Mary Oshemi
It took grandmother Mary Oshemi less than 25 minutes of getting to her home to get set for this interview; and by the time she walked into the sitting room, the delay was to enable her three other children to join Peter, a former vice-chairman of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area and the youngest, for the interview to commence. Immediately the others, led by Mrs. Beatrice Apeji came into the house, the session began in earnest.
The first question was how the subject of her age came about, knowing that when she was born, literacy wasn't as widespread as it is now. It was Peter that came in at this point, saying, "I knew it through one of my late aunties and the eldest man in Igarra today, the Oshemi Anayinmi of Igarra, Chief J. A. Sani (102). The immediate younger sister to Sani was of the same age with my mother. When that man's younger sister died, I asked and Sani told me then (about four years ago). At 95 years then, if the deceased was older than my mother at all, then my mother is between 98 and 99 years today."
It was now Grandma Mary's turn to tell us about her surviving age mates, and this she answered very clearly in the Igarra dialect, which was later interpreted to English Language. From observation, Mary has sharp grasp of any question, as she turns to look directly at who is asking her the question, promptly providing the answer. Her gaze is intense too. Of surviving age mates, she says, "It's only one that is alive today that I can remember; Mrs. Atosu."
Mary now takes charge, in an effort to say it as it is. She explains what she felt was necessary, and begin, "Four of my children are living now, while the more senior ones are late, the most senior of which would have been around 74 of age today, were she alive. These are my surviving children. I lost my husband in November 1980, and since then, the children have been my companion."
Mary, who combines being a housewife with native clothes weaving, recalls with fond memories her late husband, who was a farmer and traditional title holder. So also does she have good memory of her early days, including why she missed going to school.
According to her, "When I was of school age, my father, late Chief Amune Ofei, said he did not have money to send me to school, and above that, being his eldest daughter, I was the one who will give him water in the farm."
She continues, "In our days, we used to see Europeans come to Igarra, but I did not have any encounter with them. In our own time, whenever we saw the Europeans, we ran into the farm. Great politicians came to our area too - Awolowo and Zik came to Igarra to campaign, but as women, we were not privileged to come out. As a matter of fact, we used to run away for fear that it was tax-drive.
"And, don't forget that the tales of slavery, when Europeans came to trick our people with mirror, were not too distant then. I knew when they (white men) brought salt and distributed to members of the community. We would go in the morning to queue up for our share. That was in the 1940s."
Mary explains that she does not recall particularly sad moments, as family and friends make her happy, while other cherished memories also make her happy.
"There are friends and family members around; but when my husband died, I was not happy. When I married was a happy period for me and the times I gave birth to my children."
On the secret of long life, Mary says longevity runs in her family. The first child of her parents, she lost her immediate younger sister, Mrs. Abigail Dawodu, recently. The late sister was interned last week.
Beatrice (69) comes in at this point in support of her mother, chipping in some facts about her mother's culinary skills and things they observed about her.
She says, "Our mother eats well and is happy mostly, but she was pained the day her first daughter died, in 2000; and lately when she lost her younger sister, Abigail." At this point, Mary gets up to bring photographs showing her younger days, while Beatrice resumes the talk.
She says of her mother, "She is highly recognised for her age. For instance, there are ceremonies where, as the second oldest woman in Igarra, she is accorded some rights; and based on this, when events such as child dedication, house warming and even obituaries take place, they bring her special dues in recognition."
Mary, in her neatly done native Ankara blouse and wrapper apparel, comes in with her hands full of photographs, while one of her grandchildren holds on to her, as we all sit down to look through. Is she happy? It seems so, as Mary, surrounded by some of her loved ones, discusses every picture picked.
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