Love, Light and Tosyn on the Sands of Time
Maybe if she hadn’t left, this morning, we’d have over the blaring radio as we got ready for work/while at work had the voice of Lagos permeating through our earbuds and giving life to the listener in us but It’s a different story. Tosyn Bucknor died! And now, It’s been two years since the voice of Lagos went silent. Tosyn Bucknor was the ever bubbly Area Mama who through her personality, voice and words shed light and spread life to those ever lucky to have come across her.
Born on August 15 1981, Oluwatosin (who insisted that her ‘Tosin’ had to be with a ‘y’) attended Fountain Nursery and Primary school and then proceeded to Queen’s college, YABA for her Secondary School Education. She got her Law degree from University of Lagos and as the “automatic” thing to do, she attended the Nigerian Law school. Tosyn Bucknor however really did not tour law as a career path as she leaped unto the broadcast train as soon as she could, riding the waves and going with the flow. We could literally see her hair flying with the wind. She enjoyed her job and it was evident. Tosyn navigated her On-Air-Personality and Broadcasting journey so well she paddled her way to fame effortlessly. As an OAP at Top Radio (the radio station where she last worked), she was the only one handling the morning belt by herself. Area mama did not restrict herself! She even once mentioned how grateful she was for her family that didn’t at any time try to limit her. She had wings and boy! She was all willing to fly and explore.
She was (along with being a media personality) a poet, a singer, a songwriter, actress and writer. She wrote as a columnist for The Guardian on the column, ‘Strictly for the Young”, She was a columnist at Exquisite and Wedding Planner Magazines too She was the series writer for Apprentice Africa, Xtraconnect Gameshow and 5ve. She was also the series writer and Content Producer for Nigeria’s Got Talent Season 1. Tosin wrote website content for The Gulder Ultimate Search Season 3. She wrote for Amstel Malta box office, wrote Seasons 2 to 5 scripts and was also the Voice Over Narrator for Season 5. Tosyn co-wrote other Nigerian movie series not listed in here. Apparently, she didn’t just write, she acted and hosted too. Oluwatosin was a Guest Judge on Project Fame West Africa Season 5, she was a Judge on Boost Freestyle Reality Show and countless others. Tosyn played the role of Osa on the popular Soap Opera ‘Tinsel’. She also played Jola on th Tv Drama Series, ‘Plus 234’. She was a TV Correspondent for EbonyLife TVand she co-hosted a TV and Youtube show, ‘3Live Chicks’. If one was to describe her and had to miss out a word, it’d definitely not be ‘Multitalented’ because Tosyn was Super Multi-talented. She wrote and performed a couple of songs too and of course had bagged numerous awards from media to music to fashion, charity and personality. The baby girl born in a taxi was at the top of her game and OMO! She had to show us that there was really no time to waste time.
Beyond work life and physical achievements and awards, she always had her way to penetrate vibrance, happiness, laughter, energy, love and light through any and everybody she interacted with (even over the radio). Indeed, she was the ever vibrant, daring and beautifully contagious Area Mama. She got married to Aurelin Boyer on November 15 2015. They had only been married for 3 years before her death. And their 3rd anniversary was just 4 days before her death. She died barely a year after she lost her father. She also died about 3 months after her 37th birthday. Tosyn Bucknor is younger sister to Funke Bucknor who is the CEO of Zapphire Events. Before her death, she and her sister used to be best of friends.
Now, this is time to say that I did not know Tosyn Bucknor personally, never met her or saw her (well…only through screens). In actual fact, I knew of her radio program and I definitely did know the name behind the face but all I knew about her at the time was Tosyn Bucknor is an OAP. Then she died! And I got struck! Why hadn’t I searched about her before then? Why didn’t I know her before then? So I went in search of all that I could get to know of her, and boy! Inspire me she did! All that is left is what she did leave behind. I really did grow interested in her personality and life. Maybe if she hadn’t died, this would have been an interview with her on her 39th birthday but it is what it is and it’s a tribute article for her after two years since she journeyed far away alone, very alone, deeply alone leaving grains, drops, chunks, parts of Love, Light and Tosyn on the sands of time.
Tosyn taught us to dare to be us in a world that doesn’t want us to be us. With her life, the voice of Lagos taught us to get used to being, loving, giving and being happy effortlessly. Now she’s gone on a ride for ever but she left Love, Light and Tosyn on the sands of time.
“In the end, who are you living your life for because when you die, you’re truly going to be by yourself”. — Tosyn Bucknor
