Ihuoma

 The Power of Words

I used to hate the gap in my teeth, until I read Elechi Amadi's novel, that centred on Ihuoma. The novel was also also part of my book club discussion. 

This was the introduction to my African writers, while I was still in secondary school. Ihuoma the protagonist captivated me, the storytelling was compelling and rich.

Photo taken in 2020.

During my Master's, I wrote a poem titled 'Ihuoma,' as part of my final thesis.  Here is part of the draft.

Ihuoma, you should have walked away

when Elechi Amadi started creating you from the mystery

of African words, long before books mattered,

because the songs were enough.

 

Elechi Amadi, beguiling and masculine,

gave you the blessing and the curse of the gap in your teeth

and named you beautiful.

 

He created you even before you knew

the meaning behind a full moon and harvest,       

when your parents were feasting with the villagers at your birth.

 

Instead of walking away

like the darkness when it meets the sun,

like hunger when it meets a yam feast,

you let Elechi crown you with chapter

upon chapter of his novel.

 

And now, 

it is not your natural charm

nor discerning eyes that matter

nor your ears that can hear a man whispering into your daughter’s ears.

 

It is the gap in your teeth,

the African woman’s jewel and Judas.

 

 

Poem by Beverley N Nsengiunva