Permit me the indulgence, once more, to use my bully pulpit to reflect on the life and times of my beloved mother, ESTHER RAMATU BISE DAZANG. You will recall that my father, JOHN BISE DAZANG, joined his ancestors on 24th April 2023, at the age of 104. Two years after, and on Monday, 19th May 2025, my mother, went the way of all mortals.
Mrs. ESTHER RAMATU BISE DAZANG was born one hundred years(100) ago to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Kwende of Pumbush, also known as Kasuwan Ali, Gindiri, in the Mangu Local Government Area(LGA) of Plateau State.
Upon her marriage to Malam JOHN BISE DAZANG, she enrolled into the Women’s School(WS) in the Missionary Compound, Gindiri. She learnt Home Economics, Domestic Science, Knitting, Home Management, Weaving, Gardening and Hygiene.
It was at the Women’s School(WS) that she honed her culinary skills and excelled in making pastries. Her CHIN CHIN was popular. Its unique flavor endeared it to customers. Her trick was to add raw cow butter(Man Shanu) and raw chicken eggs to the flour before baking. Thus, long before the concept of UNIQUE SELLING PROPOSITION(USP) became popular in business, she had invented it.
She believed that if you gave value to customers, your product would be sought after. She also underscored the fact that for a business to thrive, you needed to motivate your staff and to fix your gaze firmly on the bottom line. Every business must, eventually, create a dividend or profit. It was because of this that she retained loyal customers and connoisseurs of her CHIN CHIN for a long time. She also passed these skills to her children and grand-children. Her culinary skills were such that she consulted, pro bono, or free of charge, to the Home Economics Department.
In the days of yore, and in Mwaghavul tradition and lore, the pride of a parent was to bequeath an inheritance of cattle to your children and grand-children. When Mama’s cows were rustled in 1989, the wicked act perpetrated against her was a severe blow.
She, however, showed resilience and she was undaunted. She immediately invested her energies in all-season farming. She grew maize, Irish potatoes, cabbage and beans. She, for good measure, employed a team of loyal farm workers. The Agriculture Department of the Mangu Local Government Area(LGA) took note of her valiant efforts. It graciously factored her in its sales of fertilizers and the renting of its tractors.
In her spare time, she engaged herself by weaving GWADO, MAJANYI and TUMAKASA. The MAJANYI was a traditional baby carrier; the GWADO served as a thick covering against the cold; and the TUMAKASA was an adornment for radios, gramophones or plates of food being served to dignitaries. The three were handwoven and were unique for their durability, quality and beauty. She made sure she taught as many women as possible how to weave them.
But her real gift or genius was in story telling or rendition of tales or TATSUNIYOYI. Children would gather and she would regale them with tales using techniques of suspense and songs. These techniques enthralled the children and made them to want to listen to the tales. The tales also became etched in memory. Each tale was a homily or preachment either against injustice or bad behavior. One of the tales she was fond of telling was that of KWANTA LISA, LISA(KWANTA SHIRUI). An embellished version was rendered on BBC Hausa some thirty years ago.
Mama was a woman of grace and grit. A weaver of cloth, a nurturer of children, a skilled story teller, a maker of sumptuous and delicious homemade treats and pastries, a tiller of the soil, and a community leader.
Her life was a tapestry of service to humanity, perseverance against odds, creativity, strength and deep-rooted love. All these were woven and encapsulated in all she did and planted in the hearts of all those who knew her.
She is survived by children, grand-children and great-grand children.
My mother will be sorely missed. This is because Nigeria of the modern era lays scant premium or regard on integrity, hard work and genuine enterprise. These are values which she cherished and espoused. The country too, has, unfortunately, lost its moral compass and the high road to humanity.