At the memorial service in Deou, the depth of the people’s feelings for Dada was overwhelming. Delegations came from every section of the community; the first to come was the representatives from the Mosque, with whom Dadaji had always shared a deep feeling of spiritual unity and loyalty.

The Association of Cooperatives, The Women’s Cooperative, (which Dadaji had helped to start), The Traditional Chief and his entourage, the Local Government, all the civil servants, including army, customs, police, education, agriculture etc. sent their representatives to present their condolences and speak about their feelings for Dadaji. Even the Catholic Church, whose members in Deou can be counted on one hand, came to express their sympathies.

The biggest contingent was from the health sector, represented by in-charges and staff from the Medical centers in Deou, Gandafabou and Boulekessi, and all the village health promoters and village midwives that AMURT has trained over the last four years. Two midwives from Fadar Fadar, up near the Mali border, arrived the following day, as they journeyed on foot for two days to give their respect to Dadaji. Small delegations of 2 and 3 from many villages came to represent their communities.

Dozens of neighborhood women joined together and came as a group. We heard so many stories, from old women, and mothers, about how Dadaji had helped them with medicines and saved the lives of their children, arranging medicines, and sometimes emergency treatment and evacuation to the provincial hospital.

An older man, who with Dada’s help had been trained to construct wells, was deeply moved. He told the story of how he was losing his sight and Dada had sent funds from the US for his operation. He said “If love could save a person from death, Dadaji would live forever, because he had so much love.” He told how he had felt desperate upon hearing the news of Dadaji’s accident, unable to even speak to his family.

Many parents told of how Dadaji had paid for 80 school poor children to advance to the next class last year. In this area with one of the highest illiteracy rates in the world, education is very precious.

Le Pays, the leading daily newspaper in Ouagadougou published Dada’s photo and short obituary. The headline was just perfect “The Monk that loved Burkina”.