OneFamily™
Table of Contents
Family History
Return to Okujagu-Ama
Arrival at Okujagu-Ama
On our arrival at Okujagu-Ama, Tamie, Ahia-Ukwa, Nehemiah, and Emmanuel had already passed on to glory.
The Amagboribie family was accommodated by an honourable man named Stanley, who at that time was also housing one of my uncles, Bedone, along with his family.
It is important to recall that the children of Tamie did not have property of their own and had to rely on the goodwill of others, often squatting with those kind enough to provide shelter.
Upon our arrival, we were advised to perform certain traditional rituals believed to help our digestive systems adapt to the local food of the island and to prevent stomach discomfort. I do not know the full details of these rituals, but as a child, I remember that some of the food was made to touch the ground—known as Amakiri (the soil of the land)—before we were asked to eat it.
Roaming within the Community
– Accommodation ChallengesAfter some time, tensions began to grow between the families of Amagboribie and Bedone. They shared the same kitchen facility, and whenever food items went missing from the soup, no one admitted responsibility. My mother did not find such situations amusing, and eventually, my father had to look for another accommodation.
To prevent a complete breakdown of civility, my family relocated to my father’s aunt’s home. Her name was Cheyeabaromi, but we fondly called her Nne Alala. She was a widow without children and was the sister of my grandmother.
From Nne Alala’s house, we later moved to the residence of Mr. Bright Ibisa. His house, a storey building, was located very close to St. Anne’s Anglican Church, Okujagu-Ama.
Due to perceived discomfort, the family eventually relocated again—this time to Ibiapu Compound, into the house that Brother Emmanuel, the son of Emmanuel (one of my father’s brothers), had previously occupied.
Later, the family moved once more, this time to the home of Mr. Quinton Atemoku, a cousin to my father. At the time, this cousin was also accommodating one of my uncles—my father’s brother Velvet—and his family.
Journey to our own Accommodation
While we were staying in Mr. Quinton’s apartment, my mother strongly encouraged and influenced my father to acquire his own property. She was no longer comfortable with the frequent confrontations that often arose from depending on others for accommodation.
By custom, my father could not approach the elders of the community directly to request land. His elder brother, Bedone—the eldest surviving brother—had to stand in as his guide. Eventually, after the customary presentation of some bottles of local gin, packets of biscuits, and similar items, a piece of land was allocated to my father.
After several years of perseverance, my father built a six-room apartment with a central sitting room. When we first moved in, only one of the rooms had been roofed, and though the walls were not yet plastered, this marked a major breakthrough. The long-standing cycle of moving from place to place in search of accommodation within the community came to an end.
Over time, as funds became available, the other rooms were roofed bit by bit. This accomplishment also inspired my uncle Amakiri to raise funds to build on our maternal family land—Ahia-Ukwa’s house.
Sadly, my uncle Bedone had passed away some years before the completion of our building
Amagboribie’s Desire to Accommodate His Siblings
It was a thing of joy and a moment of gratefulness to God that a seed from Tamie finally broke the long-standing jinx of accommodation.
In some quarters, there had been rumors that the descendants of Okomba were cursed because of the tyrannical behavior he displayed as a king—particularly since he had inadvertently handed power over to his servant.
When my father, Amagboribie, completed the roofing of his house, he generously assigned rooms to his siblings. Below is a sketch of the house he built and how the rooms were allocated..
However, Velvet chose not to move in with his family for personal reasons.
Nevertheless, it was a source of great joy to see the family gathered under one roof. From time to time, the family would come together in the central sitting room to share fellowship, strengthen bonds, and celebrate unity.
Challenges of Staying Under one Roof
In a setting where different people live together, there are bound to be expressions of both likes and dislikes. Offences will inevitably arise in various forms.
At some point, word reached my mother that the children of Bedone believed the land on which my father built his house rightfully belonged to them. Their claim was that my father had only taken the step to build because he was financially capable.
This accusation did not sit well with my mother. In response, she asked them to leave the house.
I cannot clearly recall the details of the misunderstanding with Dango, but I remember that she went as far as inviting her children to confront my mother physically. This confrontation resulted in them also being ordered to leave the house.
Subsequently, the families of both Bedone and Dango relocated to the house that Amakiri had built on our maternal family land.
