Okafor Mokwunye, the Ogwude of Owerre-Olubor

Okafor Mokwunye becomes

the Ogwude

Ada Nkakaakpa performing the invocation for installing the Ogwude

Okafor, the son of Mokwunye, the son of Ugbe!  His wiry and diminutive build should not be mistaken for smallness and inconsequence when it comes to the customs and traditions of Owerre-Olubor.  He is not at all a dwarf in these regards; rather, he is a giant of robust intellect about the ancient lore of the land.

Looking at his trajectory, it would appear that providence has preserved him for the Ogwudeship despite his foibles and his many disputations in the Umuikpulu milieu.

Born about a century ago, Okafor Mokwunye has witnessed many crests and troughs in the undulating wave of events in the land of his birth.  He could be described as a thorough-bred denizen – having lived all his life in Owerre, the land of his nativity.

Okafor Mokwunye of Umuikpulu will go into history as the second Ikpulu, after Ndudi Smart Monye, to take the coveted stool of the Ogwude of Owerre-Olubor.  This is coming right on the heels of Ndudi Smart Monye’s regal authority over the land.  Ndudi Smart had fought to the finish the fight to assert and establish the right of Umuikpulu to the Ogwudeship despite the intrigues of twisters of the Ogwudeship history.

The Bible says that by the mouths of two witnesses, the truth shall be established.  O, yes!  We can similarly say that by the advents of two Ikpulu sons as Ogwude, the truth is already established that Umuikpulu Quarters have the incontrovertible right to the Ogwudeship of Owerre-Olubor.  The matter is signed, sealed and delivered!

Umu-ada joyfully dancing as they herald the arrival of Ada Nkakaakpa

Today, Okafor Mokwunye relishes the glory of that diadem, which had been won by the immediate past Ogwude Ndudi Smart Monye of Umuikpulu extraction.  May Ogwude Okafor Mokwunye’s reign be long!

Umuikpulu: 23 November 2019

The Ingrate

If it were possible, ungrateful humans will definitely punish the Almighty Creator for giving all good things to mankind. I have now reached the conclusion that doing good without discretion is like fixing gold ring on the snout of a pig - which the desperately wicked people are! They are ingrates and they ought to die as street rats.

Onyebaoronwanne!

Alexander the Great

The news came to me like thunder when I was roused from sleep by a phone call from Mr Benjamin Ebaju on Sunday morning, June 2, 2019.  It was the heartbreaking news that Onyebaoronwanne Alexander Nkennor nwa Monye had died after a strange illness in Canada.  Straightaway, I called his younger sister, Vote, who confirmed that her elder brother had died the previous day, June 1.  I commiserated, almost in tears myself.

Alex’s life course was evocative of the life of Alexander of the royal house of Philip of Macedonia.  Alexander the son of Philip had risen to glory at the youthful age of 30 years when he conquered territories and overthrew the vast Medo-Persian world empire, thus forming the Grecian (or Greek) Empire in its place.  That youthful Emperor is still remembered as “Alexander the Great” about 2,300 years after his demise in the prime of life.

The Greek name Alexander means “a helper of men” (or a benefactor) – and which our own Onyebaoronwanne Alexander Nkennor nwa Monye was!  All eyewitnesses to his munificence, before it was truncated mysteriously, can bear me out.  And then having wrecked him, they set a date for his demise and executed him!  Yes!  On Saturday, 1st June 2019, the evil ones who have been plundering the cream of Afam Descendants repeated their accustomed wickedness! 

The stupor caused by this painful loss of Onyebaoronwanne is still with me and I am still heaving sighs as I write this. God dey!  Chukwu di fu !  Jehovah sees!  The Great Avenger knows how to avenge!  Those with bright prospects among the Afams ought now to guard themselves by worming into the heart of Jehovah – the ultimate refuge and protector. (Ps 50:15, Pro 18:10, Ps 18:2, 91:1-2)

Okolo obia, Alex!

Nwoke oma, Alex!

Ome ogor, Alex!

Your kind deeds are following after you,

Becoming Jehovah’s blessings upon the household after you,

And blessed shall your children be, after you!

Rest well at last, Onyebaoronwanne Alexander Nkennor nwa Monye!

The greats were your ancestors – Afam and, after him, Monye!

 Frank Monye

Lagos: Monday, 3 June 2019