That was Chizzy’s opening line when she told me that her friends now call her “Igbo to the Future Generations” whenever they want to tease her.
And the funniest part? She said the way they pronounce the Igbo like Īgbò (weed) is so annoying! 😂😂
I said to her, “My darling, that is not an insùlt. That is a badge of honour!” Just correct the pronunciation and tease them back.
Her friends have obviously been seeing all the videos of the book on TikTok ( I don’t understand what they’re doing there). Chizzy isn’t on TikTok, so she asked me to show her the videos I posted.
But honestly, beneath the laughter is something I really want my children to understand.
Never be ash@med of your roots.
Our language is not something to hide.
Our culture is not something to minimise.
Our heritage is not something to apologise for.
And for Chizzy, there is an even deeper reason to be proud.
Her grandfather and her mother are the authors of this book. She has watched the journey unfold, supported the promotion and is herself part of this story.
One day, I want her to look back and say:
“My grandfather and my mother didn’t just talk about preserving our heritage. They did something about it, and I was there.” ❤️
So, Chizzy, let your friends call you Igbo to the Future Generations. 😂
Own it.
Wear it proudly.
You are part of the legacy!
✍️ Amara Ann Unachukwu
