Ounzuba Kemeh-Gama Walking With Greatness in Simplicity Eulogy for Aaron Fallah Brown Called to Serve: May 18, 1952 Called for Reward: April 29, 2007 St. Gabriel Catholic Church Brewerville, Montserrado County Friday, May 18, 2007 12 Noon We have come to say farewell to Aaron Fallah Brown, one of Liberia’s finest men of the arts. He was an architect, metal sculptor, wood sculptor, oil painter, sketch artist, cartoonist, poet, and philosopher. Very rarely is one mortal endowed with so many artistic gifts, but Aaron was one of a kind; truly gifted, but having the wisdom to use his talents to glorify the Creator and serve his people with humility, simplicity and purity of heart. Most people know Aaron as a synonym for ART. He did not need his last name to define him. Aaron the Artist was sufficient; from Soniwehn, a ghetto of Monrovia, where he lived, to CWA, the College of West Africa high school, that would be true; from Public Works, where he had his professional base, to the Executive Mansion, that would be true; from Columbus, Ohio, in the USA, where he trained and later lived, to the halls of the US White House, that would also be true. Aaron defined art to us: “Art as a creative expression of the human spirit is embedded in all of humanity; how we express it constitutes art.” But Aaron’s art helped define him to us most times. I have come to share my thoughts with you about the Aaron that I knew, the Aaron who was more than a painter of the portraits he did for friends, family and the public; the Aaron whose artistic work was only the tip of the roots. Our meeting about 40 years ago in Soniwehn, in the market, was very simple. I was selling Kool-Aid and he was selling cold water. As I reflect upon that chance meeting, I now see the power and symbolism of it all. He was selling something that was pure and clear – life-sustaining. He was already ahead of me. His destiny was being manifested. For people like us, coming from the ghetto, our life at CWA was very challenging due to academic and social demands. Aaron was not intimidated by the prestige, wealth and power that was associated with this great school, neither did he allow that to define him or his friends. Throughout our years at CWA, I only saw glimpses of Aaron’s art. By the late 70s to early 80s, I began to see him using his art as a platform for preaching against the ills of our society. He used art to champion the cause of the common people. His uniqueness was in the power of simplicity, using the language of the street for political and social satire. By the mid 80s, after we both returned home, I began to see the real Aaron: the nationalist, philosopher and servant. Aaron took his struggle to another level because he knew good and evil reside in our natural world, but they also exist in the spiritual. He was not the regular churchgoer, but I know he meditated day and night. His communion with the Creator was constant. He derived his courage and strength from this. He was guided by this, not logic, or what other people expected. Aaron came home two years ago because it was his destiny. Others may claim to have been responsible, but I think not. We spoke on the phone and he told me it was time for him to come home. His children and their mother had finally gotten the papers that he had worked so hard for, to leave Ghana. I tried to convince him to stay in America like the rest of us, for the sake of the children. I can hear the voice of the Master to his mother, “Don’t you know I have to be after my Father’s business?” Now I understand my friend. Your hour had come. You were in your garden of Gethsemane and I tried to stop you from going on to your destiny . . . your Calvary. Aaron understood well the power of EVIL, but he placed his confidence in the fact that TRUTH CRUSHED TO EARTH WILL RISE AGAIN. So he came HOME after ensuring that his children, their mother and his brothers were on the other side. He did what any soldier worth his salt would do: secure the family and then go face the enemy. And face the enemies of darkness he did. He put up a good spiritual fight, and he assured me of victory when I spoke to him from New Jersey a few days before his death. He assured me that he would be waiting for me to help with my new project. I asked if there was anything he needed for me to bring for him. In typical Aaron style, he said, “Nothing. Just come.” So my friend, what is the meaning of all this? Did you win? Did you lose? I am not really sure . . . What I know is that you paid the ultimate price. What I also know is that you came to serve and you served well. You have now been called for your reward and I am trusting that you can now reside in the Eternal Greatness from whence you came. Copyright © Ounzuba Kemeh-Gama Ounzuba Kemeh-Gama