Nkiru Anumudu: Back and Better

In many cases, one can only adjust to the vicissitudes of life, knowing that both the past and the future are out of one’s sphere of control. This is the case for even the swan of Nigerian high society, the merry Nkiru Anumudu. At the summit of satisfaction and sensation, she lost her husband, who had been the spring in her step. But time moves fast, and people have to follow behind or risk its rusting shadow. This is why most folks are thrilled at the fact that Nkiru Anumudu, happy ‘flower girl’ and always-sight for sore eyes, is back.

With so few personalities like Nkiru Anumudu, one can only agree with English poet William Wordsworth that the world is too much with us—that we did not see or appreciate enough blossoms and only ended up with us a few colourful ones. Nevertheless, Lady Nkiru had enough fizz and sparkle to overshadow a few galaxies. And then Death came and took away her husband, Willie Anumudu.

The demise of Willie Anumudu hit Nigeria hard. Even at 68, Anumudu was a lot like his wife, Nkiru, holding attention wherever he went. With the wife, it was her fashionable presence; with the husband, it was his charm and ownership of enormous piles of money. But Death came for Anumudu as it would for anybody, not caring that he was a billionaire businessman, the Chairman of Globe Motors, or the happy significant other of Lady Nkiru. That was in April of 2020.

It has been more than a year since, and folks say that Lady Nkiru spent all that time grieving, wondering why Death would not hold back its visit for a few more decades. Left all alone, she spent all that time deflated, dispirited, nothing like her stunning self. But time heals all wounds, they say, so Lady Nkiru’s return to the social scene is proof of that hope or an indication that it is a work in progress.

Nevertheless, high society is happy to have her back into its embrace. Only a few weeks in, and folks are already thinking up ways to get her to brighten up their social gatherings with her smile and style.