This land of corrupt politicians
Rubbing bellies of stolen funds
Looting without a care
Killing with no remorse
Stoning gays, jailing Trans
This land full of Hate
Poverty and Ignorance [Read more…]
It is said that followers get the leaders they deserve, so it is not surprising that Nigerians are led by hypocrites.
According to National Mirror: http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/no-going-back-on-anti-same-sex-bill-mark/
“No going back on anti-same sex bill –Mark”
“Senate President David Mark has said the decision of the National Assembly to ban same-sex marriage in the country was irreversible. Mark, according to a statement, said this at a dinner hosted in his honour by the Nigerian Community i
n Prague, Czech Republic, yesterday.”
‘The Senate president explained that the bill, which has been approved by both chambers of the National Assembly, would not in any way infringe on the rights of Nigerians.’
He said: “The law against same-sex marriage is an approval of the wishes of the generality of Nigerians who are desirous of living within our cultural bounds. “The law is not designed to infringe on the human rights of Nigerians in any way.
Hmm.. he probably does not consider Nigerian Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals and Trans as Nigerians or even Humans.
“Also, wherever you go in our country today, our people are completely in support of the National Assembly because the practice of same-sex, as you all know, is alien to us.”
I wonder if the famed orgies with his wives and mistresses are not alien to Africa. [Read more…]
When I read the story of the 4 students of University of Port Harcourt that were lynched on allegation of theft, I wept for my country one more time. I have not watched the video and I do not ever intend to watch it. It is very difficult getting an online report of the story without graphic images of the victims being burnt alive. Nigerian bloggers and news reporters need to understand that such violent graphics should come with a trigger warning. I am already tormented at the thought of a human being burnt alive by a sick mob; I can do without the pictures and violent video, please.
Following the breaking of this horrible news, most Nigerians expressed shock that such barbaric acts could still so wantonly be carried out in Nigeria and with the tacit cooperation of members of the police force too. State security men were said to be present at the scene of the lynching but chose not to intervene. Also, there were a few Nigerians who actually tried to justify the murders, they felt if these students actually stole mobile phones and laptops as alleged, they deserved to be lynched, and some even cited their religious books to justify this atrocious mindset. [Read more…]
Few months ago, Amina Tyler, a Tunisian woman, posted two photos of herself topless on Facebook.
The first image showed Amina with the words “Fuck your morals” written across her chest.
The second image has the words “My body belongs to me and is not the source of anyone’s honor” written in Arabic.
Since that episode, she has been hounded by Islamist conservatives who felt she has violated their honour by posting nude pictures of herself.
Whose body, whose honour?
What part of “My body belongs to me” don’t these idiots understand? If a woman wants to post nude pictures of herself on the internet, it is her body, her choice, her right. It has nothing to do with your moronic honour. FREE AMINA TYLER NOW!
This is my body; I have the right to do whatever I want with it. If I am not harming you, the decisions have nothing to do with you.
I have the right to post nude pictures of myself online. I have the right to use my body as a canvass, tattoo it or pierce it.
This is my body, I have the right to birth control, to abortion, to have sex with consensual adults regardless of their gender. I do not have to put up with your sermonizing or attempts to legislate over my body. [Read more…]
I recently started Video blogging and with it came the barrage of opinionated comments on my looks, appearance and quite interestingly, my accent! 
I have never been self conscious about my accent. I started making guest appearances on National TV programs almost two decades ago as a young human rights activist and vocal feminist. I remember the first time I appeared on one of the ‘posh’ Women’s programs which at the time passed as a ‘feminist’ TV show, I was immediately approached after the show by the popular presenter who told me, “Yemisi, you were really brilliant on the show, it would be great if we could get you to lose the accent”. Well, it happened that the presenter also ran a ‘Finishing school’ for girls … hmm do not ask me why a “feminist’ TV show presenter had a “Finishing school for girls’’… well, this is Nigeria we are talking about, and feminism, like many assumed “imported” ideology comes with its colonial baggage!
Anyway, she was so impressed with my
points but not so impressed with my accent that she offered me a free session in her ‘Finishing school’ to get rid of my accent. I remember asking her why I would want to be rid of my accent. I mean, I wasn’t self conscious about my accent, especially since Nigeria is a diverse country with many local dialects and accent is one of the ways you immediately identify where a person is from. Well, the young me was told that getting rid of my accent would be great for my profile, I declined her ‘priceless’ offer and insisted that I’d rather keep my accent as it is an integral part of my identity.
That was almost two decades ago. I have since gone ahead to speak at many national and international events, sometimes with heads of states and diplomats present. I have made a few speeches at UN meetings, appeared on a live televised round table debate with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and some other world leaders, but I never for a minute felt self conscious about my accent, and well, my audience never really complained and they mostly seemed to appreciate what I had to say. Shows you should choose your audience well! [Read more…]
I am a woman and I am weeping
The tears won’t stop seeping
Like a river it keeps flowing
At my heart it tugs, nipping
My eyes are bleeding
My nose keeps running
They say I should slow it
But all they do is blow it
Teardrops just like crystals
Not mine alone but all sisters!
I am a woman and I am weeping
On my feet I keep thinking
The dreams I have to maintain
The tears I cannot curtail
From day to night I toil
In the fields I till the soil
Bent over with hands, this I can bear
Hoping my behind I wouldn’t have to bare
For the children and the aged I have to care
The burdens sometimes leave me bare!
I am a woman and I am weeping
In the boardroom I am seething
They negotiate my seat
As I take in all the heat
It matters not that I have the brains
The body is what they want to drain
With my pen poised I stand on the stool
But they tell me brain is not the tool
As all they want is my body to drool
And for me to play the fool!
