[dropcap]S[/dropcap]o… The comments by the Ooni of Ife’s Olori on gender equality, have been trending online in the past few hours.
According to Olori Wuraola, women can never be equal to men. While a whole of of shocked feminists have been reacting online with muffled ripostes, I would think many of such reactions have deliberately chosen to ignore the premise that she might have used a wrong definition to buttress her opinion. Her comments have nothing to do with gender equality as a concept, the way I think it is from my little research. Perhaps she took the phrase literally and that could be one of the confusing lines in this gender debate which this has thrown up.
Another amusing thing I noticed is that many fiery and fuming self-professed feminists I know on social media, suddenly went tongue-in-cheek in giving their two cents on the Iyaloja’s opinion. Some of these vehement voltrons in the past have skewed far more polite opinions by Omotola and a few other socialists on aspects of misconstrued gender equality. But somehow, because it’s an Olori, a position of traditional and sacred reverence in Yorubaland, these feminists amongst us have been biting their tongues for fear of incurring the wrath of vengeful gods from Ife, perhaps. Lol.
And that tells me something. There might be some double standards in aspects of this feminism debate as practiced or pontificated in Nigeria. I read some of the opinions of the self-professed feminists sometimes on social media and most of the time, many directly insult God, the Bible and everything they deem skewed about Christianity all the time. Of course, such persons wouldn’t dare insult Islam and it’s perceived impositions on the feminist movement for fear of fatwas and repercussions. But open dissing of the Bible, the faith most of them practice is fair game.
And Her Highness Wuraola is conveniently left alone in sotto-voce opinions by the feminists amongst us too.
Tomorrow, if an actress or female singer says, “I cook for my Husband because I’m an African and it’s my tradition’, many of the whispering whims would be up in arms against that person.
Quite strange. But it tells me that there are double standards in EVERYTHING in this part of the world.
Coming to Wuraola’s comment, I don’t expect a custodian of tradition in her capacity such as hers, to come out to the world and say anything otherwise. There is a strong tradition she understands and which millions of women in Nigeria and Africa are aware of. It’s not possible for such traditions to be wished away just like that.
In any case, I wrote on my Facebook wall a few weeks ago that I don’t have any opinions yet on feminism. It’s a movement which fascinates me and which is an ongoing area of passive study for me.
God save the Queen (Wuraola).
Charles Novia is an award-winning filmmaker. He is founder of November Productions and November Records. Connect with him on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
