The last surviving female twin rescued by Scottish missionary Mary Slessor over a century ago in the ancient kingdom of Arochukwu, Abia State, Madam Malinda Mgbafor Okereke—popularly known as Mama Nsu Bekee—has passed away.
Her death at the age of 115 was announced in a statement released on behalf of the family by her only surviving son, Bishop Okechukwu Okereke. The statement, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Thursday, detailed the remarkable story of her life and legacy.
According to the statement, Madam Mgbafor and her late twin sister, Mgbokwo, were born during a dark era in Arochukwu’s history when twins were considered a curse and subjected to immediate execution. Their birth occurred around the year 1800, a time when the killing of twins was a widespread traditional practice across Arochukwu and surrounding communities in the Lower Cross River region.
“Such newborns were killed and cast into the evil forest shortly before Slessor arrived in the area for missionary work,” the statement recalled.
It noted that Mary Slessor, who began her missionary efforts in the region in 1876, enforced a ban on the killing of twins shortly after her arrival.
“The birth of Mgbafor and her twin sister, Mgbokwo, who passed on almost two decades ago, was not only attended to by Slessor and her team at their maternity at Obinagu, Amasu Village, Arochukwu, but the twins were subsequently adopted and fostered by Slessor herself,” the family stated.
The statement also recounted how the girls were among the first to receive formal education under missionary guidance.
“This resulted in the twins’ sound command of the English language, hence the nickname of Madam Mgbafor, ‘Mama Nsu Bekee’ (Mama that speaks English),” it explained.
Until her passing on March 5 after a brief illness, the centenarian was described as being “strong, always neatly dressed, and full of joy.”
Bishop Okereke disclosed that his mother would be laid to rest on Saturday, August 30, in her family compound at Amasu, Arochukwu, following a funeral service at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria.
The family added that the late Madam Mgbafor had three children—two sons and a daughter—but is survived by only one son, as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended relatives.
