Ifunanya

". . .'Ifunanya.' They're ancient words. They don't exist among any other group of people. There is no direct tranlation in Nuru, English, Sipo, or Vah. This word only has meaning when spoken by a man to the one he loves. A woman can't use the word unless she is barren. It is not juju. Not in the way that I know it. But the word has strength. It's wholly binding if it is true and the emotion reciprocated. This is not like the word 'love.' A man can tell a woman he loves her every day. Ifunanya is spoken only once in a man's life. Ifu means to 'look into,' 'n' means 'the,' and anya means 'eyes'. The eyes are the window to the soul."

Nnedi Okorafor

Who Fears Death, 2010, pp. 221.

For Val's Day: 5 Love Epics in Africa's History

Cleopatra's legacy has been vigorously contested, the subject of myth, embellishment, and propaganda 

“Forget what they say about money making the world go round - nations have risen and fallen on the account of a beautiful woman."

GOING by the contemporary narrative, love is something powerful, but fleeting and rather silly—with all it’s apparent expectations of dead plants, wax candles and whiny violins. But Valentine’s Day grouches, don’t despair. Love can be serious stuff too, it has been known to shape the course of whole nations:

Nefertiti, Queen of Egypt

One of the most mysterious and powerful women in ancient Egypt, Nefertiti was queen alongside Pharaoh Akhenaten from 1353 to 1336 BC.

Love is Sacrifice

Valentine’s Day has come and gone; and many a love has been won and lost, many a heart healed and broken, many a relationship strengthened and destroyed. Businesses have counted their profits.  Tons of gift items exchanged hands.  Red roses. Chocolates. Cards. Perfumes. Watches.  Diamonds.  Yes, diamonds are forever.  And a lady’s best friend?  Houses and cars made the gift list too. 

Valentine’s Day is such good business that despite the recent global financial meltdown “love spending” around the world has remained on an ascending curve. Last year [2011], according to USA’s National Retail Federation, Americans alone were expected to spend USD $15. 7 billion (N2.5 trillion naira) for Valentine’s Day on everything from flowers to trinkets and jewelry. Who says bad economy affects love?

But how many of us have actually taken the time to examine the significance of Valentine’s Day in our personal lives, in the lives of our family?  What does Valentine’s Day call us to?  As the legend goes, St. Valentine died for love, in the example of Jesus Christ.  He died that others may live, and love.  He, like Jesus Christ, sacrificed his life.

Love is sacrifice. To love is to sacrifice; and those who love sacrifice their all. Everything, on that altar of love.  Without counting the cost. John 3:16 tells us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son…”  God sacrificed the “only” thing he had, so to say.  Out of love.  That we may have life and live, in abundance.  And out of that same love, Jesus Christ sacrificed his own life on the Cross.  “For no greater love has anyone than to lay down their life for their friends” (John 15:13).  With his life, he bought us for God, making us sons and daughters, co-heirs to God’s eternal kingdom.