Sometimes, when I take a retrospective look between now and those days we grew up in “Old Owerri,” I still affirm that the old days were better.
You may wonder: how can the old times be better than now, when we have colour television, handsets, money transfers, modern and cosy vehicles, tall buildings, more tarred roads, etc.?
Unfortunately, despite what many may see as modernity and the jet age, with beautiful environments made more decent with innovations and science, I would still give one arm for the joyous and natural times we had in our Old Owerri.
We had our fun without fear of the unknown. There was trust among peers and less envy.
The reason was because, though there existed competition, you always knew where you landed and accepted it because merit was sacrosanct.
And we knew each other, up to our parents, who knew us all too.
Every parent, as a matter of law, had to know who their children’s friends were.
My family first lived on Kagha Street and later moved to No. 4 Christ Church Close, after the newest four-storey building near White House Hotel was constructed, from there, on to our own house in Prefab Estate.
Then, we knew who owned which vehicle in Owerri and what he did for a living.
Just hanging a television pole attracted attention from everyone.
People lived within their income, were satisfied and happy, including their children.
When you visited a friend and he wasn’t around, you simply picked his door key from the lintel and opened the door.
If you were spending the night, the mother would feed you.
In Owerri, there were a few modern houses then, but life moved on, boisterous and vibrant.
Major roads and streets included Tetlow, Mbaise, Wetheral, Okigwe, Douglas, and Royce.
No girl would ever attempt to visit you at home, and you dared not visit any in her own house.
It would take months for a girl to acknowledge your advances.
Our meeting points were either at “public taps” while fetching water, usually around midnight when Water Corporation pumped water, or at the State Library, where your studies and seriousness with your academics won you the attention of the opposite sex.
Our books were our focal points, even though we socialized too.
We exchanged novels like James Hadley Chase, Agatha Christie, etc.
You could almost attempt suicide for failing JAMB or WAEC while your colleagues passed and entered university before you.
Nearly all secondary schools were equal in academic standards, no matter their location, except for those in Owerri town, which were usually preferred as first choice in Common Entrance.
Schools were known by their nicknames.
We had OCOGRAM in Mbieri, HOGOSCO, OGIMGBO, ECOL, all in Owerri town; St. CATA in Nkwerre, ACGUINAS in Anara, Sabastin Academy, Emekuku, Ejiogu Memorial, Egbu, SAHACO, NGWA High, all in Aba; OGS and NGOR High in Ngor Okpala, etc.
We had “Commercial Schools,” which we saw then as places for those who failed Common Entrance or whose parents couldn’t afford secondary school.
There was OZIMS Commercial at Nwaorie axis and CITY Commercial at Amaram extension.
Children’s Day, Independence Day, and Inter-House Sports in schools were like our Christmas and New Year celebrations put together.
They were days principals and parents left us, at least eight hours out of their sights, and we utilised it well.
We prepared for these occasions like there wouldn’t be a tomorrow.
Apart from saving money for JUMP or DISCO, they were days to display our best clothes.
We wore school uniforms but changed after.
To look clean, we visited places like Soul Scissors Barbing Salon, Tetlow Road, for perfect haircuts.
That was the only barbing salon in Owerri that had an electric clipper, and they charged high.
If you visited two times, you got one free haircut.
Latest fashions then included jeans (Amos, Easy), Crazy Horse, Velveteen, Yobris, Acapulco shirts, silk, etc.
We kept records through pictures taken with Kodak and Polaroid cameras, which we called “Wait and Take.”
After the march pasts held at the old stadium, Tetlow Road, the next thing was to enter O’Town and “rock” before 6 p.m. to head back to dormitory, or prepare for suspension.
But we must go to “Afternoon JUMP” before returning to school.
Hotels in Owerri made heavy sales on such days.
We had Gulf Course, Awareness, Kakadu, Chesside, James, Ambassador, Domino, Third House in Emekuku, Tourist Centre, Pelly, etc.
You could go to Angelo, Unit One, or Kemo if you wanted pastries.
The headquarters of entertainment then in Owerri was Afurola Night Club located at White House Hotel, owned by late Eze Philip Nwosu, where you had to save enough money for a ticket.
Geraldo Pino and Bina Kofi usually performed. It was for “big boys.”
And we would return to tell our friends who couldn’t make it what they missed.
If you grew up in Owerri, you would also remember Aforo and Coconut Inn. Don’t you? What of Rex Cinema at Royce Road?
Talking about cinemas, we were okay with our parents’ black-and-white televisions until colour brands started coming into vogue.
We enjoyed our movies, like Bruce Lee, Hawaii Five-O, Sky Force, Hotel de Jordan, Samaja, Jagua, Dallas, Charlie’s Angels, Zebrudaya, Jango, and others.
We also enjoyed Brazilian League. The only player I can remember is Zeze.
The common drinks included everlasting Coca-Cola, Green Sands Shandy, Champion Beer, Golden Guinea, Dubic, Royal Crown, Dr Pepper, etc.
Available cigarettes were St. Moritz, Gold Leaf, Marlboro, Dunhill, Three Rings, Bicycle, Erinmore, Flight, Benson & Hedges.
