BEYOND HOUSE CLASH: HOW I PERCEIVE THE WORLD FEMINISTS - by Adegoke Hussein

Dedication: To Love David, Ridwan Muhammad, others - that encourage me to write and to Tariq Agbabiaka - one who constantly reminds me of the writing etiquettes

In the most recent time and in just about the world all over, there are two writers I mostly admire, say desire, their style of writing. While one is from the eastern part of Nigeria, the other is from the west - the western part of the country. While one has authored quite a number of astonishing novels that include Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun and most recently, Americanah, the other has authored just one - that I know of - Under the Brown Rusted Roof! While the
former is famous for her versatility and uncommon ingenuity, the other has become enriched with the fame that comes with being a columnist of Thursday "The Punch" newspaper. While the first goes by the name, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the other, who hailed from Ibadan in Oyo state is known to be Abimbola Adelakun. In reality, I love both of them - somewhat equally - and I hate missing out any of their documented thoughts, not in the least, for the constraint of time. I do believe however, that my scribbles, somewhat, trails behind theirs. But, however, with the numerous differences that abound in these two celebrated authors (read: prolific writers), they both have met at a common point, being feminists!

I have listened to Miss Adichie, who has safely combined literary deftness with oratory prowess, define feminists as a "man" or a woman who so believe in gender equality. Actually, she had said that in a rather light mood for, the dictionary definition of feminism would never have encapsulated the men folk. But lately, precisely, in her last column and why she was being critical about senator Dino Melaye's threat to beat senator Remi Tinubu, Abimbola Adelakun opined that men who are misogynists become glorious at relinquishing the status of women. In what seemed a yet to be subverted rage, Abimbola went on to lament on the rather ludicrous act of the Olori in Oyo state, who had opined, while granting a press interview outside Nigeria, that females, by nature, are meant to be subservient to their male counterparts. Well, actually, I should say this: a part of the reasons while I have fallen in love with the writings of these beloved duo is that, at most time, I do not agree with the ideas they promulgate. But, that they get whatever idea it is they spew a face by the most glossy polishes is what I most admire, say again, desire. And this time again, as I do not agree with Olori's "subservience" adjudication, so also do I not, naturally, see a substance in Adelakun's argument - that the women in our world are deserving of more recognition.

Of what led to the talk about feminists (read: feminism) was  the clash in the legislative house between some duo who are depictive of the happenings in the contemporary Nigeria households where married couples fight, children fume, the helps boil and a lot of "shit" happens.  Well, to me, this depiction is the interesting part of that sordid tale for it has brought us to the know of what goes around. While distinguished senator Remi Tinubu's rage and fume became heard in the police station, Melaye's thuggery act (as they call it) was traced to his not so glamorous pasts - whence he had threatened to "beat" many. Well, I see beating people in or by any circumstance as an unjustifiable attempt to subjugate them. So, to me, it would not really matter if the recipient of a deserved or of some undeserved beatings is a male or a female. And so, in such circumstances and if I were a judge, all that I would hold on to is that attempt to subjugate.

Feminism is a word that has amassed its growth over time. To a reasonable extent, all that now fight or perhaps, those that have the thought of fighting for the women folk would all claim to be feminists. Well, if you ask me, I see the word "femiBEYOND HOUSE CLASH: HOW I PERCEIVE THE WORLD FEMINISTS - by  Adegoke Hussein

Dedication: To Love David, Ridwan Muhammad, others - that encourage me to write and to Tariq Agbabiaka - one who constantly reminds me of the writing etiquettes

In the most recent time and in just about the world all over, there are two writers I mostly admire, say desire, their style of writing. While one is from the eastern part of Nigeria, the other is from the west - the western part of the country. While one has authored quite a number of astonishing novels that include Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun and most recently, Americanah, the other has authored just one - that I know of - Under the Brown Rusted Roof! While the former is famous for her versatility and uncommon ingenuity, the other has become enriched with the fame that comes with being a columnist of Thursday "The Punch" newspaper. While the first goes by the name, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the other, who hailed from Ibadan in Oyo state is known to be Abimbola Adelakun. In reality, I love both of them - somewhat equally - and I hate missing out any of their documented thoughts, not in the least, for the constraint of time. I do believe however, that my scribbles, somewhat, trails behind theirs. But, however, with the numerous differences that abound in these two celebrated authors (read: prolific writers), they both have met at a common point, being feminists!

I have listened to Miss Adichie, who has safely combined literary deftness with oratory prowess, define feminists as a "man" or a woman who so believe in gender equality. Actually, she had said that in a rather light mood for, the dictionary definition of feminism would never have encapsulated the men folk. But lately, precisely, in her last column and why she was being critical about senator Dino Melaye's threat to beat senator Remi Tinubu, Abimbola Adelakun opined that men who are misogynists become glorious at relinquishing the status of women. In what seemed a yet to be subverted rage, Abimbola went on to lament on the rather ludicrous act of the Olori in Oyo state, who had opined, while granting a press interview outside Nigeria, that females, by nature, are meant to be subservient to their male counterparts. Well, actually, I should say this: a part of the reasons while I have fallen in love with the writings of these beloved duo is that, at most time, I do not agree with the ideas they promulgate. But, that they get whatever idea it is they spew a face by the most glossy polishes is what I most admire, say again, desire. And this time again, as I do not agree with Olori's "subservience" adjudication, so also do I not, naturally, see a substance in Adelakun's argument - that the women in our world are deserving of more recognition.

Of what led to the talk about feminists (read: feminism) was  the clash in the legislative house between some duo who are depictive of the happenings in the contemporary Nigeria households where married couples fight, children fume, the helps boil and a lot of "shit" happens.  Well, to me, this depiction is the interesting part of that sordid tale for it has brought us to the know of what goes around. While distinguished senator Remi Tinubu's rage and fume became heard in the police station, Melaye's thuggery act (as they call it) was traced to his not so glamorous pasts - whence he had threatened to "beat" many. Well, I see beating people in or by any circumstance as an unjustifiable attempt to subjugate them. So, to me, it would not really matter if the recipient of a deserved or of some undeserved beatings is a male or a female. And so, in such circumstances and if I were a judge, all that I would hold on to is that attempt to subjugate.

Feminism is a word that has amassed its growth over time. To a reasonable extent, all that now fight or perhaps, those that have the thought of fighting for the women folk would all claim to be feminists. Well, if you ask me, I see the word "feminism" itself as inexistent and as one that was selfishly contrived by people (females mostly) who were trying hardly to unlearn the natural world hierarchy. To come up with this posit however, may I say that I have listened to talks, in their innumerable order, bothering on the discourse. From Abimbola Adelakun's end, one of those I am most fond of, my premonition is grossly apparent. In her bid to rubbishing the opinion that women's natural roles are complementary, she reminded us of one of the confrontations she had had whence her questioner reminded her of she-apes that do, by nature, bow to male equals. She was quick however, to add the rejoinder or least, to remind us of that which we already knew - that we are not apes. And on that note, if her talk was not one broadcast on my TV set, this would have been the moment I would signify my intent to ask a question. I would go like: "excuse me ma, but I think we are apes or at least, I know we are similar to the apes for they eat, we eat; they play, we play; their sexes are defined, ours too are; they were created, we were created; they die, we die; apes give birth, we give birth; apes are animals and we are animals; so ma, why would you say we should unlearn just a way of all of those we are similar - I mean, that with which our inequality becomes apparent as in our conflicting sexes?"