Madam Adaobi Whyte is a community leader in Ndoni, Rivers State. At 86, neither age nor gender has deterred her from achieving her dreams. Even while on a wheelchair, she just recently released two more books, making her publications 11. Whyte has broken the yolk of gender influence and is honoured by Ndoni community in several ways.
She is the first woman Deputy President General, first woman President General, and the first woman red cap Chief in Ndoni. A social critic, woman crusader, Madam Whyte is endowed with great talents and in spite of her little education. Some of her books include “How Africans Vandalised Africa”, “Ndoni Traditions and Culture: An Insider Perspective”, “Ndeoshimili Folktales, among others. She spoke to VIVIAN ONYEBUKWA about her achievements, experiences and life generally.
What was growing up like?
I was born on May 19th, 1937 into the Obi Osakwe family dynasty of Umuonyema Quarters, Ndoni, Ogba/ Egbema/Ndoni LGA, Rivers State. Ndoni was a typical African village on the Eastern bank of the lower River Niger. We belong to the Ogbaru/ Ogbasu, depending on dialect of the Ndeoshimili region. Ndeoshimili means, “People of the river”.
The Obi Osakwe was a family of warriors and slave merchants. We had two sisters, Obunodi and Idu Chukwuma, who had war boats and two giant cannons that have remained in front of my family house till date. The third giant cannon belonged to their nephew, Obi Osakwe. My parents Ossai and Uzorka Afubesor Obi were farmers and merchants who paddled the big Aganaga roofed canoes to the Igala area of River Benue, Warri, Sapele, Burutu, Buguma and Abonnema in Kalabari areas, selling yams and buying imported commodities. My parents were also community leaders and generous. My father was a judge of the Customary Court and people come to our house for minor cases. I think I must have inherited my talents from my family.
I have narrated my childhood experiences in chapter two of my current book in traditions and culture.
Why did you end up with only basic primary education? Does it mean that your parents could not afford your further education?
My parents were more than rich enough to educate me. They built their brick and zinc bungalow in 1940. They were married for over 10 years before having me. My father married three other wives and had three sons. I was over pampered and native doctors said I was from the mammy water region and an ogbanje. Another problem was that the schools in Ndoni ended in Primary 4. At 11 years old, my aunt took me to Jos. People wondered if my parents wanted me to go far from the mammy water goddess. There arose complications because of adequate lack of communication. It’s a long story.
Today you have 11 books to your credit. How have you been able to achieve this?
I have marvelled how I have been able to write 11 books. Self-education is not easy, for nobody to mark your papers. But it was a habit that turned into a profession. I don’t discuss the process of my life without the word “Exposure”. It all started in 1948, when I set out on my first journey out of Ndoni to Jos, Plateau State at the age of 11. I went from one state of change to the other. The remarkable exposure started from 1961 when I joined my husband, Mr. Charles Whyte in Lagos, and started reading the newspapers that he bought. I owe a lot of my exposure to the media.
The next was when I worked at the Kingsway Stores, Marina and interacted with the Whites and learned Nigerians in the same 1961. The most remarkable exposure was from 1964 when I joined the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank as a receptionist. The staff was few. I met more learned men and women. I admired the women and emulated them to be buying imported women foreign magazines. There I developed the habit of reading and writing.
What are some of your life challenges?
As I went along memory lane of my life, I discovered that the first and greatest challenge in my life was the day I left the loving and protective walls of my parents home to the unknown world; That home where my beloved parents shared their life and love together and conceived me. I had bored a secret from when I got to the age of reasoning, which is said to be seven. I was fascinated by the sky, which I thought touched the ground, the sun which I thought rose from the ground at the Eastern part of Ndoni and entered the River Niger or island at the Western side, and the moon that followed me about on moonlight plays. My parents had failed to take me to see those things. So, it was an adventure for me. Ironically, the virtue of growth revealed that secret to me.
The other challenge I had is on marriage and child training. I had expected to make the best marriage but ended up having three marriages which stories will make volumes. Child training gave me great challenge and it was more difficult as a single mother. The other challenge is health. But, at 86, I have evidence to thank God.
Did any of your books chronicle your life experiences?
None of my books chronicled my experiences but just in bits. I have not written my auto-biography because of my two broken marriages and the African misconception about womanhood. After observing troubled marriages in my village, I had hoped to make the best marriage but got shocked by the human nature. The woman is always on the giving side and always guilty in Africa. A relation who watched the honour accorded Princess Diana during her funeral by the British people, was disappointed. He exclaimed: “That woman should have been buried in the evil forest.”
