MY INSPIRATION WALL

Photo by ATC Comm Photo from Pexels

I remember walking into a radio station in Abuja for an interview. When I got to the green – or waiting – room, I was pleasantly surprised by the surrounding wall that had pictures of many icons on it; Martin Luther King, Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Fela and a host of others. As I basked in memories of the work each person had contributed to humanity, I began to notice something that gradually dropped the smile from my face; there was hardly any woman on that wall.

CHERRY BLOSSOM - A COLLAGE BY OTHY

Arunsi Othniel Fortune, better known as Othy, has put out a collage of poems called Cherry Blossom.

PAY THAT MONEY

Image: The Guardian Nigeria

I am constantly seeing people rant on social media about the debtors in their lives. It is so common place that I don’t think one week goes by without one person or the other getting called out for owing money.

OVERCOMING LOW SELF-ESTEEM by Gima Okhiulu

Gima Okhiulu delivering her speech at the Half the Sky Speech Contest in Akure, Ondo State.

We attended Half the Sky, a speech contest commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child in Akure, Ondo State, and it was at this event that we met Gima Okhiulu, a student from the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) Group of Schools in the State. Gima was amazing with her storytelling, linking each of her points to the next in a way that just made you stay glued to what she was saying. And because of how well she delivered her speech, we gave her a cash price and promised her a spot on the blog for any article of her choice. Here is Gima’s piece on her struggles with low self-esteem.

Low self-esteem is like a silent destiny killer in the lives of growing kids, especially girls. A lot of unfulfilled destinies can be attributed to this ‘plague’.

GIRLS HOLD UP HALF THE SKY

Participants at the Speech Contest

I have been volunteering with Sow Purpose Initiative since 2017. At that time, it was called SOW Foundation and the general mandate was to empower young (and vulnerable) women and girls by reaffirming their worth, addressing societal bias that keep these women and girls struggling to catch up with men and boys in this century, and promoting a culture of excellence for them.

I HAVE AN IDEA ABOUT PRISON(ER) REFORMS

Image: New Stage

We have all heard the stories of prisons in Nigeria; dinghy, overcrowded, desperately inhumane and busting at the seams with more people awaiting trial than convicted felons.

(MIS)DIAGNOSING DEPRESSION

Photo by Ian Espinosa on Unsplash

I was at a literary event recently when the conversation swung to depression. It started when a man presented a poem about this state of mental health and suggested that ‘a smile, a hug, and some love’ could get people out of their depressed state. For the most part, the poem resonated with people because it was relatively well written and delivered, and being a sensitive topic, people could relate; or so I assumed.

BMI, Beauty Standards and Fat Shaming

Girl working Out.
Image: Health Magazine

I have a problem with Body Mass Index (BMI) as a measurement of health.

The 2019 Writivism Festival

The 2019 Writivism Festival is here and we are pumped!

Here is all you need to know about the festival…and why you should definitely attend.

WE ARE GOING TO THE 2019 ABUJA LITERARY FESTIVAL!

The Abuja Literary Festival is back!

THE MALE IDENTITY CRISIS

Man staring intently.
Image: Pexels

Most of us have probably heard that a woman's identity is tied to a couple of things; her beauty, skin tone, demeanor, chastity or purity, and ultimately, her ability to use these qualities to square herself a husband and bear 'his' children. This can be further expanded into the duties she is supposed to play in these roles of wife and mother; roles defined as the epitome of her womanhood. And we all know that those duties are many, unreasonable and often times, downright wicked. But these roles are so firmly woven into the fabric of society that choosing a different path almost always results in backlash, shaming and in some cases, physical and sexual abuse. Very few people expect a woman’s identity to be tied to her intellect, career, goals and aspirations, or achievements. It why women are constantly asked about their husbands or children; regardless of what other achievements they have outside of that.

POLICING CHILDBIRTH AND RISKING WOMEN'S LIVES

Woman breastfeeding her newborn
Image: Feature Shoot

My first experience with childbirth was when my youngest sister – Sadiya – was born. I was seven years old then. I remember my mum trying to put on a brave face as she was aided to the car. In all honesty, I didn't understand what was going on, but my aunts and uncles seemed to be in a panic. I can't remember what my father's demeanor was, but I know we didn't see our mother until the next day when we were introduced to our newborn sister. There was happiness, excitement and an air of love all around. If my mother was frazzled after the birth, she didn’t show it or…I didn't notice.

A CULTURE OF ANIMAL CRUELTY

Sad Dog
Image: Petfinder

Have you seen where dog meat is prepared? It is the epitome of cruelty and wickedness.

A CULTURE OF FILTH

Image: Baastrop

If you follow me on Twitter, you will (probably) notice that every week – and sometimes, almost every day – I talk about people who litter the environment with either their urine, feces or other waste products generated from their daily activities. From my tone, you can always tell that I am constantly angry at the unsightly result of our improper waste disposal and management.

