Prince Nico Mbarga did not meet one of his greatest fans, Nneoma Violet Iroagalachi Amaechi yet they had something in common. While the musician sang ‘Sweet Mother’, she danced to the track on a daily basis.
And when the Methodist Church decided to honour Mama, the title was ‘Nneoma’, which means Good Mother. The lover of Sweet Mother, was a Good Mother, indeed. Her son, Chief Ikechukwu (Iyke) Amaechi, Ugomba, is now singing Sweet Mother, the more, following her passage recently, at 93.
Nneoma Violet did not get to play the violin but she was a good dancer. Iyke said : “My mother would always dance to the traditional Umuahia ‘Odumodu’ dance. However, she was a fan of the legendary Prince Nico Mbarga and always enjoyed playing one of his popular tracks, ‘Sweet Mother.’
Mbarga, a Cameroonian whose mother was Nigerian, lived most of his life in Nigeria and died around the Ikom axis. Mama, a teacher, trained in Oron, at the Mary Hanney Institute For Girls and retired as a Headmistress in 1984. After that, she veered into activism and politics.
I may be wrong. She was an Activist, right from home. You cannot be married to a man who shouted ‘Aluta Continua’ regularly and remain cool. Her husband, Comrade Iroham Emmanuel Amaechi, was Head of Research at the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC).
A Unionist, with a first degree in Economics and a Masters in Statistics, Comrade was a thorn in the flesh of bad leaders. Beyond Karl Marx and Adam Smith, he knew how resources flowed in and out of our commonwealth. Armed with facts and figures, his contributions to Labour were key.
When his wife became Secretary, Abia State chapter of the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), it coincided with the tenure of the firebrand Northerner, Laila Dogonyaro, as President. They were not women to be pushed around.
At home, Mama Amaechi remained a real Mother. Her exposure counted. When Iyke got married to Mulikat, a Muslim from Igarra in the Akoko Edo area of Edo State, there was no Village Meeting.
“My mother was a woman full of zest and accepted my wife without any tribal prejudice. She had a good relationship with my mother – in – law, despite the later being a devout Muslim,” Iyke told me from his United Kingdom base.
Mama was also a good sportswoman having played netball as trainee teacher. Her comrade husband loved football. In those early post war years of Enugu Rangers, he took their children to the Enugu Township Stadium to watch Godwin Achebe, Chukwuma Igweonu, Shedrach Ajaero, Dominic Nwobodo and later Emma Okala, Christian Chukwu and Godwin Ogbueze.
Iyke, a Coal City 042 Boy, talked more about the Rangers and later Green Eagles duo of Louis Igwilo and Kenneth Boardman. All of them grew up playing street football in Enugu before forging ahead.
“I remember us in Enugu then playing inter – street matches with people like Igwilo and Boardman. Louis was popularly known as ‘Louis Ani Street’, after his street’s name and Ken was popular with his Igbo name, Okey.”
At Uzuakoli Methodist College, (UZUMECO) Iyke was part of the school team. Some of his team mates included Emeka Ezeugo and Obioha Achilefu. That school, established in 1923, as the first secondary school in today’s South – East produced good footballers.
Okoronkwo Kanno, the most educated member of the 1949 national team, UK Tourists was an Old Boy. Nnamdi Egbukichi, who captained Nigeria Academicals to pound Ghana 5-1 in Lagos, 1974, was there, just like Enyioma Igbokwe, ex – Flying Antelope. Before them was Charles Ihekwaba, who led Uzumeco to lift the Phensic Cup for Eastern Nigerian schools, in 1964.
Uzuakoli has a lot to do with war. Maj. Ibrahim Babangida was injured in battle during the Civil War. Some of those who produced weapons for Biafra, Agu Ogan and Eddie Mbadiwe, schooled there. There is the Ojukwu Bunker with a twist. One account says it was built during World War Two as safe haven for King George VI.
Well, that Hitler War was felt by Uzuakoli. Their second principal, Herbert Williams, died in 1941 when German pilots destroyed MV Swedru off Irish waters.
Beyond war, Uzumeco is the Alma mater of Justice Egbert Udo Udoma, who once acted as Governor General of Uganda. It also produced Professor Okoronkwo Ogan, the first Nigerian Gynecologist and Obstetrician, former Central Bank Governor Clement Isong and one – time Permanent Representative to the UN, Edwin Ogbu.
As Iyke and his siblings, Chief Chukwudi Amaechi and Onochie celebrate the life of their mother, on April 11 at Umunemeze, Afugiri,there will be History lessons and great reunion coated with the enough food and drinks. If you miss this one, do not cry hunger.
IHEDIOHA IN MOURNING
A sad one. Marketing Consultant, Sir Ken Ihedioha, is bereaved. His wife, Janet Ngozika, died recently at 53. What struck me is that Nneoma Amaechi was born in May (1932) and will be buried in April (2026). Mrs Ihedioha was born in May (1970) and will go home in April (8, 2026). Burial takes place in Owere – Nkwoji in Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State.
May the souls of the departed rest in peace.
The post Iyke Amaechi’s sweet mother, by Emeka Obasi appeared first on Vanguard News.
