Pa Anyiam Anthony Duruaku is widely regarded as one of the world's oldest men. He tells ANGELA NKWO-AKPOLU, at his country home in Umuduru Umuchoko, in Obazu Mbieri, in the Mbaitoli local government area of Imo State, his story with impeccable mental alertness and sight. Standing at over 6ft, though now slightly bent, Pa Anyiam recalls how he sewed clothes for girls to wear when Queen Elizabeth visited Calabar, amongst other stories.
Tell us about your childhood
I don't know the exact date I was born, but when I was a teenager, they were constructing Holy Trinity Church, Obazu, Mbieri, in 1915, because I helped carry blocks and sand as a volunteer. All these places were thick forest, and there were no houses here then; we lived way inside and far away from here. During the unveiling of the Enugu stadium, I was one of the boys that sprinted, I won a prize. Find out when the stadium was commissioned. I was there. During Queen Elizabeth's visit to Nigeria, I was already married with children. I was a fashion designer then. I was one of the tailors who made dresses for Calabar girls to wear when Queen Elizabeth visited.
Tell us about your experience during the Aba Women's revolt.
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Yes, Mbieri women were part of the Aba Women's revolt. Then my mother, Lolo Uzoamaka, told me that they went to riot on Aba road. She returned in the morning with a club stick with sharp ends at the head. I was well over 10 years of age then.
Significant happening as a child
Well, the most popular news at the time was about the NCNC, Obafemi Awolowo, and Tafawa Balewa. I was attached to an Irishman, J. R. Lyord, a welfare officer at the Reformatory school in Enugu, for training, because I was sent there for what they called 'anger management' to cool my brain. I had fought with a boy at a public water source in Port Harcourt that required energy. It is what you call a public tap now. Not just the manpower tap, but way tougher, you had to be strong to use the tap so that you could overpower others to fetch water, else you wouldn't get a chance to. I beat the boy thoroughly to show superiority. After the fight, I recall that his people reported to the Police and were arrested, and then I was later charged in court. There, the Magistrate said I was a minor, so he listened to the case in his office. Afterwards, I was sent to the Reformatory, which is now called the Juvenile Home. I served as his houseboy. He used to take me along when travelling to Lagos in his Morris Minor car then. He used to go to the House of Representatives, and the Biafran War had not happened, nor were there any discussions about it. Then the Police used a club, not a baton, that had a sort of crown on the head. When they went into the hall for their meetings, we children stayed in the car. I remember that as they walked out of the hall, some of the attendees used to say that the North must govern the North and the South. People who attended that meeting included Tawafa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Obafemi Awolowo.
Nigeria then...
Then, Nigeria was driving on the right-hand side. Governance was okay, and people went about their business without fear of any harm. There were a few pickpockets, but nothing brutal like armed robbery or other heinous crimes. We were not scared, no indiscriminate guns display or shooting. Our policemen did not bear arms.
I later followed my uncle to Calabar in Cross River State, where I later settled down as a man. We went with those long vehicles, and it was driven by Uju from Nkwerre, similar to Molue but different.
Tell us about infrastructure, like roads?
The roads were not all constructed; some were asphalted, but we didn't have the types of potholes we have today.
Experience of Biafra war
Biafra war was a recent event. I was married and had finished having children before the war broke out.
What about your family life?
I married my wife from Calabar, where I later settled. Unfortunately, my first set of sons and daughters have since died. This is my son, who recently retired from the State civil service and didn't even meet any of them. So basically, I had to start giving birth to another set of children again. I had nine children altogether, but lost five.
Tell us your experience as a young man.
I grew up in Calabar, and I did everything expected. Of course, I chased girls like my mates then; I had my fair share before marriage. Or how do you live in Calabar then and say you wanted to be celibate, where the city was filled with a bevvy of beautiful, curvy women and girls? However, I was very careful not to impregnate any before I got married. I didn't have any children outside of wedlock. When I asked for her hand in marriage, her people refused when they found out I wasn't actually a Calabar man because I speak their language fluently. However, with several appeals and promises, they agreed and gave their permission.
I loved my wife, and I lived in peace with my wife. I actually call her my sister because she gave me peace. She died in 2020 and when her people came for the burial, they penalised my children for saying she was 95 years because her relatives insisted she was over 100 years. And you know, those years, a man was always well older than his wife, not like now, when agemates marry each other. Of course, I broke some hearts and experienced some too. I left this village, Umuduru, Obazu Mbieri in Umuchoko as a small boy. My uncle took me to live with him in Calabar. In fact, on our way there, I defecated on myself to show you I was quite small. I lived in Calabar for several decades and speak their language fluently. It's actually my family's language; all my children speak the language fluently.
I married my wife when she was 15 years old and sent her to the fattening room for a year; she didn't come out to the open. There she was, prepared to be a wife, eating and just learning how to glow. It was after one year that we had the party, and she was released to live with me as my wife. Unfortunately, I have forgotten the dates, and her siblings have also died. But their children are alive and can help to verify dates from their parents' angle.
What's your favourite food?
I love Lipton because I learnt it from my master, then Mr J.R. Lyod, who I served at the Reformatory school. He loved toast bread and Lipton, and I adopted it; it's still my favourite food. I eat garri with any soup.
Any health issues?
Oh no, Anyiam (him) doesn't have any health issues. I used to drink beer a little as a young man but it's been a few years I had any. I was a sprinter in sports as a young man. To date, I don't have a pot belly. I smoked cigarettes as a young man but later stopped.
Any reason for a long life?
What I have learnt is that whatever you do, be truthful at all times. Don't ever sit in the company of people planning to do harm, forcefully collect another person's thing, don't lie against another, or embezzle another person's money. The most important part is not to ever kill. Don't spill blood because if you do, you will pay for it, and God won't accept your prayers, and neither will you enjoy a long life. I can't explain why God kept me alive to this day. I'm a member of the Spiritual Church of Christ, which is the Eternal Sacred Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim of Nigeria.
What makes you happy?
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I'm so joyful every time my grandchildren and great-grandchildren come home for the holidays. I'm very happy. I think I have 27 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. I want to be remembered as a just man. And I want God to keep my children and offspring.
What was your experience when your wife died?
I take life the way I see it since the demise of my wife, who turned my sister. No, I don't want another wife, please don't even say it. I'm okay and fulfilled. I still feed my hen and chicken every day. I bathe myself and still take occasional strolls. All my friends have passed, so I don't go out often.
What's your everyday chore?
When I wake up, I call upon God to bless my day. I always thank Him for waking me up and that his plans for me that day be fulfilled. I boil hot water to bathe. Sometimes, I don't like to disturb people, but my grandchildren are here. They boil water for my bathe and then I go in. I always bathe myself. I don't go to the farm because I'm not used to that, as I used to be a tailor in Calabar. Sometimes I read my Bible, and at other times I study my coupon code and forecast. I sometimes send someone to go play the coupon code for me; sometimes I win, sometimes I lose. I no longer go to church because the vehicle my daughter brought to convey me has broken down, so I don't go far.
Any death wish?
No I don't have any. God created me and also decided that I should be known worldwide at this time. He created me and knows everything. He has done me well, and there is nothing extra I can ask for.
Maybe the Guinness World Record Team should recognise you as the oldest man in the world?
Let them come and interview me, I'm ready to take them to my inlaws place in Calabar to ascertain dates and records. It would be good if I were recognised as the oldest person on Earth.
