Also there was a need for eye glasses of all strengths. The people were very warm and grateful. They appreciated our efforts.

The accommodations were very different. All the females in our group stayed with the Eze-elect (King), Nze James Muruako, and Lolo (Queen) of Ihiagwa in their palace. The palace was on a large plot of ground, surrounded by a seven foot wall with barbwire placed on top of the wall. The gate to enter the grounds was huge with elaborate ornate ironwork. Inside the grounds were Mango, Pawpaw (papaya) and Cashew fruit trees, beautiful bushes and plants. There were lizards chasing each other like the squirrels do at home. The male lizards have red heads and long tails with a red band twisted around the end. The lizards head bobs up and down. It looked like the lizard knew he was at the palace and his proper role was to bow and show respect.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by Nze (Sir) Muruako and his Lolo. They then said something I think I will never forget. With his arms open in his traditional dress with head cap, he said, “Welcome to your ancestral home, feel free to enjoy. Welcome home!” I felt my eyes water.

The palace has marble floors and stairs. The palace guards carried our luggage down a long hallway dimly lit due to the generator being the only source of electricity, at the time. We followed the guards up the stairs, passed several closed doors with beautiful carvings on them. The doors appeared to me to be museum worthy. We were led into two large rooms each with a large bed, ceiling fan and balcony. There were adjoining doors to each room. The guards placed our luggage into the rooms and left.

I ran to the balcony, I wanted to see whatever was our there. The balcony was cement with thick iron bars. The view was of a cassava field. Palm trees with large diameters and school children working in the fields. Earlene, one of the nurses filmed the school children at work. There we were, six women from various backgrounds and disciplines in a foreign country.

Oguguo! Oguguo! Oguguo!!!! The first morning at dawn, I hear this cry throughout the palace. I rise, dress and hurry downstairs to the palace grounds. I open the large ornate gate that leads to the village. The gateman is still asleep in the guard lair. Outside the gate the village was awash with daily activities. A lady was walking with a pile of wood on top of her head. Her gracefulness and her head load were one. I greeted her saying, “Oguguo!” She looked at me like I was insane. Next I saw a man going about his morning activities and again I said, “Oguguo!” the man looked at me with a puzzled expression and kept on walking. When I returned to the palace, I told Nze, “I said good morning to the people of the village and they did not return the greeting.” “And how did you say good morning Julia?” asked Nze Muruako. “I said, Oguguo!” I replied. Nze Muruako smiled and said, “Oguguo is the name of our Engineer who turns on the generator every morning.”

The first evening at the palace, I was sitting on the patio with the Lolo. She asked me, “Do you have any issues?” I am both shocked and excited by the question. I’m thinking, “This is a wonderful thing – a “psychiatric Queen” who wishes to discuss my issues.” My mind began racing, “Which issues should I speak of first … being 43 years old without my masters degree, how I’ve lost weight, how I’ve got these sagging breasts … ?” It took me so long to respond that the Lolo asked me another question. “What are the names of your issues?” I thought, “This is deeeeeep. I’ve never considered naming my issues. What a wonderful idea! Name your issues and place them in a file on your computer. Check on your progress with your issues.” While my mind was exploring all the possibilities the interpreter had observed my lack of response and kindly told me, “’issues” mean children.”

This experience taught me a lot about myself, and also showed me the kindness and generosity that is greatly present on this land.

My Trip to Ihiagwa Town in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

by Julia Pearce

My beloved people of the ancient and great Ihiagwa Community, in the midst of my jubilation for a fulfilled life in 50 years of married bliss, and the attainments of the glorious 70 years of life, I send you my greetings and prayers for good health and prosperity.

I am quite fulfilled and thankful to our good God in that I embarked on early marriage and service to Ihiagwa simultaneously in the fifties. To the eternal blessing of God, I have achieved success in the two ventures. Today, I count myself as the head of one of the happiest and united family of a loving wife and wonderful children and grandchildren.

On the patriotic front of service to the land of the Otamirri, I have remained constant and achieved much for our motherland. Without being immodest, I can claim without contradiction that I achieved Autonomous status for Ihiagwa in 1976. In the vanguard of my fallen patriot Chief Christopher Ugwuegbu, we laid the foundation for Ezeship in Ihiagwa and enthroned our late revered Eze John Njoku. As secretary-General of Ihiagwa Executive Council, I pioneered the Organization of Ihiagwa which achieved a Secondary School for Ihiagwa, a Magistrates Court and the construction of permanent stores in the Nkwo-ukwu market place. Under late Ugwuegbu and myself Ihiagwa was united, organized and progressive.

In spite of incidents and actions that set Ihiagwa on a retrogressive ethnicism, I have remained in the battle for enlightened leadership, unity and development. In pursuit of this self convinced duty to the fatherland, I decided in spite of my personal achievements to offer myself for a life of service as the traditional ruler of our community. This cost me severe misunderstanding, discomfort and even risk to my life and that of innocent members of my family.

I want to use this occasion to inform my dear people o Ihiagwa that I am not frustrated. My determination to use my god given resources of knowledge, fame and contacts to transform Ihiagwa will regain her unity and we will once more resume our journey towards progress and development.

On this occasion of celebrating God’s blessing on me and my family, I want to reassure our people that I am determined to restore the prestine glory of Ihiagwa in the Comity of Communities. My charter of progress for Ihiagwa is already mapped out in black and white. I believe the God Of Our great forefathers, who rode on the crest in the past, will restore our unity and eminence.

God bless Ihiagwa!

Nze, Sir J.O. Muruako (KSJ) JP
Eze-elect of Ihiagwa.
E-mail: Akawelitarambaako@yahoo.com

This is classic Ihiagwa and Owerri soup flavoured with aromatic Uzouza leaves, Ugwu (fresh Pumpkin leaves) and Okazie leaves and lightly thickened with Cocoyam, really captures the scent of Ihiagwa town and Igbo land.

• lkg / 2Ib assorted meats (Beef Oxtail, Tripe, Bokoto & Bushmeat),  Ponmo,
• 450g / lib stockfish (washed & flaked )
• 1 medium dry fish (washed & flaked)
• 225g / 8oz ground chilies
• 225g / 8oz ground crayfish
• 225g/8oz Uzouza leaves, shredded
• 450g/lib cocoyam boiled and pounded
• 1lt / 2 pint stock or water
• salt to taste

Wash the meat thoroughly and place in a large pot. Season with salt and ground chilies add some stock and cook for 45 minutes. Cook the stockfish separately for 1 hour or pre-soaked. Meanwhile, wash and peel the cocoyam, cook until soft and pound. Add the washed smoked fish and stock to the pot of boiling meats and cook for I0 minutes. Add the stock and bring to boil. Mould the pounded cocoyam into small balls and add to soup, stir in the crayfish, shredded Uzouza leaves and oil. Adjust seasoning and simmer for 15 minutes until slightly thick. Serve hot with Pounded yam, Garri (roast cassava grains) or akpu.