Anybody who has ever shown interest in documented Igbo history must also be familiar with the name Elizabeth Isichei.
In the 1970s, this author wrote three books on Igbo history, in addition to other works on West Africa and Nigerian history, especially regarding their relationships with the colonialists.
However, what most of those who know her never knew was that Prof. Elizabeth is not Igbo, in fact, she is not a black person, but a white woman from New Zealand.
While she studied and worked in Oxford, England, she met an Igbo man from Asaba, Peter Isichei, a chemical pathologist whom she later married in 1964.
Through this union, the scholar, Elizabeth, born on March 22, 1939, developed an avid interest in Igbo history and documented same in her books.
The first of the books was in 1973 when she was lecturing at the University of Jos. The book The Ibo People an the Europeans: The Genesis of a Relationship to 1906 was published the same year.
This was followed by A History of the Igbo People, (1976), and another, Igbo Worlds in 1977.
She later wrote a book on Nigeria’s history: A History of Nigeria, 1983 and Studies in the History of Plateau State that came a year before that of Nigeria.
Because of the depth of her narratives of the Igbo in the past most of which were not written, by Prof. Isichei, born Elizabeth Mary Allo in Tauranga, New Zealand, many Igbo scholars and history enthusiasts had her as a figure revered.
This informed the quest for many younger Igbo people to start asking questions about the whereabouts of this erudite woman until she was located in New Zealand, her country of birth.
She lives with her sons, possibly among all her five children.
Early this month, the Igbo Community of New Zealand did what had been Nd’Igbo’s wish—to appreciate Prof. Isichei for her contribution to Igbo history, education, awareness, and dignity.
The reputed Igbo wife, mother, and grandmother attended the event seated all through due to age and received the award and recognition.
After the conferment of the honour, her first child, Peter who also lives in New Zealand appreciated the community for the honour of his mother.
Surprisingly, Peter Isichei, the head of his family of Asaba Delta State nativity addressed the gathering in fluent Igbo, appreciating the Igbo community.
He remarked in Igbo how his parents rather left the UK where they lived to return to Nigeria after the war. He noted that it was a rare direction of movement and likened it to someone leaving New Zealand today to return to Afghanistan, but that was exactly the trend his parents set.
It was during this return that Prof. Isichei got a lecturing job at the University of Jos, where she honed her passion for Igbo and Nigerian history.
He also told the story of how his people in Asaba were vehemently against him marrying a white woman because they feared that “if Peter marries a white woman, that means we have completely lost him. He won’t come and will become efulefu (irresponsible child that won’t trace his roots)
Mr. Isichei expressed gladness that his mother is so well known among the Igbo to the extent that anywhere he introduces himself, most people will ask him if he knows Elizabeth Isichei. His response in the affirmative that she is actually his mother draws another surprise of realising that the prominent Igbo historian is a white woman.
He even challenged the younger Igbo people in New Zealand to speak the Igbo language, identify with their roots, embrace Igbo culture, and show love for who they are.
PHOTS: Google Images
