October 5, 2021
By Ilyasa Baa
Youths of Makeni city are bereaved after losing the man they regarded as father who had given them positive advice to stay away from violence and step up in life.
Sampha Adams Serry commonly known as Gozab (Orpa) passed away couple of days ago aged 73, after a short illness.
He was popular with not only the youths but stakeholders including musicians and people who later became politicians.
Sierra Leonean artists like Jahman, Ras Keita and the late Amara Kabba of Confront It fame are supper fans of the late man who used to play music at his compound inside Kabala Park.
Kabba’s widow, Annemarie Tiebosch, based in the Netherlands has posted the following on Facebook: Let us hope they will sit together again, just like in those days. May their blessed souls rest in peace”.
Orpa, it could be recalled, played instrumental role to make Guitar Better Than Gun, implemented by Ripsta Culture, Shain Foundation and Vision for the Blind; which was a non-violence campaign prior to 2007 crucial transitional general elections, successful in Makeni. Expressing his condolence, head of Ripsta Culture, Sorie Obai Kamara called “Orconsor” said the late man lived an exemplary life.
A trader at Kabala Parking Ground, Mamusu Kamara told A-Z newspaper that Orpa is missed for his jokes and kindness.
Ibrahim Kalokoh, a “Battle man” (hussling by finding passengers) stated that Orpa was not a rich man but assisted people a lot including stranded passengers. “Sometimes he allowed us to use the public toilet free without paying a dime when things were rough and tough for us”, he lamented.
Abu Bakarr Kamara, an IT student writing his dissertation said since he was at secondary school, he developed the habit of keeping time with Orpa.
“He provided us the conducive atmosphere to reason and focus on our studies”, he noted, adding that Orpa touched their lives considerably.
Orpa is survived with three children whom he raised as a single parent after the disappearance of a Guinean woman who born him kids.
One of his daughters, Mariama Serry who has been playing the motherly role has expressed sadness over the fact that their mum might not have got the news that Orpa is no more.
The late man was born on 15th July 1950 barely two months after his seventy-third birthday and his fortieth day ceremony is expected all mid-October.