WHAT HAPPENED TO KAINENE?

Old woman looking out; expectantly.

Image: Nate Greno for Unsplash

I was sitting in the bus when a thought came into my head.

‘What happened to Kainene?’

POOR PEOPLE WORK HARDER...FOR A WHOLE LOT LESS

Men watching from a gate.
Image: The Daily Maverick

I live in one of the poorer communities in Nigeria's capital city, Abuja. Like most of the communities surrounding it, Jikwoyi is a densely populated area. Because most things – accommodation, food, clothing and transportation – is much cheaper than other areas in the Federal Capital Territory, it is not unexpected that there are more people who live around these areas and places like this.

WHY DO MEN SO EASILY HARASS WOMEN? (2)

Image: We Are The City

As I washed my pile of clothes over the weekend, something that happened weeks ago came into my thoughts.

LONG DISTANCE: WHEN THE FAIRY TALE ENDS

Image: Raw Pixel

It starts with a long distance relationship that wasn’t working. Adon and Jason try to make things work and just when they think they are in a good place, Jason has an accident that makes him fall in love with Amara. When he returns to his senses, it is to find Adon is with child. For his best friend? The answer shocks him. He tries again and somehow, they end up together again. And then reality strikes.

ACCOMPLICES OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT

(Very) Angry Woman
Image: iStock Photos

On the morning of March 19, 2019, I shared one of my older posts asking why men so easily harass women. Between 5:03pm and 5:30pm of the very same day, I would get sexually harassed by a stink-breathed, uncultured excuse of a human being.

KEEPING UP APPEARANCES

Image: Anaya Katlego for Unsplash

A memory came to my head a few days ago and stayed with me.

P I E C E S by Arunsi Othniel Fortune

Image: Mwangi Gatheca for Unsplash

I know what it's like being in your head.

Dark, cold, happy.

I know what it's like being in your soul.

Lit, warm, dead.

I know, what it's like to see right through your eyes.

Because we're both blind to a reality

where I had to sail across seas to find you, sinbad.

Heh, see I know that you're scared.

You're frightened by the waves and how much they've

Caught you, drowned you and made you lost, captain.

I THOUGHT I WAS A WITCH...

Children Accused of Witchcraft
Image: SAFE CHILD AFRICA.

I remember when I thought I was a witch. It was sometime in the year 2000 or 2001.

THE 30TH CHAPTER

Images: TonTon Raymond

I am 30 years old today! Whoot whoot!

HOW CAN WE HELP POOR(ER) WOMEN?

A Page from Tom Paulson

I was heading home on November 6, 2018, when my sister called me to get her some juice. It was about 8:50pm and I was really tired. I told her I wouldn’t do it but when I got to my junction, I decided it wouldn’t hurt to get her the juice. 

PUBLIC RESTROOMS NEED TO CHANGE

Image: Sarcasm

I am constantly baffled when I use restrooms in public spaces that have only tissue paper. 

But let me backtrack a bit.

₦50 NOTE: HOW TO GET AWAY FROM THE POLICE

Corrupt policeman collecting N50 bribe. 

The Nigerian Police... Hmm.

I really think that we should discuss the things that are happening on our roads, especially as it affects motorists who have to deal with the policemen stationed at various checkpoints along these roads.

THREE COURSE MEAL by Tonton Nelson Raymond

Image: Ovayo Ntlabati for Unsplash

Lot of these guys talk much about how "shawty look like a snack"
But I think you look like a three course meal.
It doesn't matter if I do, or don't mind
A little belly fat is still fine
God is a tattoo artist and stretch marks are his design
You're not just a barbecue, you came with sides.
Peeking out of your hijab
These things are hard to hide

ANNOUNCING: 'QUICK-E'

One of the best things about Africa is how diverse the people, cultures and traditions, food, clothing, values and beliefs, and what makes us African is. From the horn of Africa to the swamps of the Niger delta, we are as different a people as the topography of our regions are. Despite our difference, it is safe to say that we are the most beautiful people on the planet!

SHALL I COMPARE YOU, WOMAN?

African woman.
Image taken by Martin Kirigua for Pexels.com

By Abigail Abby Abok

Woman,

Shall I compare you to a giant sequoia?

You are stouter and more reverent.

For trees once stood where skyscrapers now do

And winds do strip forest of tough trees.

You, most precious creature, flourish amidst the flaming fires of society's limitations,

Defy expectations

And resist the pestilence of inferior classification.

THE DWAYNE PROJECT

Beautiful Space Wallpaper
Image: Eliosh

'Life' scared the shit out of her. She knew that NASA and a host of scientists were really testing the possibilities of life on other planets. She also knew that for life to exist on any of these planets, they would have to be super intelligent and greatly evolved.

That wasn't what scared her.