The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-05-05

ullll.
Not every man in Nigeria has 10
wives, Dixie explained. Only those
who can afford it. The majority Of
men take only one wife.
Father was something Of diplo-
mat" Dixie said. He had to be to
marry so many wives. He couldn'
show overt favoritiSm TO one wife.
He would eat dinner with one Of
his families one night. another the
next II he sent meat 10 the house,
We knew he was coming for dim
ner. Actually the wives usually
acted unitedly against him. They
had a spokesman 10 make their de-
mandS. l remember one year, there
vas 20 be a festival and the wives
wanted new clothes. He refused
them and they went on a hunger
strike. Father couldn't eat outside
Of the compound. Nigerians never
do that because il shows that there
is disorder N the home. He had 10
give in.
FARMERS.
The pattern Of life for Dixie and
his Is brothers and 81 sisters was
well established. Akeme is one OF
70 villages IN the town OF Ndzuogu.
Most OF the 10000 people Of the
town are farmers. cultivating the
land allotted 10 them by the COM
runity Even the traders. crafts
men. doctors lawyers and priests
have farms. Ojike was 10 live with
his mother until puberty, then
marry. leave his fathers compound
and establish a new farm Of his
own.
He isn't sure today Why he didn't
follow tina: pattern.
My eldest brother was The first
screw bal. in the family" he said.
Against ny fathers wishes, he
went - the mission school OF the
Anglican church which had been
established IN town. He only went
.AyouEh the fourth grade but he
influenced many Of ny brothers 10
60 20 school. Ny father was against
the school because he was against
England and assinS' the church.
amer warTted 70 70 - church
beca Sc the missionaries tod him
re would De saved and so 10
heaven. But he would decide 10 80
~ church The wives want 10 so
along When ne arrived az the
church with 10 wives, the mission
.a~v would tell MN 20 come IN with
only one. Finally father said. You
can keep your church, ! Will keep
ny wives !: is difficult after you
have made love 70 20 wives 10 give
them up.
y ,h.rk started school about
1918. rish. after the first World
Wsr. never heard Of the war
until 1927 when ! bessn 20 read
history. but remember the flu
epidemic. Some men N our village
q ed. When finished elementary
school. my father asked ne to
marry
EARLY MARRIAGE
"Tha, is the right thing "a do.
7 believe IN early marriage. Blu; at
the tine : was baShtul and very
arhalo,s !or further education |
didn't Ike girls wanted 70 study
wore. -. 60 abroad You can't do
what yoa don't desire ! refused
to marry :, wasn't wisdom. y was
inclination. ~ED
There as no high school in our
town so studied with the head
'--esss-. - c.eccatk-y school
who had oeen 10 college I taught
a, the school 100. Later went 10
the normal school a. Okla. city
about % miles from my home. IN
ny freshman year ! won book
To- having the best scripture eN,
animation. I; was Aggrey Of Africa
hv Edwin Smith. Il VAS about an
African boy who went 20 America.
7. told about Columbia university.
he YMCAS. all about American
lie read Il from cover 20 cover.
From that day wanted 20 come
10 America.
Il saw my first white man in
1920 when | was young boy. he
VAS bishop ~ the Anglican
church who came 10 our missionary
SCAoci was afraid 20 go near
him he looked so strange MS nose
was pushed out, his lips we're
y shed in Everybody stared a,
hin Bur ! was fascinated by his
English Y fascinated ne that some
one could make those sounds and
hey would mean something. When