LIFE PROFILE OF MADAM
HELEN AJASI EZEKWE (NEE IRONYA)
To
everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven; a time to
be born, and a time to die; a time to plant; and a time to pluck what is
planted. (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2)
It
was a great joy when the first daughter was born to the family of Iroanya,
in Mgbedeala Umuobia of
the present day Ohiaocha Autonomous Community of Umuahia-South
LGA. She was the fifth child in a family of six children (four boys, two girls).
She was named Ajasi by her parents. The younger
members of her maiden home addressed her as Kaaka;
her brothers called her Adanne; and her mother, Ahunma
preferred to refer to her as Ada M. She grew up in
the traditional way of bringing up respectful daughters, before she was found,
as a prospective spouse, by the Late Pa Matthias Nwobasi
Ezekwe of Umuawoli
(present day EluamnaMgbedeala Autonomous Community).
As
was common with girls of her era, she did not have formal education. She
however learned to read fluently in Igbo and regularly studied the Holy Bible.
She was also trained as a tailor. As a youth she distinguished herself in
creative artistry. She was the centre of admiration in the famous “I Wonder”
of 1944. Her performances at Inyama’s frontage and
other venues still echo vividly from memories of observers till this day.
Ironically, she was the head of the Umuekechuo
Women’s Wing when the younger wives won the first trophy of the prestigious,
culture-promoting, ' Emeka Inyama
Cup' in 2003.
In
the early 1940s she became engaged to Pa Matthias Ezekwe.
Though marriage soon took place, along with some other newly married young women
of Umuawoli, she was made to live for some years
with our popular Nnenne Chinaka
at Opobo until her husband fully settled down. Soon
after World War II, she was united with her spouse, who was then working in an Uzuakoli
hospital. Although their first child, Chinyere,
suffered infant mortality, the couple lived up to expectation of the prevailing
Baby Boom years of the post war era, as they were later blessed with ten other
children (six boys and four girls). The ten children were successfully reared to
maturity, though nine of them are surviving her today, along with twenty nine
grandchildren.
Helen,
as she was named in her matrimonial home, did not have it smooth, at all, in
bringing up the many children. When our father died, she found the task of
rearing children alone very difficult, especially as the older children were
still schooling. She found the farmlands, that were
still featuring the arid effects of the civil war, as the main source of
livelihood for the family. Aided by her trained
art of tailoring she toiled on. She had always owned or rented sewing sheds at
the local market place and also at Apumiri and Orie
Ntigha. First she rode on her bicycle; later she
boarded buses. When these means of transportation were not available, she would
even trek to the distant market places to ensure that her children were fairly
taken care of. Although help came from different relatives and others, main help
started coming when the then only son in-law, Mr. Ihedioha,
got a new job. Later she was further relieved of her problems as some of the
older children acquired skills and got gainful occupations. Yet life still had
its trials; she accepted the ups and downs of life with faith in God, even with
the loss of her second son, Ndubueze. Mama, who was
never known to have been bedridden , started having
complaints of “blessed mothers’ sickness after attaining fifty-five years of
age.”. This further resulted into uneasiness at the legs.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church was introduced in Umunwanwa in May 1958. Shortly thereafter, along with some members of the family, Helen left her childhood Methodist
Church and joined the new denomination. She found the activities of the new denomination interesting and, as much as possible, attended all functions with great enthusiasm. She would
organize prayer meetings and sing hymns with members of the family early in the
morning.
To
people who did not understand her, she would at times, sound blunt or sarcastic.
She would not alter facts to compromise issues or just for her own purpose.
After the initial reaction, she would soon forget a perceived offence against
her. She was noted, by her relatives, to be negotiating peace between disputing
parties. At her matrimonial home
she identified herself with all progressive efforts of the community. In her
final years she was the leader of Umuekechuo women.
Apart from farming, she was a lover of nature and planted trees wherever
possible.
By
9th December 2004, she was seemingly fast recovering from the previous week’s
illness. She paid visits to neighbours and, as a
pioneer member of the local church, gave words of inspiration to her Christian
sisters. She also went round and inspected her children’s new buildings. The
following day, December 10, she was not quick to wake up as usual. Alarmed,
available Ezekwe family members: Eric, Nnanta
and their spouses, arranged with the St. Paul's Methodist Church evangelist and
quickly transported her to Federal Medical Centre Umuahia,
where the resident doctors were found to be on strike. She was then conveyed to Obioma
Clinic; she initially responded to treatment. At about 1:00 PM that day, she
gave up her soul. Even her children and grandchild, resident overseas, would
rather have her funeral delayed than miss the occasion.
May
we meet her in a Perfect Condition, to part no more;
in Jesus’ Name! Amen!
Emeka
Ezekwe,
For
the Family