I am a woman and I am weeping
From the corners I am peeping
Paving the streets in my high heels
Hoping the deals I can now seal
My health and safety are at risk
But the children can’t eat sticks
In the boardroom, on the street
It matters not where I sit
My brain makes me an expert
But all they want is a Sexpert!
I am a woman and I am weeping
I fight the system but hope is fleeting
The streets I keep combing
While my heart keeps sobbing
How long shall I be suppressed
Now they say I am depressed
I do not need a mental operation
What I hate is this oppression
You can keep your psychiatry
While I kick your patriarchy!
BY © YEMISI ILESANMI
I AM COMING OUT!
I am coming out, out of my shell
Long under the influence of your spells
Locked away in your antique culture cell
Where no one could hear me yell
I had screamed all in vain
Only I could feel the pain
It is time to break the chains
The ghosts of the past I must slay
Weighed down by societal shackles
Banging to be out, proud and sparkle
I am coming out, out of my shell
Doing away with your lying shields
It is unnatural, you scream
You will burn in hell, you preach
Fires and brimstones you rake
From your societal grip I break
In angry defence the truth I seek
To be free, to be me, I must speak
Coming out, head high, sets me free
I am proud, out and ready to peak [Read more…]
I am angry, not just angry but very, very angry. I am indignant, not just for myself but on behalf of many sisters especially the voiceless sisters! If you are not angry after watching the infamous video of Bishop Oyedepo slapping a young girl to the thunderous applause of his church members, you are also a target of my anger!
It is said that “Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from a religious conviction”. Present day examples abound, e.g.
“Homosexuality is a sin, let us kill Gays”
“Witchcraft is evil, let us slap young witches”
“I am the chosen one; therefore I will bomb out all others from my holy land”
“Sorcery is a sin; let us behead its practitioners”
“Adultery is a sin, let us stone the unmarried pregnant woman”
…and the list goes on and on.
The YouTube video of Bishop Oyedepo slapping a young girl he accused of witchcraft should make any sane person angry. The thunderous applause from his followers during this dastardly act is nauseating enough to make one vomit. Why is there a complete lack of common sense amongst religious fanatics? I guess if they could reason, they wouldn’t be fanatics anyway! Really, how could any sane person encourage the molestation of a young person and actually applaud the torturer?
Religion is the opium of the masses, yes, many atrocities have been committed in the name of religion, but really, for how long must these atrocities continue before we break the chain of religious oppression in Nigeria?
The colonisers that introduced Christianity to Nigerians would no
t in this age, in their own country, dare openly embrace such atrocities as perpetrated in the name of God in Nigeria today. Africans need to wake up from their slumber and see religion for what it really is; an addictive drug that numbs reason and robs away common sense! I do not even want to go into the mental slavery aspect of organized religion and how much it has Africans, especially Nigerians, in its evil grip!
Bishop David Oyedepo had the audacity to slap the young girl who dared to assert that she is not a witch as accused, but a witch for Jesus. Now, how is being a witch for Jesus a crime? [Read more…]
“Minority can have their say but majority will have their way” is the new anthem of majority homophobic members of the supposedly enlightened Nigerian community on the issue of the draconian ‘Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition)’ bill. The mere thought that some supposedly enlightened people still think a majority has the right to have its way at the expense of the human rights of a minority is really worrisome. What enlightened mind would even support such a proposition in this age?
Many Nigerians eagerly confuse democracy with majority rule, what a shame and how sad for my beloved motherland. There is a big difference between Democracy and Majority rule. According to this ‘ill-perceived’ concept of democracy as ‘minority having their say and majority having their way’, I guess the scenarios below would be deemed democratic: [Read more…]
It seems no debate on human rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals is complete without the inevitable snide remark, “If human rights of homosexuals are recognized, rapists, pedophiles and people who sleep with animals will start claiming human rights violations too”.
Why do homophobes always feel the need to mention sex with animals when commenting on LGBT rights issues? How is homosexuality and sex with animals, rape or pedophilia the same thing? Isn’t it time people moved away from unjustified, illogical sentiments and address real issues?
Rape
Rape is t
he unlawful compelling of a person through physical force or duress to have sexual intercourse. It is a type of sexual assault usually involving forceful sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another without consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of giving valid consent. The term is most often defined in criminal law. A person who commits an act of rape is known as a Rapist.
Sexual Orientation i.e. Homosexuality, Bisexuality, Pansexuality or Heterosexuality has nothing to do with sexual harassment. If anyone grabs your ass in public or even in private without your consent, it does not matter whether the person is heterosexual or homosexual; it is sexual harassment and assault.
Gender or sexual orientation is not the factor that determines if you had been sexually harassed or molested; lack of consent is the decisive factor. It is a criminal offense to sexually assault, harass or abuse anyone. So, what connection does a loving relationship between consenting adults have with rape? None at all! [Read more…]
Homosexuality has existed from time immemorial, as far back as when same-sex persons ever came in contact. Africa is said to be the cradle of human race, it therefore can be logically inferred that homosexuality started in Africa, before human race started migrating to other places to spread its branches in different colours, shapes and sizes.
Many African cultures and religions viewed Homosexuals and Transgender persons as gods, they were revered before intolerant religions and cultures started flourishing. It was the advent of colonisation and the import of foreign laws like Sodomy laws that brought Homophobia and intolerance into many African societies. I say “African societies” with a consciousness that AFRICA is not a monolithic society as it consists of many diverse ethnicities and cultures and therefore there is no monolithic, African culture.
Many Africans became intolerant of homosexuality and transsexuals only after foreign religions were [Read more…]
