Life, Love, Literature.

It felt weird being in the presence of God again. Seven years and nothing had changed. The walls of St. Martha had not aged a day, and the symbol of the cross still hung above the elevated ground, the altar of God. Efua sat quietly in the congregation, staring at him. He still sat there, in the front row beside his wife, with a pair of glasses and a smug look on his face. When she left the church seven years ago, his eyes were perfectly fine. Now, as she watched him struggle to read a verse from his Bible, the same Bible he went about with years ago, she tried to hide a smile. He was getting old. Something about being back caused a lump in her throat. The service took long hours. Or was that how it had always been? She wasn't really sure. She looked at him again and sighed. It was possible that he never thought of her, that he never missed what they had, that he would not recognize her. She had a lot to say to him. With deep breaths and a racing heart, she walked slowly to where h...

"Chidera, Let's go back home" I tried to keep up with his pace. He was a very fast walker. Sometimes I ran to meet up with him because he didn't care if I was lagging behind. Maybe he did, because he would turn occasionally and tease me about my weight.. say my body was too heavy for my tiny legs. "Chidera I said let's go back home, now!" I yelled. I stood at akimbo. "Why? You're such a baby. Go home if you want to.. I'm sure you just want to go home and eat." I was offended by his rude comments about my weight, but I was used to Chidera. Since his parents died and he came to live with us five years ago, we developed a kind of bond. I used to think he hated me at first.. he called me "Fattie Chinny" instead of Chinwe like everyone else. He made fun of my eating pattern and only bought me Buns so he could say: "See, you look like this buns, that's why I bought it for you." Chidera became nicer to me when he saw me...

While we join hands and collectively try to tackle the inhumane and unjustifiable act that rape is, let us not let misogyny and misandry rise amongst us. Let us not forget that boys are often victims of abuse too.  Most boys at very young ages were used by their aunties, cousins, housemaids, uncles, class teachers, even step parents, for coital pleasure and sexual gratification. Lots of boys lost their innocence to older women that were meant to take care of them. Yes, stories of these are not commonly heard. Probably because boys are taught early to be "strong" and to endure. Probably because these predators are important figures in their lives, and who on earth would listen to them talk? Let us also not forget that Men are not the problem. Female children get abused by females too. This, is also not commonly heard and often dismissed. It doesn't have to be a man. Homosexuality is and has always been amongst us.  Let us not protect the girls from men and watch them be pr...