It has all the fluidity of the typical postmodern event. Fluidity is how we can understand how an event staged to mark the 50th birthday of Madam turned into a high emotional breakdown into a crying session for relations lost in her absence, a family and communal reunion (with old school mates travelling from far to join) and, above all, the poetic moment of the sole daughter of the house, Favour Ella.
All together!
The usual crowdedness of Saturdays disabled Intervention from full presence. The reporter had left by the time of the ascendancy of the eaglet poetess. But Ene Ede, gender activist and key guest at the event captured the power of the delivery that any story on the event had to be pended till the testimony to Favour Ella’s literary transformation was received.
In the end, it is no longer clear who this report is celebrating between the mother at 50 or the daughter who delivered the testimony on her mother. It is not just a celebration of one of our own but a tribute to creativity and reflexivity. Before anyone complains of big grammar, reflexivity is simply about turning back on ourselves to check on what we are doing. It is the best evidence of an educated person. There is reflexivity in the testimony below in the inferences, scoring and intertextual alignment.
But then, let’s begin from the beginning. After safely being away from the country for eight full years, including staying off being the remit of Covid-19 and all that in a foreign land and during which she turned 50, Mrs Maria Ella considered that nothing should stop her from thanking God by marking the birthday. After all, no one marks 50th birthday twice.
What a quartet!
Attendance at the August 9th, 2025 turned out a mixed grill of diplomat colleagues of her husband, Ambassador Nick Ella, academics, gender activists, community elements, housewives, journalists and so on. They all made it hip.
The testimonies were very favorable. This was the point the daughter stole the show with the text reproduced below. Quite a lot of others spoke and all were in favour of madam celebrant.
There was the emotional dimension too. Mrs Maria’s family had lost three members in the past few years. The birthday was also the moment of overcoming, a process which extended to some people crying openly. But it brought the family together again, with an open recognition of her superintendence of the transitions.
There was an Idoma dance and there was the session the women warriors took over and monopolised the floor, dancing out a style that held dancing to ransom decades back. Even Intervention took to the floor at a point with an inimitable quartet. The convention disallowing the reporter from also being a newsmaker means that some of us will not be seen in the pictures. However, it is a dance rescheduled to be completed at some point in future. That was one of the frills of the occasion.
Powerful overlookers!
To have been away for years and to still be able to pull the crowd at the event suggests a Mrs Ella touch this community has not taken note of. It had better done so!
When there is so much packed into an off-the-cuff speech (framing, identity, self-knowledge, culture, family, authority, motherhood, spatial consciousness, standards, etc) jotted on a handset by a daughter, then the text deserves to be broadcast to a wider audience because discourse has entered into it. So, here we go with Miss Favour Ella on her mum:
Good evening, everyone!
First of all, can we all just agree that Maria Ella is looking way too good to have had this many birthdays? I mean, if someone didn’t tell you her age, you’d probably guess she’s in her 20s.
Now, I know what you’re thinking “Wait… didn’t Maria’s birthday already happen… on June 17th?” Yes, yes it did. But let’s be honest, my mom is so fabulous that one day is simply not enough. So here we are, because her energy is worth celebrating all year round. Basically, she’s like Christmas, but with better food and sassier comebacks.
Mrs Ella
Mom is the kind of person who can turn a regular Tuesday into a full-blown party. She’s got that magnetic personality — warm, loving, but also capable of giving that look when you’re about to make a questionable life decision. You know the one, the silent warning that says, “Try it… and see what happens.”
But beyond the laughter and her signature one-liners, my mom has taught me so much, like how to stand up for myself, how to stay strong when life gets messy, and most importantly, how to keep family at the center of everything.
She’s also taught us that style isn’t about what you wear, but how you carry yourself… although I will say, she somehow manages to look like she just stepped off a runway even when she’s just running errands.
So today, even though it’s not technically June 17th, we’re making an exception — because Maria Ella deserves extra celebrations, extra cake, and extra love.
To the woman who lights up every room she enters, who can make you laugh until your cheeks hurt, and who loves with her whole heart.
Mommy, your laughter, your wisdom, and your timeless beauty. May the years ahead be filled with joy, adventure, and plenty more reasons for us to throw you another party.
Happy Birthday, Mom!
