Emeka Esogbue

The Story Behind "Ezigbonmadu Nwa Okoasia": Uncovering the Legacy of an Ibusa Woman By Emeka Esogbue Did you ever listen to your parents make the sarcastic phrase of "Ezigbonmadu Nwa Okoasia as some of us did while growing up?" I grew up fo become familiar with the phrase "Ezigbonmadu Nwa Okoasia," a sarcastic expression that conveyed irony or mocking humour. My mother and other Ibusa parents would often use this phrase, followed by a stern reprimand or even a beating because it was a common reaction to misbehaviour, like disobeying rules and other offences. As a little boy, the phrase piqued my curiosity, and I recently had a conversation with a lady from Ibusa who mentioned "Ezigbonmadu Nwa Okoasia." To my surprise, she revealed that it was the name of a real person, an Ibusa woman who lived in the past. Although I was familiar with the Okoasia family of Ogboli, the prefixed Ezigbonmadu often puzzled me. Researching further into the lady's ...