A Tribute to my Uncle; Pa Joseph Nwafo Okoye, who passed away on Monday, January 16, 2023 at the age of 105.
As a young boy I used to wrestle with the creation story as I tried to unravel where man existed before he was brought into this world. Now as a grown man, I have come to fully hinge my faith on the teachings of the Word of God and with it has come assurance and peace. I have equally grown to accept that the world isn’t indeed our home and that our loved ones will one day exit this plane.
The quiet passing away of my Uncle; Joseph Nwafo Okoye, who we fondly called Ududu, brings home this truth like no other. Ududu’s longevity is what legends are made of. He was strong and vibrant till his last few years, by which time he had lost every motivation to live. His two sons; passed in quick succession in 2017 and 2018 and by the time the last of his brothers; Michael (My Dad) passed in 2021 at the age of 96, he had noone really to share his time with.
Ududu was a great farmer, whose fame spread as far as Ndiowu and Omogho. In his heydays, he was a bundle of energy, brave, lithe and as tough as nails. Assuming the role of a Father quite early, he worked tirelessly to carter for his family and ensured his siblings were well educated. He was one of the ardent participants in ‘olu okpolo’, the local intervention by the community in road repairs, to checkmate the rampaging erosion. He was also a gifted palm wine tapper and enjoyed the privilege of initiating the young ones into the tradition of wine tasting with his richly garnished dried meat.
I remember being rewarded with a drink and some meat anytime I went to his Igba to greet him. This was actually a daily routine, whenever we were home on holidays. Fatherly, friendly and generous, Ududu was a great story teller and drew the children with his remarkable stories that left indelible memories.
The thought of Nanka, without Ududu is simply inconceivable. He was the constant, always there while others had journeyed far and wide to pursue their careers. His bond with his siblings was exceptionally strong as the adversities they faced, with the early exit of their parents pulled them into a tightly knit unit. With Ududu, goes the last vistages of this dynamic generation… It is indeed the end of an era and with it, the dawn of a new one.
The big masquerade has taken his last steps. Isiakpuenu has lost her oldest man!
Farewell Ududu!!
Jee nke oma, Akunne!!!
A great writer you are Kenechukwu Abraham👍🏽. Ududu jee ije gi nke oma. I pray God grant your soul eternal rest. With your exit marks the end of your generation.
I pray that the longevity which you and our fathers enjoyed will not be far from us. I declare no more young deaths in Jesus name.
Lastly I pray that we will maintain the bond of unity that our fathers shared. We should as a matter of fact do better than them because we have the greater one at work in us – The Holy Spirit.
Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.
Rest in peace Akunne
While Ududu was a great wine tapper and storyteller, he was so blessed with a nephew that is also a prolific storyteller, however in writing.
Jide ka iji
Ya gazie!!!!
Excellent writeup Bro Kene . Very captivating
May God rest his soul.
May God comfort your household in Jesus name.
Remain blessed
Ududu (Akunne) was a legendary palm wine tapper per excellence, a great orator and master story teller band 9.
I recall with nostalgia the freshly tapped sweet palm wine he would give over and over to my siblings and I during the Christmas holidays to us very early on during my formative years as a teen. He had a knack of giving you good stories while you are at it and or bringing you up to speed on recent events within the community. Akunne, may your soul rest in Peace! 🙏
Thanks Kene for this great piece about Ududu.
Ageless Akunne, to us,synonymous with Isiakpuenu Ifite Nanka.
A great farmer indeed, whose yam barns those days was reminiscent of the great Nwakibie’s 3 barns,from which he gave Okonkwo his first seed yams ,in China Achebe’s book, Things Fall Apart.
He was also a great diochi,palm wine tapper, with his nkwu-enu unrivaled.
He survived so many vagries of life for a century and five years, including the then very deadly tetanus infection,that had him hospitalized at St Joseph hospital Adazi Nnukwu.
May God in his infinite mercy grant his soul eternal repose in peace
Adieu Joseph Nwafor Okoye, Ududu !!!
The fun of family is this extension of great uncles and aunties that help make growing up fun. As I read this piece, I have visualized every scenario you described, affixing every prop required to form the picture. He has done well, hence this legacy-write up.
My condolences to you and your family, bro. Kene.