What friends and counterparts said about Nevender
Joel Benjamin Nevenda
What you need to know:
MEMORIES. Joel Benjamin Ntwatwa, popularly known as, Nevender described himself as Writer. Reader. Reviewer. Poet. Listener. Brother. Son. Coke Studio Africa Influencer. He was a darling to many in the literary circles but he lost his battle to sickle cell disease and was buried on Tuesday. We compile memories from his friends and peers from social media.
His last post
It read like the harbinger was lurking when Nevender shared a memory from his February 11, 2017. On the same day this year at 08:16h his last post read: “One question at any rate was answered. Never, for any reason on earth, could you wish for an increase of pain. Of pain you could wish only one thing: that it should stop. Nothing in the world was so bad as physical pain. In the face of pain there are no heroes, no heroes, he thought over and over as he writhed on the floor, clutching uselessly at his disabled left arm.” Orwell.”
It was not before long that Never was pronounced dead and most social media platforms were awash with condolences with hashtag #RIPNevender
Daring
“Joel was a walking archive of twenty first century Ugandan arts events. And he had high standards. I admired Joel’s courage to say what most of us thought but could not say, especially about books by our peers because people are sensitive about their work. Joel would say what he thought because he was 100% sure it came from a place of love,” Bwesigye Bwa Mwesigire, Writivism Festival of Arts.
Loved
Joel, tonight, your friends came to celebrate your life. You were a friend. You were a connector. You were whole. Your mother cannot believe that you touched so many people around the world. The friends that came to sit in silence with your family tonight and comfort them show her that you were loved. Jackee Batanda, Success Spark
Happy soul
There was a fierce fire behind scenes of this smile
And you contained it with courage for more than a mile
Waiting for healing rain
And it did come tonight…
Only that it did come, on short notice… And it did leave us broken! So broken inside…
But oh what a smile, the angels receive tonight!
Phumani ngokuthula umfowethu othandekayo!
Size sihlangane futhi nomfowethu!
Joel Benjamin Nevender Your stories live on…Jacob Katumusiime, friend
