Prof Emeritus Uche Azikiwe is the surviving wife of Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe
We had invited her to see our Play ZIK written and directed by the very brilliant Dr Erojikwe Ikechukwu at the Shell Hall of the Muson Centre
The Hall was filled and the Obi of Onitsha had come with a full entourage and the atmosphere was charged
The late Segun Awolowo was in the Hall and Zik’s sons were also in attendance with a lot of prominent Nigerians
The first show had gone on so well that some of the audience tried to sneak in again to see the second show
Just as Olisa Adibua climbed on the stage to open the Show, Prof still looking very beautiful beckoned me
Duke, please don’t show the scene where we met ooooo.
I laughed and told her that we had already shown it in the first show and that I suspected that that was the reason a lot of those people were waiting for the second show
Apparently, folklore tells us that Dr Azikiwe in one of his many tours went to Prof Uches village and the damsels came out to welcome him with dance
The then lithe and extremely beautiful damsel Uche wowed the great Zik of Africa with not only her dance steps but with her wonderful derier which according to the story was very very big and enticing
So, here she was, a full Prof Emeritus and over 80years old sitting in a hall filled with young people whose fathers were not even born when it happened worrying about her backside being the focus of the Play
I said – Don’t worry ma, even I loved the scene as we got an actress with a very beautiful backside and she knocked me on my head
The scene was one of the best in Nigerian theatre as Ikuku really came through
Spliced with the melodious tunes from Nelly Uchendu and the lithe dance steps of the wonderful actress who played her, the Hall gaped in wonderment
The actress moved her backside in such glowing terms, giving the audience a full experience of what the great Zik must have seen that wonderful day in her village
The crowd at the end erupted into massive applause and Prof Uche smiled and was happy
I now took the stage, looked straight into his eyes, and said…
Now I know why Dr Azikiwe was losing elections up and down, na you distract am
She almost fell off her seat in laughter. The Obi of Onitsha laughed so hard that his crown almost fell and she was given a standing ovation
She needn’t worry cos she grew from that little damsel the great Zik picked from the village to become one of the greatest intellectuals Nigeria has ever produced earning her the Emeritus status
Zik will be playing the Shaw Theatre in London on August 15th
Sponsored by Lebara Nigeria, Flutterwave, Orangeline, Access Bank UK, Fidbank, Providus Bank, First Bank
Send someone this ticket purchase link if you can’t attend
https://shaw-theatre.com/whats-on/zik-of-africa
Thanks
Duke of Shomolu
Last modified: June 10, 2026
