The Reading of the Will

Funerals are usually the time when family members come together to bury their departed loved one. In Nigeria, the death of Nkechi the family matriarch, forces members of her family to reassess their relationship with her and each other. Of the siblings present, only Ejituru was given birth by her. Six were children borne for her by a girl (Onyeka) who she married and gave her husband to produce children for her given her difficulties with pregnancy which meant that she could not give her husband a son to carry his line. This funeral was the first time these children were together as adults. Despite being the object of her siblings’ acrimony, Ejituru hoped to ensure family unity despite the absence of Nkechi. Did she succeed?