Sunday 11th May- at last my CHEIFTANCY day!

Martha, Eunice and I left at 8 to be with Benson for 9 to be able to go to the service he has each Sunday with the poor from his village. We came in when he was going out and ended up sitting in his house watching movies till almost 11 before hearing anything. I was feeling slightly annoyed because I knew he had invited people for 11 on the card. The destitute were off hiding somewhere and no one could locate their service. And my clothing to wear to their service looked so beautiful and it was getting wasted inside the house.

Amaudo came but we waited for hours for King Joseph to turn up. The network services were all down so phone calls were pretty impossible. I changed into my george wrapper and white blouse for the ceremony. I felt so grown up stepping out in such fine clothing. The white lace shirt resembled the top of a wedding gown, the make up painted my face fine enough for television, the shoes made me stand better and more feminine and the canopy added two or three feet to my height. Because of the time delay they decided to make the service as short as possible.

I was presented a certificate and given the title ADA DI NA MBA I then presented a short speech to say thank you and to outline what I had done in Amaudo to explain why I had been made a chief. Then an interpretator gave my speech again in Igbo and I went outside to dance. I was slightly wondering what had happened to my horse tail, fan and crown I had been promised but I decided it was a gift so whatever happens I will be grateful for.

After the ceremony we danced back to the house. Amaudo left to race it back in time for dining because there was no food provided. I thought it was a bit odd because Benson had said invite loads of people because there will be plenty to eat. I then found out it was traditional for me to bring the food so that was a bit frustrating because I could easily have done that if I knew I was suppose to do that.

Then we met up with the destitute. It was pretty nice everyone was singing and dancing for me. Most of them were pretty poor, there were blind, and people with physical disabilities but they all had each other and their families around them and belonged to the community so where not destitute. It made me wonder if Benson had really spent enough time at Amaudo talking to the residents and staff to fully understand who we care for and their position before we trace their homes, medicate them and modify their behaviour to the point they can be rehabilitated home and can learn a trade to support themselves. Anyway he tries a lot for Amaudo and respects the work. These Igberee people are his own people and it is good that he is doing all these things for him because so many people get money and forget their roots and their people. As their new chief I gave them some money for feeding so they were happy.

Oh i almost forgot to mention that Benson's gift to me was to replace my male goat that died wiht one of his. This new male is black, looks pretty strong and is a year or so older so i feel pretty lucky!!!!