And Soon She’ll be Eleven

“Shine Shine Bobo!” The TV Presenter shouted.

“Star!” Ifeabiago answered back with joy.

She was sitting on her mother’s lap, having just had her night bath. Her Mum, my sister wiped her body dry with her little towel and began applying some baby oil to her low cropped hair.

“Shine Shine Bobo o!” The Presenter shouted again

“Star o!” She replied. Then she added for emphasis, “Mimmaa, see shine shine Bobo!”

We all burst into laughter, her Mum, my sister Uju and myself. Ifeabia loved the Star Quest Programme.

Just like her name- Ifeabiago (Light has come). The birth of my niece brought so much joy to all of us. She is an Ada like her Mum. The first born grand daughter to both grand parents and their extended families.

I remember the day she was born, I was on my way back from lectures heading towards my room in Manuwa Hall, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus when my phone rang. I checked it and it was my sister. She called to let me know that she put to bed a few hours earlier.

Ifeabia grew pretty fast. I remember her favourite song as toddler ‘P-Square’. She would say “Mummy, I want P-Square” and she would sing and dance “busy body eeeh!” LOL.

Then one day, shortly after she turned two, she looked at me and said “Ommaka, I yike your hair”, ye! I nearly freaked out! How did a two year old manage to even make that kind of statement. Well, that was just the beginning, like the ‘Shine- Shine Bobo’ in the TV Show, Ife would shine even brighter.

Just like yesterday, I remember her running around in diapers, chasing a fowl in my Dad’s country home, defying the igbo adage that says ‘Ochu nwa okuko nwe ada‘ literally translated as ‘he that chases the fowl has the fall’.

Soon Ife will be 11! I really do thank God for her life. She’s gone on to win many star awards, she’s worked so hard  at being the Goal Keeper in her football club for many years, stopping many balls short of the net  and just recently her basketball club won a 4 year defending champion. 

Ifeabiago, your light will shine brighter as the years go by. You will always be an example of godliness and righteousness in your generation. The Lord will keep you and preserve you and make you a praise unto his name. Amen.

Happy birthday in advance.