The links between ‘yan daudu, karuwai and bori

Another one from the drafts. In an earlier post I shared what I had read from Renee Pittin’s research on gidajen mata in Katsina, Northern Nigeria. Here I will share another aspect of these houses of women, that of the connection between ‘yan daudu, karuwai and the bori “cult”. Unfortunately, bori is often described as…

African Fashion?

My West African Korean friend share a link with me on facebook showing the picture above. She basically said that the models are supposed to be wearing African costumes and I decided to reply as though she had asked me what I thought about the picture. Anyway I told her that I felt it was…

Homophobia Is A Sin (Updated)

What is up with the Ugandan anti-gay bill? And why does it seem like only a few people are talking about this? I first learnt about this proposed legislation on Shakesville and I personally believe that we, the Africans, should just be as vocally opposed to this law as others seem to be. Under current…

Absolute Destiny Apocalypse, Take 3

You may wish to read Absolute Destiny Apocalypse, Take 1 & Take 2 to understand what I’m going on about ^^ Revolutionary Girl Utena abounds with many exemplary female characters. Utena is the first example, she is courageous willing to defend her friends. Yet at the same time she is naive, she embodies the innocence***…

Absolute Destiny Apocalypse, Take 2

Continued from Absolute Destiny Apocalypse Take 1. Thanks to of the Prince she met in her youth while mourning the death of her parents, Utena decides to become a prince herself. Though earlier in the show, we do not know the full details behind her meeting with the Prince and her subsequent decision to become…

‘Demystifying’ African (Romantic) Love [Updated]

I think that African love also needs to be demystified because some people seem to believe that love did not exist in Africa before the Europeans came. These people believe that in pre-colonial times, Africans did not fall in love at all. Marriages were arranged, young girls were married to old men with harems and…

‘Demystifying’ African Female Initiation Rites

It makes my blood boil when I hear things coming out the mouths of some Africans that seem more suitable in the mouths of the most extreme and ignorant racists. I do realise that most Africans do not know their own history and most people today associate female initiation with nothing but female genital mutilation.…