LOUD WHISPERS: ‘Whose Child Is This?’
A few days ago, a video and photographs appeared on Facebook, posted by a Nigerian teenager who calls herself ‘Teddy Skitt’. The photographs were of Teddy and her boyfriend, with a towel wrapped around their chests, the message from Teddy read, ‘Good morning. Boo made my night. I love u baby’. Teddy did not look […]
LOUD WHISPERS: The Speech Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi Should Have Given In The United States
Towards the end of last week, Ope Oriniowo, our Content Editor at Above Whispers rushed over to me with his phone. He wanted to show me a recording of Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi, the wife of His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, making remarks at an Emerging Women’s Forum in Maryland, United States. I listened […]
LOUD WHISPERS: My Birthday Gift
Once upon a time, there was a kingdom called Itoro. The Itoro kingdom had a strange problem. None of the kings they coronated lasted more than six years on the throne. It seemed as if the kingdom was always in mourning. According to the traditions of the kingdom, markets had to be closed for forty […]
LOUD WHISPERS: As We Begin The Ramadan Season
Two years ago I was at a traditional engagement ceremony in Lagos. The couple were from Yoruba families, so I could simply have said it was a Yoruba engagement ceremony. However, since a lot has been changed and modified over the years, what passes for an engagement ceremony according to Yoruba tradition is now a […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Amina and A Story Of Survival
In December 2008, I attended a forum in Nairobi, Kenya, which had been convened to discuss appropriate support programs for survivors of violent conflict. The participants were mostly women’s rights activists and gender specialists from post/current conflict countries such as Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Sudan, Somalia, Uganda, Burundi and Zimbabwe. On the delegations from each […]
LOUD WHISPERS: ‘How Can I Be A Good Husband?’: Ten Suggestions
I did not want to write about marriage this week. In light of the fact that International Day of Families falls on May 15th, and the day will be marked throughout the week, I have decided to address an email from a young man who read my last article on Loud Whispers, ‘Then and Now’. […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Then and Now
Traditional Rulers Then: Any qualified Prince could indicate an interest in the throne and the oracle had the final say. Now: The oracle picks from a shortlist of Tycoons, Lawyers, Academics and retired service men. Unemployed or poor Princes need not apply. Time Then: The sun indicated day and when the moon rose it was […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Tempus Horribilis
Queen Elizabeth II gave her famous ‘Annus Horribilis’ speech on November 24th 1992 to mark the 40th anniversary of her ascension to the throne of England . Before then, people were familiar with the more traditional use of the term ‘Annus Mirabilis’– wonderful year. The introduction of the phrase ‘Annus Horribilis’ fascinated British people and […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Patrick, Patricia, Frederica And Frederick
I was in Harare, Zimbabwe for the African Feminist Forum (AFF) which took place April 9th-13th. It was the 4th AFF and it brought together approximately 160 African Feminists from 30 African countries. On the first day, a representative from the Zimbabwe Feminist Forum (ZFF), our Zimbabwean hosts, told us how, when they were conceptualising […]
LOUD WHISPERS: Mother Of The Year – The Angelina Option
A few days ago, I was in a conversation with a friend about the frightening levels of violence against women and girls across Africa. In Nigeria, the levels of abuse have reached such an unprecedented high that we should be clamouring for a state of emergency on the issue. Many times, people say that since […]