A TRIBUTE TO NWA DE GIRL 
 

Writing a tribute on someone who has touched my life in such a special way is a task that can never be accomplished without battling with pains, but I do not have a choice here. As someone that exudes excellence in its various ramifications, her life reminds one of the statements of the immortal Socrates who said, in a voice laden with conviction: We are what we repeatedly do.  
Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit “.  This dictum summarizes the life of Nwa de Girl, because Excellence is what she radiates consistently. Nwa De Girl is a name that lightens my mood and that of my students whenever the meaning is unfolded. In 2009, the first time I saw this precious gift, I and my late mentor Rev. Fr. Dr. Peter Ekwenze visited her. She showed us uncountable love, with the result that throughout our journey back to Onitsha Fr. Ekwenze kept talking about her and aligned her behavior to that of Sis BB. Shortly, after Fr. Ekwenze danced the dance of the dead, I was adopted into the family and was showered with love as if I was born in Umeanuka family.

I visited this extraordinary species of womanhood in 2010 during Easter period. Her sense of humor and kind gestures made me understand where sister BB and others got their charisma from. That was the day I knew the meaning of “Nwa De Girl”. At night when I went to lock the gate and discovered I could not pull it because of its weight, you came to know why I was taking so much time. Before I could answer, she said: You are behaving like “a girl”, and to my greatest surprise she pulled that gate and locked it up. From that day, I understood the meaning of that name.

 Nwa De girl, you were a priceless jewel, you were so strong, so caring.  You worked round the clock and made sure that everybody was appropriately fed; you never joked with morning prayers and your Christian devotion was exemplary. You are so simple, in spite of all the prestigious children you gave birth to. You were filled with love and that was why you could not endure the demise of your girlfriend. The shock was unbearable to you.

 
I remember shortly after our wedding, we came to tell you about the places we wanted to go, for our honey moon. You were so happy and gave us your blessings. Later that same day you told us about your journey to Igboukwu for your grand daughter’s traditional marriage, and we all scheduled to see on that day. Little did I know that the few words you told us at the traditional marriage were to be the last. You told us to look for Katty to give us food. We came back to inform you of our departure.  You bid us farewell only for us to hear of your departure to the great beyond later.

We cannot question God for He is all-knowing. We are consoled by the fact that you lived a good life on earth and served God with profound dedication. I have absolutely no doubts in my mind that you are already with the Almighty. I know you are with Him. Greet Fr. Ekwenze and others until we meet to part no more. Adieu Nwa De Girl! Adeiu Mama Blessing! May you find eternal rest in the bosom of the Lord.

 

Nneka Ibeli-Alio

Theatre and Film Studies

University of Nigeria , Nsukka.