Five Books: In honour of Mrs Ajoke Murtala Mohammed at 75

1. My garden just behind my house is a beautiful oasis for tired souls. I have a fine collection of exotic palms thanks to Her Excellency Mrs. Muhammed. In her honour I recommend The Cut Flower Patch. The cut flower patch is an inspirational book by British gardener Louise Curley who is a cut flower […]

1. My garden just behind my house is a beautiful oasis for tired souls. I have a fine collection of exotic palms thanks to Her Excellency Mrs. Muhammed. In her honour I recommend The Cut Flower Patch. The cut flower patch is an inspirational book by British gardener Louise Curley who is a cut flower grower. The book covers the planting process, annuals, perennials, bulbs, foliage etcetera. It is also bursting with tips about how to care for your patch season by season.

2. You need to be in Mrs. Muhammed’s presence to understand her nurturing nature. Mother, grandmother, mother-in-law. She treats me with utmost love but treats my husband and children even better. Everyone is welcome to table in her home and then she is searching through her rich gift trove for a gift for visiting friends and family. Awesome. Of woman born by Adrienne Rich is a worthy book in her honour. Rich who is a poet delivers an invaluable book from cultural representations of motherhood to the history of women’s bodies in birth and thereafter, to her own experiences as a mother and wife which reflect her upbringing, creative life and philosophical questioning. A great book in honour of a good woman.

3. Witty with all the wise sayings  of a philosopher, a book akin to learning about life that best defines Mrs. Muhammed’s wise words is Lebanese American Khalil Gibran’s The Prophet. Rich, unputdownable. This has to be the best book as a gift for a woman of such wisdom and candour.

4. I have selected two philosophical books to celebrate our former first lady. Mrs. Muhammed’s love of nature leads us to a classic Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Nature and selected essays but her deep thoughts, kindness and humility lead us to another book which is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. This is perhaps the only document of its kind ever made. Private thoughts of the world’s most powerful man giving advice to himself on how to make good on the responsibilities and obligations of his positions. Trained in stoic philosophy, he stopped every night to practice a series of spiritual exercises- reminders designed to make him humble, patient, empathetic, generous and strong in the face of whatever he was dealing with.

5. Mrs. Muhammed is one of the most patient persons I know. Once she asked me to send her a young singer for an event she was having. She had met the young lady at an event I hosted. The singer failed and did not show up. I was having a meltdown but mummy simply went about her business as if she was not hurt. Once the singer showed up, she performed very badly much to my annoyance. Mrs. Muhammed continued to cater to her guests with an expression that did not suggest even the slightest hint of anger. A month later, she forgave the young lady and had her perform at her daughter’s wedding. I learnt a new strand of patience on that day. Although I still fall off the wagon from time to time, I have truly learnt new definitions of patience from her. Here is the book then in her honour in this respect-The Power of patience: How to slow the rush and enjoy more happiness, success and peace of mind everyday by M.J. Ryan.