If you wanted to get higher than these stuffs, you visited Okon, located inside Mami Market, Shell Camp; Aluma at Wetheral Road; Paddy Yama in Naze; Wazobia in Agbala; or Nda Jonel (na ime Ohee!), you know!
For the best palm wine, you visited IGBOKWE, Alvan Quarters, by Amakohia/Orlu Road.
We hardly joked with music, as we were always alert for new “releases.”
Shalamar, Fela, The Whispers, Bob Marley, Chris Okotie, Jide Obi, Onyeka Onwenu, Bongos Ikwue, Osibisa, Jimmy Cliff, The Brothers Johnson, The Commodores, Michael Jackson, MC Hammer, Felix Liberty, Christy Essien, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Boney M, Earth, Wind & Fire, Barry White, The Smokies, Rod Stewart, John Cougar, Boston, Curtis Blow, Lijadu Sisters, Donna Summer, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Grace Jones, Teddy Pendergrass, Kool and the Gang, Sir Warrior, Alloy Anyanwu, Kabaka, Joe nez, Ederi Chukwueke, Abaraka, Olololo, Paulson Kalu, Ras kimono, Majek Fashek, Marvin Gaye, Billy Ocean, Odyssey, etc.
Dancing styles included Electric Shock, Shuffling, Breakdance, Blues, and Wholesale.
Owerri had a known recording studio then: La Bamba along School Road.
We can’t forget Beaton (Vitalis Ajumbe) and Alan B, who were the major and best DJs in town.
I remember Awila, Martin Momo, Major Otuka, Kofi Nnaj, Bob and Eze Nnodi, Practicals, July Best, Innocent Boy, Massacre, Ekeledo (Agenda), Fusion (Toto), Saboo, Topscat, Alibuto, Ikeotuonye, Lazoo, Poto, Broken, Nna Meen, Ngozi & Chinyere (Umu Ejimma).
I also remember “World Man”, Ndaa Feli Abii and Bro Ken, who taught us “Guy.”
“Guy” was to have good dress sense and be bold among the sexes, know how to toast and do Talking To (TT).
Not many families had vehicles then. Those of the privileged had to find a way to “roll out” their parent’s car, or we hired one at Mbaise Road for a few hours and returned it.
Running away with the vehicle didn’t even cross our minds.
Popular brands were Toyota Crown, Citroën, Datsun, Panel Van, Lada, Renault, Peugeot, Range Rover, Rio, Land Rover, Passat, Opel, Beetle, Fiat, Honda, Kawasaki, Vespa, Mobylette, etc.
I vividly remember the white-coloured Range Rover belonging to Chief Loveday Ememe, my uncle’s friend and a commissioner then, who usually parked it in front of his house at Commissioners’ Quarters, Shell Camp.
The only available swimming pool was at Shell Camp Secondary School until Mbakwe built Concord Hotel.
Attending football matches was a must, at the old stadium fenced round with zinc.
We either scaled the fence or followed a military man to enter free.
There was nothing like Premiership here. Who had time for that!
Our clubs were Spartans, P&T Owerri, Ministry of Works FC, Elemats Ubomiri, Trojans Owerri.
Outside Owerri were Asabatex, Standard of Jos, Ewekoro Babes, Bendel Insurance, Flamingos of Benin, Leventis of Ibadan, IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan, Rangers International Enugu, Vasco Da Gama of Enugu, Enyimba of Aba, PZ FC Aba, Stationery Stores Lagos, Racca Rovers Kano, Calabar Rovers, Sharks of Port Harcourt, DIC Bees of Kaduna, etc.
My stars were in Spartans: Leo Nkwocha (Atila), Emma Ajunwa (Piccolo), Ben Akanu (Pele), Nicholas Ukadike (Thunder), Evans Ikwuegbu (Mpoto), Sidney Ugorji, Cardinal Ugwuegbu (Don’t Dirty), Jerry Chukwueke, Sylvester Oparanozie (Bahama), Ik Madukairo (Man Mountain), Emeliano Momokobo, Frank Njemanze, Ugo Harrison, Eugene Ohuabunwa, Kevin Uwana, Jonny Nwadioha, Goddy Ebomuche, Amadi Nwokocha, Goddy Agbarakwe, Peter Erege, Kelechi Emetole (Caterpillar), Ben Nwosu (Zico), and others.
I recognise late Chim Chim Pepper, the number one fan of Spartans FC.
I’m glad Owerri has developed, and is developing, into a bigger city. Shops and plazas are everywhere now.
Then we had Chanrai Supermarket at Okigwe Road, where the PDP office is located presently; GayGill Supermarket at Wetheral Road; Ghana Stores at Douglas (owned by the Chukwuezis); Amadi Gun Store on School Road (by Willy Amadi’s family); Donna Summer and Tonnison Electronic Shops; Tims Printers.
We need a replica of SULO, an environmental company Mbakwe brought, that made Owerri sparkling clean.
Although development and science have made the city look more exciting, much of her historical artefacts are gone to give way to civilisation.
I still remember the Johnnie Walker Clock at Ama JK Roundabout, which survived even the Biafran War.
And lest I forget, in our growing days, we only knew of Assumpta Cathedral, Bishop Unegbu, and Bishop Nwankiti at Egbu.
Things have really changed.
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