There are not enough attributes to describe my friend. She was the most efficient, most dedicated, most hard working person I know.  Ansa hardly stayed in camp except when we filmed out of town but she was almost always the first person to arrive on set. In my seven years of working with Ansa, she was never late for a day.  But what really drew me to her was her contentment.  A very rare trait these days, even amongst Christians.  Ansa was very content with what she had, happy, always had a smile and a kind word for everyone.

Ansa stood for justice, for fairness. She insisted on better wages for the crew, and ensured they were not taken advantage of. 

Everything is a reminder; I ‘m eating dodo and remember how much Ansa loved the meal. I’m drinking water and remember how we always shared a bottle of water on set.  These reminders bring tears but I know that with time, I’ll smile at the memories. I’ll smile because it was a rare privilege to have known someone like her.  The time was short, way too short but it was better to have had her with us even for the little time than not to have at all.

As a young Christian, one of my favourite Bible passages was Genesis 5:24 ;

“And Enoch walked with God, and he was not for God took him”

 I found it fascinating. It’s my only consolation about Ansa. For Ansa walked with God, and God took her.

As we begin the rites for your passing, we say thank you for being such a wonderful person. We know you’re in the bosom of the Lord. And we want you to know that you’ll forever live in our hearts.

Sleep well Ansa Bassey Kpokpogiri.