As an interpreter, I have had the honour of speaking with very interesting and talented people. One of them was King John Favors of Nigeria.
It was long ago, in 2002–2004, but the sweetness of that encounter is still very vivid in my memory. I had attended his public talks, but the good fortune of interpreting for him for the first time came to me quite unexpectedly, during his two-day visit to Rostov.
My mother heard from a friend of hers, who was organising His Highness's visit to Rostov, that he would be giving an interview to a local television programme, and the two of us decided to go and see him from a distance. He was running late; we waited. His Highness arrived with about seven people — I don't remember exactly — among them two interpreters.
The lift was very large and everyone ended up in it with him; we got acquainted and fell into conversation. When the lift brought us up to our floor, he asked me to interpret for him during the interview. Of course, I said it would be an honour for me.
Everything moved very fast, we were in a hurry, it was a live broadcast… meeting the presenter, the studio, the cameras, the microphone. It was all spontaneous. His Majesty turned out to be a very kind man: before the broadcast he briefly told me what He planned to talk about with the presenter, encouraged me and said everything would be fine. And everything really did go well, so after the broadcast I rode with him in the car to interpret his public evening lecture. Pure ecstasy.
At the end of his visit to Rostov, His Majesty said he was pleased with me as an interpreter and that he would recommend me, but that is another story. I remember his joke that I was a useful helper and he would put me in his suitcase. I met him again during his visits to Russia. Sadly, he fell ill and left this world in 2005.
Thank You, Your Highness, for the mercy You poured upon me, giving me Your company and the chance to serve You personally!
