Zoe Octavia Obazee

Lagos, Nigeria

Call me, Zoe!

 

To be born in Freetown, is to identify with that ancient Cotton Tree and that my father is Liberian is a connection to that former Football Star, George Weah, who today is president.

 

It was time to give me a name.

 

Paapa: We shall call her Zoe, that is my mother’s name.

 

Maama: No! Don’t call her that! The meaning is unpleasant in my culture.

 

Paapa: But my mother was Queen in our little village!

 

Maama: In our hometown, all Zoe’s end woefully!

 

Paapa prevailed and the name stuck.

 

Years later, my family would survive the Civil War in Sierraleone and relocate to Nigeria, that giant nation of Africa.

 

Head teacher: New student! What is your name?

 

Me: My name is Zoe Pama, Sir

 

Head Teacher: Wow! Your parents must be great evangelists to give you such a name!

 

Me: What do you mean?

 

Head Teacher: Do you not know that Zoe is the Hebrew Word for the Divine kind of life that God lives? I would give my next child that name!

 

I stand before the mirror and reintroduce myself: I am Zoe Pama, the queen, the one who ends well, the girl with the Divine life!