Amazuiheọnụ

By

Obododimma Oha.

Amazuiheọnụ: that was the name my late grandfather gave to one of my maternal aunties. You know how many traditional Igbo names go structurally! They are either lengthy discourses, sentential, or one of the long categories expressing deep and sometimes, ambiguous, meanings. This very name is sentential and is derived from the expression, “A mazu ihe ọnụ” (We are not all wise; or we cannot know everything). Yes; some of us are foolish, very foolish, and need to acknowledge that. Those people should also have the humility of learning from their betters, or from those who know. But it does not happen in that straightforward way! Those who do not know in our time especially may be crowned “leaders” and may be the most noisy and those who want the world to celebrate the little they can offer. Those who do not know are now offered an opportunity to advertise their ignorance by social media. They cannot accept their limits, otherwise  they could be mistaken for wise people. Is it not a mark of wisdom for one to accept one’s knowledge limits? But because unwise people have to posture to be wise, that very name, Amazuiheọnụ, is apt. If the unwise were wise, they would accept they were unwise.

Amazuiheọnụ, and that is why someone would be arguing  foolishly and endlessly on social media, just to win the argument for winning sake. One recalls the funny case of a sibling, when we were just children, who would argue and argue, and when his unfortunate victim said he was giving up and  the  argumentative fellow had won, would ask: “How have I won now? Can you prove that I have won?” And that would initiate another argument! Double victimhood! So, the double victim would be struggling to extricate self from the onslaught of the argumentative fellow! The consequence was clear: we all tried to avoid arguing with him (even tried to avoid  him, for one did not know the trap he was preparing for argument in the interaction)!

Grandfather was great and wise in naming his daughter. He was in good consultation with his chi and the words of the name resounded and challenged the bearer with an ideology and philosophy. I hope she knows.

Amazuiheọnụ, and that is why someone who has caused your kinsman  to be drowned in a dirty pond by soldiers could summon courage to come to your homestead for a political campaign and you would foolishly be cheering and asking him to carry on. Amazuiheọnụ, and that is why someone who could not find a single qualified soul from your clan to appoint a service chief or make a major player in government (not to talk of executing projects, just to punish the other), could show up and ask for your for your mumu support, and you would give it, even donate millions, since he has been fair in not remembering your clan’s competence face in his governance. Yes, Amazuiheọnụ, and that is why a person who kept mute while killers went round massacring populations, and could’t even send a representation at the mass burials, or condole with the directly affected,  would again come for your foolish endorsement and you would give it readily. Indeed, grandfather was very great!

I like names that caution me and not just its bearer. I like names that say something worth remembering, not names that are empty because  we cannot find something significant for our lives there when we unwrap them. Those  are just labels, not names. But I like names like Amazuiheọnụ that are not just labels. You could label yourself “Stoneson;” let’s hope you are the son of Mr. Stone! You call yourself “Mumuson” because you are among the 200 million or so mumus that should surrender their necks and receive their ropes, in preparedness for the march for animal farm in Neverland.

Amazuiheọnụ, because obu the bird said rightly that: “Ike dị n’awaja n’awaja’ (Capacity in distributed in various dimensions). And so, that weakling which hunters know is dreaded seriously by serpents, because it can pick up any with its talons, fly up in the air, and sorry for the captive’s eyeballs. It is a magical kill because Ike dị n’awaja n’awaja! There is time for the fangs of the serpent, not now. The aviator-clawer is mightier in its weakness. So, serpents hide when it is in the neighbourhood.

Indeed, Amazuiheọnụ, even though “Otu chi na-eke” (One chi creates all) and “Otu nne na-amụ” (One mother gives birth to all). Yes, A mazu ihe ọnụ!