My Origins

M y full name's Frances Ekanem Uku.

Frances, incidentally, is a Latin derivative of a word meaning 'freedom.' The middle is my Efik name. The Efik, to whom my mother belongs ethnically, are a group of Nigerian nationals who are situated in the South-East of the country. Nigeria (and you should cower in shame if you didn't already know this) is a populous, bountifully-endowed nation on the West Coast of Africa. And it is like California in many respects, the weather is divine, and the people are friendly and hospitable.

I suppose my parents, Frederick Uku and Eyamba Harrison, decided to defy convention by giving me that name as opposed to an Ibo one, even though my father is of Ibo ethnicity. In Nigeria, you are automatically from the region your father was born, unlike in the US where you are from whatever state you were born. My dear pa actually comes from Arochuku, also located in the South-East of the country. History and literature inform me the Aro are an extremely powerful bunch, you really don't want to get into their bad books. My grandfather, Ekpeyong Henry Harrison, chooses to refer to me as 'Mmayen'(meaning something along the lines of 'child-mother'-that I am actually my mother's mother). Intriguing, no?

I was born on the 5th of June, 1979- the first of five children. I was educated primarily in Lagos, Nigeria, but also in the United Kingdom. In fact, I consider most of my upbringing to be English. My accent is a constant source of misery for me in these jolly old United States, where everyone thinks my pronouncing my name as 'Frahnces' as opposed to the American 'Fraences' is cool. Beats me. My cousins live presently in England, and are graced with my presence as often as I can make it over there. Just another place on the globe that I call 'home'.

More to follow shortly, but take a look at this and tell me what you think!