AFRICAN STORIES SERIES

THE AFRICAN WOMAN SERIES

ACT ONE SCENE ONE OF THE EPISODE

This is an inspirational piece by an African woman and it’s real!

This series is a typical life experience of an African Girl-child who goes through life learning so much on her own!

Born into an African home in a remote village, Okwuchi was surrounded by male children as her mother had five boys and an only her.

As the first child of her mother, she typically grew in a mild –hostile environment because of tantrums from the squad in her home as her father normally refers the boys to.

 Her mother practically dragged her to do most house chores simply because she is a girl-child.

According her mother, the girl-child needs to be nurtured in a unique way to equip her for the tasks ahead. In her usual way,” You will someday be a mother, sister, wife, home keeper, instructor, cook, organizer, director, mirror to look up to”, etc

The boys had all the time in the world  to themselves to play football, play in the neighbourhood without disruptions!

The only daily tasks for them is the responsibility of  going to the stream to fetch water whereas; Okwuchi sweeps the whole compound daily, cleans the house, wash the plates, prepares meals and ensures the boys are in perfect condition.

At age ten, she already had   quickly grown into adulthood because of numerous house jobs saddled on her!

 As a very brilliant girl, Okwuchi passed her common entrance examination to attend the Federal girls College Umuahia at a sitting and was so proud of herself!

 But her mother , Irokwe objected to her attending a distant college  because according to her, Okwy  needs to attend a close by  school to enable a thorough  watch  over her.

 In to Irokwe perspective to grooming a girl-child, a proper her  marking is pertinent   to ensure she tolls the right path in life.

Obioma, her  husband however have a different view. Having attended  the British school in his time is of the opinion that experiencing college away from home gives one ample time to focus and study intently. He believes Okwuchi can still be the good girl she is already trained to be, with the high moral standard inculcated in her at age twelve, he strongly believes she can still mingle with other children without being negatively influenced.

Okwuchi’s father’s influence was the only reason that paved way for Okwy to attend the secondary school of her dream!

Being her first time of leaving home to mix up with others, there were lots of anxiety especially fear of negative influence from other girls from different backgrounds as it’s only a girls’ secondary school.

However, the fears are real as  some of the girls came from a very wealthy background where house chores were done by domestic helps, some were the only girls among grown boys, others also have had a taste of developed Countries experience as some parents sent down their wards to the Country away from Western protections and in all of it, there were glaring diverse mixed trainings from the students admitted into Federal girls College Umuahia.

Surprisingly,  Okwuchi maintained her ground and did not allow anyone ride over her. She is known for her firm stand on issues and never allowed anyone trample upon her.

The journey into a strange school was not  so palatable but she conquered all the obstacle on her part surmounting all  pressures and succeeded in becoming the first female student to stand out in bagging all the  moral awards in the history of her school just at the end of her stay in JSS Three.

 Her performance made her parents very proud of her and returning home after school for vacation at the end of Junior secondary school was so resounding as the news of her outstanding performance spread across nooks and crannies of Eziama community in Ntigha village where she hails