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15. Duben 1958
My Grandpa Chieka Balonwu
April 1958,
Umuasi Village, Inland Town,
Onitsha, Eastern Region,
Nigeria, British West Africa
We were on annual leave to Onitsha. Mum stayed with her father-in-law at 13 (& 17) Mba Road, Umudei Village, Onitsha. Two weeks after our arrival, mum was informed that her father, Chieka Balonwu, had passed away. He was buried three days later inside a nearby hut. He was ill for a prolonged period from what seems to be an "unhealing foot sore." It is believed that he never saw a western-trained doctor in his life but an uncle diagnosed his illness as "diabetes" while a native doctor dibia said it was iku nsi. The primary contributors to his funeral were grandpa's oldest son Nnaife and his nephews Stephen and Moses.
Grandpa was half-Onitsha and half-Obosi. Because an Igbo man only identifies with his father's lineage, Chieka did not remain neutral during land dispute between Onitsha and Obosi that has been going on for four centuries. In fact, he went the extra-mile of frequently taking young Obosi men war prisoners, even after the war was over. For valor that was considered above and beyond the call of duty, Onitsha people gave him the affectionate nickname "Chieka omelu Obosi ife," (Chieka that terrorized the people of Obosi.
His niece, Mrs. Eunice Ndulue, recalled him "as a tall man and very good farmer" who till the land with a hoe and planted yams at Otumoye creek, near Ochanja Market in Onitsha. He had three wives and for a brief period his relative's widow (nne Ikem) as a concubine. My grand mother (his second wife) was also a farmer who planted yams, cassava, ede, and onugbu the vicinity of her residence at 6 Wilkinson Road, Onitsha.
Posted by emeagwali at 15. Duben 1958 13:07