Okpata aku: A title for the contemporary Igbo wife -By Ezinwanne Onwuka

As a child, I learnt that the translation of Mrs in the Igbo language is Oriaku.

However, while in primary 5, my teacher told us (the class) that Oriaku is wrong. She said the right word is Odoziaku.

It was a brief lecture wherein she used the literal translation of the two words to explain the difference between them. Oriaku means eater of a man’s/husband’s wealth and Odoziaku means keeper of a man’s/husband’s wealth.

It isn’t difficult to understand how Oriaku originated. Traditionally, the work of a woman/wife was confined to the home – the kitchen and bedroom, most especially. She is not allowed to work and earn money or anything related. She is just meant to sit at home, satisfy the man’s sexual needs, give birth to children, cook and eat food; and wear expensive beads and wrappers.

The metamorphosis from Oriaku to Odoziaku is an interesting one. Oriaku is interpreted as liability in the 21st century. In this age, no man wants to marry a liability. A liability, in this context, refers to a woman who has high taste for good things but has no zeal to contribute her quota (financially) towards the well being of the family.

Mrs Igwe, my primary 5 teacher and her ilk feel that they are not just consumers and wasters of men’s funds. To them, they, and women generally, should be regarded as keepers of a man’s wealth, or, if you like, managers of their husband’s/man’s money. That is, women contribute their quota to the family by managing resources (money).

In the African traditional society, women were dependent on men. Hence, Oriaku and Odoziaku (eater and keeper of a man’s wealth, respectively). Such semantics are however being transformed (I resisted the urge to say has become obsolete).

Women have evolved from being merely eaters and/or managers of wealth to being creators and/or bringers of wealth (Okpata aku). Gone are the days when women are dependent on the man to bring food to the table, interested only in spending money. These days, they bring food to the table as well.

Okpata aku is the title that clearly befits the contemporary Igbo wife, who creates wealth, manages it and knows how best to enjoy it.

If the designation of women as eaters (Oriaku) is to be replaced by bringers/creators (Okpata aku), then this is asking for a redefinition of women. It requires regarding a wife as an equal partner in generating resources.

Ezinwanne Onwuka, Cross River State.
ezinwanne.dominion@gmail.com
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