Nneka: Mother is Supreme

“Can you tell me, Okonkwo, [Uchendu asked] why it is that one of the commonest names we give our children is Nneka, or ‘Mother is Supreme?’ We all know that a man is the head of the family and his wives do his bidding. A child belongs to its father and his family and not to its mother and her family. A man belongs to his fatherland and not to his motherland. And yet we say Nneka – ‘Mother is Supreme.’ Why is that?”

“I do not know the answer,” Okonkwo replied […].

“Then listen to me […]. It’s true that a child belongs to its father. But when a father beats his child, it seeks sympathy in its mother’s hut. A man belongs to his fatherland when things are good and life is sweet. But when there is sorrow and bitterness he finds refuge in his motherland. Your mother is there to protect you. She is buried there. And that is why we say that mother is supreme.”

                                                                                                           Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart

To All Mothers--On Uka Nne

Nigerian novelist Buchi Emecheta spoke of the Joys of Motherhood in her book with the same title--the often unacknowledged labor that mothers put in daily to nurture their families. 

        On this Mother's Sunday, Uka Nne, I wish all mothers the best that motherhood offers: May your children rise up everyday to bless you for your loving care, and may your husband praise you as the one that smiles fortunes into his future (Proverbs 31: 25, 28). 

        May your dreams for yourself and for your family come true. And may God keep you smiling and relishing the joyful joys of motherhood. 

        Happy Mother's Sunday. And keep smiling. 

        Together with the Nigerian mothers we intone O bu onye ga-abu mama m? Nne m o! (Who will be my mama? My mother); with Prince Nico Mbarga, we sing the evergreen, Sweet mother, I no go forget you; and with Onyeka Onwenu, we belt out, Chukwu biko gozie ochie dike mama (God, please bless my dear strong mum).