I stumbled on one Rowland Emeka's post featuring a u-tube message from young rave of an author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and after watching the feature, could not hold back comments. I do not know how to hoard compliments. This is what I said:
Chimamanda has not only melted my heart, she has
stolen it as well. Hear the eloquent young lady: "Culture does not make man, man
makes culture... Yes I am a feminist." Wow! Go baby, go baby, go! Everybody
should listen to her recent speech and by the way, thanks to whoever posted it.
All what she said there, I had cried myself hoarse about and in an office as a
gender specialist, some called for my head. I had written everything in my first
book "Bow You Must" and I know some journalists who almost fought with me for my
views in that book, published in 1999. Chimamanda, what impact! I look forward to
giving you a huge hug. You deserve more, nwa. Cheers!
International Women's Day:opped the questio
I was invited by Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) International, for the 2013 Women's Day chit-chat and true to type,
Sara Sanda, the anchor person popped the question: "Are you a feminist?" (If journalists are
interviewing a gender sensitive female person, and have not asked her that question, they
have not started.)
Sarah of course simply was performing her duties. She did not strike me as a
gender insensitive woman. Sarah is kool, Nwadi Elobuike is kool too. They put
together the program and gave me a good time talking to the world. My thanks
to NTA International. So I told the world that the Oxford Learner's dictionary
meaning of feminist is "Any person who supports the belief that men and women
should have equal opportunities, access and rights, etc." Emphasis is on any
person, not any woman, so there are men who are feminists. We need to get this
clear. I went ahead to tell the world that due to our mentality in this part of
the world, I'd like to make it clear that if a feminist is any woman who does
not like men and would rather remain single, does not want to carry a pregnancy
and suckle and nurture babies, if a feminist is one who hangs the pots and says
'I will not cook for the family', then I am not a feminist. But if a feminist is
one who says that what is good for the goose is good for the gander, if a
feminist is one who says the left hand should wash the right hand and vice
versa, if a feminist is one who says, boys and girls should be given level play
ground to perform, equal opportunity for life endeavors, reciprocal respect,
etc, then I am a feminist. Once again, I thank our brilliant young lady
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, for her boldness in expatiating these facts, which
some of us have almost been crucified for. Women stop shying away from that word, it is not negative. Men, support the belief that there should be level playground for all. B e a survivor!
Emeka Rowland, thanks for sharing that post. I will post the Women's Day chit chit shortly, and Chimamanda's speach.
Ada Agbasimalo
I was invited by Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) International, for the 2013 Women's Day chit-chat and true to type,
Sara Sanda, the anchor person popped the question: "Are you a feminist?" (If journalists are
interviewing a gender sensitive female person, and have not asked her that question, they
have not started.)
Sarah of course simply was performing her duties. She did not strike me as a
gender insensitive woman. Sarah is kool, Nwadi Elobuike is kool too. They put
together the program and gave me a good time talking to the world. My thanks
to NTA International. So I told the world that the Oxford Learner's dictionary
meaning of feminist is "Any person who supports the belief that men and women
should have equal opportunities, access and rights, etc." Emphasis is on any
person, not any woman, so there are men who are feminists. We need to get this
clear. I went ahead to tell the world that due to our mentality in this part of
the world, I'd like to make it clear that if a feminist is any woman who does
not like men and would rather remain single, does not want to carry a pregnancy
and suckle and nurture babies, if a feminist is one who hangs the pots and says
'I will not cook for the family', then I am not a feminist. But if a feminist is
one who says that what is good for the goose is good for the gander, if a
feminist is one who says the left hand should wash the right hand and vice
versa, if a feminist is one who says, boys and girls should be given level play
ground to perform, equal opportunity for life endeavors, reciprocal respect,
etc, then I am a feminist. Once again, I thank our brilliant young lady
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, for her boldness in expatiating these facts, which
some of us have almost been crucified for. Women stop shying away from that word, it is not negative. Men, support the belief that there should be level playground for all. B e a survivor!
Emeka Rowland, thanks for sharing that post. I will post the Women's Day chit chit shortly, and Chimamanda's speach.
Ada Agbasimalo
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