Peggy Isoda (left), Peju Wilson (centre) and Yoshi Isoda hang out at the party. - photos by Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
She is regarded by many as the matriarch of the Nigerian community here in Jamaica. Others see her as a world citizen. Some even as her country of birth's unofficial ambassador! She prefers however, to be regarded simply as a Jamaican of Nigerian birth.
Peju Wilson first arrived on these shores some 23 years ago, after a courtship and marriage to the late famed agronomist, Dr George Wilson, that saw them first living in Lagos, Nigeria, after completing their respective studies over 30 years ago in Chicago, then following her heart and love moving to Kingston, Jamaica. She has not only made Jamaica her home, she has and unapologetically done so!
Known as the regal maven and grand arbiter of eclectic style, with her exotic sounding name and accent to match, the fabulous Wilson is known and celebrated among the ranks of the intelligentsia as a thinker and a philanthropist; as well as for the distinction of having amassed the single largest private collection of African art, (particularly Nigerian), and fetishes, this side of the world. Wilson, in her near three decades in Jamaica, has attained icon-like status among the literati here while retaining her links to the politicos and ruling elite of Nigeria.
On Sunday, May 3, she celebrated her 69th birthday and to commemorate the occasion, the fab Mrs Wilson threw open the doors to her beautiful Beverly Hills home, and hosted what proved a divine little soirée. It was not only the preferred invite of the season, it proved marvellously so!
My dears, we are talking a social charmer and nothing but, as friends, colleagues and well-wishers joined family members to celebrate with her on this significant milestone.
magnificent view
Dears, hosted on the lawns and eastern patio of the fabulous home, the front lawns provided a magnificent view of the city of Kingston. The patio gave a fabulous view of the St Andrew hills, as well as some of the spectacular homes that dot Beverly Hills. The affair was pretty nigh a thing of beauty and a joy forever.
No airs and/or grandstanding here my dears, as it was clearly not that kind of a party. In fact, we are talking the opposite, and fabulously so, with the women in attendance dressed in summery ease. Their gents, no less so, while sounds of children's feet and shrieks of laughter all added to the essence of the occasion. Soothing background music was played by Marlon McPherson.
And then there was lunch, my dears, a cross-cultural culinary fare that was as exotic as it was tasty. The moyin-moyin and the kelewele were just two dishes of the many on offer that not only had guests mouthing their praises, but returning to the buffet for seconds and thirds.
With libations flowing and the party atmosphere in full bloom, the director of music took the affair to another level, when he opened the microphone to guests, to toasts the birthday girl. No ceremony here, just an open microphone that saw friends of long-standing and newer acquaintances sharing their special reminiscences with guests.
Afternoon progressed into evening, the soothing background music gave way to some contemporary dance tracks and needing no further stimulation, guests led by the birthday girl accompanied by her escort, actor Carl Davies, took to the dance-floor, simply partied like it was 1999 and then some!
Luvs, whoever that said 60 is the new 50, never met Peju Wilson, as my dears, at 69, the lady is as fab as they come, and then some!
Among the notables out were Nigerian High Commissioner HE Peter Oyedele and Mrs Debra Oyedele; South African High Commissioner HE Advocate Faith Radebe; Her Grace the Senegalese Ambassador H E Dr Nafissatou Diagne; Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority Ambassador NII Allotey Odunton; Japanese Embassy Official Yoshi and Peggy Isoda; Ambassador Arthur and Eleanor Thompson; Professor Locksley and Mrs Pauline Lindo; Professor Dr Carolyn Cooper; attorney and talk show host, Patrick Bailey; Barbara Blake Hannah; Mrs Elaine Delfosse and her daughter, Betty Delfosse-Ingleton; the elegant Sandra McDonald Spence; attorney-at-law Aisha Mulendwe; Beverly Coleman; siblings Marcia and Carol Reid; Collette Garrick; Ruel Alexander; artist Margaret McGhie; Pauline Bowler; the lovely Nurma James; Keith and Dorothy Cooper; the charming June Hughes; the fab Betina McCauley; avant garde fashion designer Minka Francis; photographer and antique dealer Noel Garcia; Makonnen Hannah and the son of the birthday girl, Seun Wilson; plus a number of others!
But what an outing!
Ambassador Arthur Thompson (left), with attorney Patrick Bailey and Dr Carolyn Cooper at Puju's party.