Onesimo Wissi was Vicar General in Dodoma Diocese as well as my very first link with Tanzania.
I was in Italy when I received a text message saying he had passed away, even today I still can not realize this has happened.
I met him for the first time in Calcinate (BG) in March 1996 and soon in July we travelled to Tanzania. I was with him during his mission to Kigwe, a village 30 km away from Dodoma. I was with two friends also and Padre Onesimo was showing us around. We remained here for three weeks, the following year we stayed for three months, later on I moved to Tanzania and I am still here.
It is thanks to Padre Onesimo that I fell in love with this Country and the African continent. Together we used to go to the villages where he was celebrating the Sunday Service next to a fence for the cows. With him I was able to have a taste of everyday life in the Region of Dodoma and get in touch with swahili culture or wagogo culture, that of Dodoma inhabitants.
I own my name Mbeleje to him and Mzee Nkopano (died in December 2021). Mbeleje is a kigogo way of calling the daughters who are born during the season of agricultural fields preparation. It derives from the verb kubelega (to prepare the fields for the coming season).
I was nicely nicknaming him “Onni-absent” (for several days he would disappear then coming back as if nothing had happened) or “nyamone” (he was fond of eating meat), he could speak five languages and I think he would have become a Bishop.
His life ended all of a sudden, he was only 62, maybe due to hypertension or some other cardiocirculatory disease. At least, he did not suffer.
His absence is loud, not only for me but for those who were somehow dependent on him.
Without him I would have never arrived here in Tanzania and KISEDET would not exist.
Rest In Peace Onesimo.
Mbeleje (Giovanna)