This Woman’s Work

Is This Really a Man’s World?

‘This is a man’s world’, the words vehemently proclaimed by the prolific, enigmatic, culturally defining and captivating ‘Godfather of Soul’, James Joseph Brown.
A powerful, yet controversial statement that outlines the nature of the archetypal society within which many discoveries, developments and accomplishments have been achieved.

Even more commanding than that opening proclamation are the following lyrics that passionately state ‘but it wouldn’t be nothing without a woman or a girl’. In light of International Women’s Day (which in my humble opinion should be celebrated every day) I have decided to share my unpretentious perspective, highlight my appreciation and highlight the crucial and instrumental work being carried out by the great women of the CGars / Dominique London brand.

Yesterday at the St James Street branch of CGars, the company had the honour of hosting a book signing event for the well-renowned and globally celebrated Alexander Groom. The lauded author, researcher and successor to the ‘Cuban Cigar Website’ throne, founded by Trevor Leask, is considered by many within the cigar community to be the leading authority on Havana cigars. His 720-page dissertation, ‘El Habano Moderno: A Collector’s Guide to Cuban Cigars in the Modern Era’, an awe-inspiring body of work, serves as the ‘new-age bible’ for Habanos cigar enthusiasts worldwide. I was fortunate enough to share a brief moment with this ‘legend of the leaf’ and have him sign my own personal copy of his masterpiece publication.

The Woman of The Year.

It was at this event that I had the sincere pleasure of meeting the illustrious, highly decorated cigar expert, first-everHabanos Woman of the Year and founder of Dominique London Ltd, Dominique Gyselinck. A power couple in every sense of the term, the pair exuded an air of majesty and excellence that can be attributed to success — success in business as well as all other integral aspects of life.

I’m not one to mince words so I will just go ahead and say I found her to be a magnificent specimen of the quintessential ‘Boss Lady’. She was elegant, very well presented, stylish, polished and refined with an air of quiet super-confidence. She was far from meek but her comportment, more so than her words, commanded both attention and respect. As a result I paid her the toll of both and it was an honour to offer her the same quality of hospitality that I would extend to CGars customers on her behalf.

As the founder of her brand, she is not only a strategic leader but also a symbol of progressive defiance in a male-dominated industry. That being said, the majority of the employees I met on my travels to the different locations and outlets under the company’s banner were highly motivated, charismatic and influential women. I find it very significant that such an organisation with such a wide reach, that not only survived but flourished during the age of an international pandemic, has at its core a female-dominated workforce that encapsulates the necessity for mutual opportunity and respect between the sexes.

Reflections of a son.

It is by no means a coincidence that I myself was fortunate enough to be raised by a strong enterprising woman who, as well as being the foundation of security and welfare for a legion of family members she left behind in Nigeria in the late 1960s, was able to support my father, a Biafran War veteran and stenographer for General Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, in raising a family of four children.

One of her most impressive accomplishments in my opinion was the success of her own commercial cleaning contractor company, Almo Cleaning Services, that operated as the official cleaning contractor to Lambeth Palace, the formal London residence and administrative headquarters of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Her organisation held this contract and designation for no less than 13 years until her tragic and untimely demise in 2016 in a losing battle with liver cancer. She was however survived by myself and two exceptionally resilient, intelligent and hardworking daughters who embody her legacy.

Before she left this world she imparted her lessons of business management on myself and my partner. Together we continue to honour her memory by adhering to her ethos of decency, morality and hard work being the foundation of a fruitful partnership. It brings me immense joy to see Sadie, the mother of my four children of which three of them are girls, who just recently turned 40, achieving her personal goals, nurturing her children and building an entrepreneurial legacy by fostering a strong enduring culture of accountability and dedicated personal development in our home.

Birds of a feather.

I believe my mother would have greatly admired the likes of Dominique and the rest of the hardworking women of CGars / Dominique London as she would have seen herself and her struggles in these great professionals that remain an integral part of the brand’s success.

I couldn’t help but feel that protective, guiding, motherly energy from so many different women I have had the honour of meeting since becoming a part of this community. Whether it was for the purpose of training or just a genuine natural instinct to want to help me find my way, I’m sure without the excellence and attentiveness of these women, this company wouldn’t be what it is today.

Last thoughts.

It is for this reason that I implore you, all of you reading this humble tribute piece, to celebrate the women of CGars as the cornerstone of this fine company as you enjoy the fruits of their labour. Yes we men are here too, but we would be nothing without our female counterparts to whom we owe an abundance of gratitude.

To the masters of the universe and mere mortals alike, keep your spirits poured, your cigars alight and the continuous appreciation, celebration and liberation of women and their fundamental rights alive.

Joseph Okon

The post This Woman’s Work first appeared on C.GARS Ltd Cigar Blog.

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