The Black American writer, Maya Angelou, wrote her autobiography in four books without attending high school and was made a Professor. Not in Africa. Men are guilty of adultery in Europe and America, but not in Africa. Africans have copied European church marriage but not alimony. Womanhood is greatly oppressed in Africa.
At 86, and in a wheelchair, what motivates you to do what you do?
We need to understand creation to access certain issues of life. I am quite surprised at the ability God has endowed in me in disability, even the ideas. The answer of this question should go in multiple gratitude and thanksgiving to God Almighty, the creator of the universe.
What are the circumstances that confided you in a wheel chair?
My health challenge started 39 years ago when I was pregnant for my last baby. He was not in the right position and it affected my spinal cord. While that was on, I fell and injured my knees. I had total knee replacement surgery and spinal cord surgeries in South Africa in 2004 and 2005. I use crutches, walker and wheel-chair as the case maybe. My bed is my workshop. I read and write on the bed. I maintain a small garden and do flower vases of both fresh and artificial flowers. I cut fabrics on small table for my tailors to sew. I engage people to do the errands. All glory to God Almighty.
In Ndoni community where you come from, you are the only woman red cap Chief. How were you able to achieve that?
I discovered that the men are more objective than the women in my community Ndoni. I, therefore, chose to work with the men more than the women. The women are more focused on fashion parades from grassroots to federal level. I served my community from my youth and they have honoured me. I was elected Deputy President General, President General of the Community before the Chieftaincy. All glory be to God Almighty.
ences as a woman red cap Chief?
All my experiences as the only red cap Chief in Ndoni is, throughout, honour by the men folk. They never discriminated against me. It is coupled with the fact that the Ndoni woman is liberated. It has proved that if other women should work with the men, they will be honoured.
Your children grew up mostly in the North and the Southern parts of Nigeria, yet they speak your local language fluently. How were you able to achieve that?
I have been guided mostly in life by the words of my parents. This issue of my children and language started on the story that my father told me. Onitsha has been the nearest city to Ndoni from the ancient times. My father complained that Ndoni people who went to live in Onitsha, no matter the age level, couldn’t speak the Ndoni dialect within a short time. Once, he travelled to Onitsha and they anchored their canoes at the waterside. An Ndoni woman living in Onitsha, came and spoke Onitsha dialect to him. He expressed his disappointment.
I remembered my father’s story when I arrived Lagos in 1961, visited my relations and their children replied me in English. Two Ndoni elderly women spoke to me with a mixture of Ndoni and Yoruba languages. I made sure that I spoke only Ndoni language to the children. My first granddaughter who lived with me speaks Ndoni very well. My husband’s two Kalabari sisters, who lived with us, taught my first and second daughters to speak the Kalabari language. But, lamentably, parents in Ndoni speak Pidgin English to their children. Ironically, while my children speak fluent Yoruba, I don’t speak Yoruba after living in Lagos for over 30 years. Children born and bred in Lagos nowadays don’t speak Yoruba language. I blame it on modern life of living in flats instead of face-me-I-face-you apartments.
Does it bother you that we are in an age where most children are no longer abreast with their cultures? As a custodian of culture and tradition, what can be done about it?
I’m not just bothered but weeping. Not just over our children but over the adults who are no longer abreast with our traditions and culture. If our adults have been operating according to our traditions and culture, we could have governed the country effectively. We have lost focus on our traditions and culture and abused all our oath of allegiance with the Bible and Qur’an. We have failed woefully.
Why are you calling for the repositioning of Ndoni heritage?
I have been calling for the repositioning of Ndoni heritage with the hope that there could be some improvement. I will like to end up on my crusade as an African woman of lamentations over the destiny, crude and slave mentality of the black man. When I imagine the flood of books on earth, what can my writings change? I am only writing as my contribution while here on earth. What can I reposition or who can reposition Ndoni or Nigeria?
Do you also think that the country, Nigeria, needs repositioning?
Of course, the country needs repositioning. But with the state of damage, where do we start from? I am weeping for Nigeria.
What can you say about the present economic situation in the country?
What do you want me to say about the economy of an oil producing country that has produced billionaires in the midst of abject poverty? I will carry my lamentations over the present economic situation in the country to my grave. The damage is great. Thanks for the opportunity given me to pour my tears.