Simon Ottenberg 100th Birthday Tributes from Nigeria

Tributes poured in from friends in Nigeria sending well-wishes to Simon Ottenberg on the occasion of his 100th birthday, June 6, 2023. Some excerpts:He was a unique Anthropologist who came for an academic research work and ended up a Naturalized citizen of the community-American Ehugbo man. He showed us” to us and to the Anthropological World (ENYO MBA).—Horii Gabriel Anigo AgwoTrying to pigeon-hole what Prof. Ottenberg did for Ehugbo (Afikpo) through his works is a mission impossible. Taste and see by reading some of his numerous books and articles in intellectual and academic world journals.—Horii Anigo AgwoYour work and writings placed Nde Ehugbo on the “sociological map” of the world … [and] provided the ground- swell for future culture and tradition. Thank you.—Ichie Chief Christopher Abagha Egwu and Essa Chief Oko MichaelThe archaeological records of Ehugbo cannot be complete without your historical and anthropological contributions in notable publications and libraries globally.—Hon. Chief Okogwu Ogbonna (Sunny) and Sir Dr. Gabriel O. OgwuThe women folk of Afikpo (Iyom Ehugbo) are obliged for this privilege to say: Your contributions to the growth and achievement of the land of Ehugbo (Afikpo) can never be forgotten.—Patricia E. Azubuike, PresidentSome people are born great, Others achieve greatness by hard work; Some attain greatness by Providence; You are a consortium of the above virtues.—Ada Mrs. Cecelia Akpu Ohuche and Ada Lady Cecelia Ikpeghe OkoleYou have achieved so much in your 100 years and inspired the lives of many of us who are blessed to know you.—Idume O. Idume, President, and Uro Akpo, Secretary General, Afikpo Youth Presidents AssociationYour years have been impactful. Your books are revealing. Your contributions towards the advancement of the frontiers of human knowledge are outstanding.—Richard Inya, Chairman, Association of Nigerian AuthorsYou deserve every precious memory.This is an incredible milestone, but not as incredible as you are.—Jesse Ogbonnia Oko, President, Goodheart Foundation for the Less PrivilegedYou remain the only intellectual Anthropologist to catapult Afikpo culture and tradition … to international limelight … [that] bear eloquent testimonies to your excavation of facts and deflation of fallacies on the way of life of the Afikpo people.—Ogbonnia Nwachi, 21st Principal, Government Secondary School AfikpoSeventy one years ago … you abandoned the comforts to commit yourself to a project, the completion of which is a monument in the intellectual world.—HRH Ezeogo Ewah Elechi, Ohaisu Autonomous CommunityWe became friends at the University of Washington, Seattle. It was during registration [1980] that the person saw the name Afikpo and called you on the phone and you answered, “Bring him here.” Ever since, we have been friends till date.—Emeritus Prof. (Dr.) Onikara Matthew Okpani AluIt is noteworthy that you had options to explore other parts of the world … but you chose Afikpo to berth your ship, as it were. You had, in that regard, showcased Afikpo to the world …—John Otu, PhDBekee Ibe Okwu, Ehugbo is infinitely grateful to you for putting her on the international archaeological, anthropological, and cultural landscape.—Ugo Agada-UyahOur dear Professor Simon Ottenberg, looking back to history to 1952, when you stepped on African soil and, ultimately, Afikpo (Ehugbo) … little did we know the extent you would place us in world reckoning traditionally and culturally. Your heydays efforts … remain a record.—Egwu Ben ObasiI recall your last visit to the University of Nigeria and the fraternal advice and great words of wisdom you showered on us … Dear Prof., you sacrificed for our good and the ties that bind us still remain.—Chief Dr. Jasper Egwu Eddie OkoroWithout his contributions to the anthropological and historical formation of Nde Ehugbo, the world would have known little about us and our history.—Dr. Ikenna Ukpabi Unya, Senior Lecturer in History, Michael Okpara University of AgricultureThe generations of Ehugbo children who will sing your praises more than we do now are yet to be born.—Nnachi Umennachi