WOMAN: An Art of Love, A Heart of Affection by Babatunde Odubanwo
When listening intently to Tekno’s ‘’Woman’’ recently, only did I discover that, I haven’t done much in my own way to honour the incalculable roles of women in our society.
Of course, this applaudable comments on the 2019 smash hit track by Tekno may be considered to be in sharp contrast to some school of thoughts especially such ideologues held by the commune of intellectuals and conservatives, who believe that the present crop of Nigerian musicians is doing more harm than good to the moral fabric of our society. Not to mention the lewd lyrics that frequently embodies their ‘’modern trend’’ style of music. This tribute single by the Bauchi-born Pop star seem an only silver lining in darkest clouds; and the musing of the narrative that follows.
Unlike any of his songs, the message behind the slow paced beat was unique and nobly sent forth. Tekno’s shrill voice burst through my earpiece and the words sank deep into my subconscious thus: ‘’Dem say Woman place na for Kitchen, she supposed to fry all the chicken, no supposed to talk for the meeting, Concern herself with the cleaning’’. These words hit hard at me like a Tornado wind. Not just the felicitous rhyming patterns but something about the music had a markedly intent and visceral meaning.
I asked myself: Has the ‘’Pana’’ maestro suddenly become an advocate for the long-sought rights of the women folk? It was at the time of cross-examining the singer’s motive, I realized the timely need to talk more about what I consider a new powerful force to the ubiquitous development of racial, cultural and evolving developments of life.
If I am asked, my answer would be that Women are indeed the ‘’Third Force’’ to some of the fissures in the body polity. The ‘’Third Force’’ was that purported socio-political intervention in curing the sick state of the country according to the gospel of Chief Olusegun Aremu Okikiola Mathew Obasanjo (GCFR).
I could not agree any less with a female acquaintance of mine, Ewaoluwa, when she said: ‘’A woman is far stronger than a man depending on the situation. Ever wonder what it costs them despite facing various abuses; and yet stand firm, and support their men’’
This argument finds better expression in the recent call by women activists; feminists; humanists all over the world that gender equality should be enshrined in public policies as against the philosophy of Patriarchy, and the primordial notion that restrict women to domestication and procreation. In any case, that girl child should be giving access to good education and women the liberty to living out the truest purpose of their lives.
In more ways than one, women differ from the opposite sex. The obvious anatomical dissimilarities, ethical leanings, and the distinct hormonal profilings. In certain instances, the two sexes hold different views about life’s philosophy. These cross-current standpoints have been the rationale for the bias associated with gender discourse.
For instance, a Jewish philosopher Freud Sigmund once noted: ‘’Women’s sexual problems are related to an envy for the absent penis and a complex that the testicles had been castrated’’. He therefore concluded that ‘’Women are mutilated male, an inferior to man’’. This was contended by Author Derek Llewellyn-Jones when she declared: ‘’A woman behaves in a certain way because she is brought up to believe that society expects her to behave in that way…. Indeed, longevity studies show that the female is stronger than the male, less likely to be aborted than the male, less likely to be aborted when in her mother’s womb, more likely to be born alive, less likely to succumb to infection in the first years of life, and more likely to live beyond the age of 65’’.
Away from the bugaboo of statistical inferences, we know that women are much as human as men. In order not to caught in the cloudy haze of gender supremacy, for the purpose of clarity, I will simply go for the jocular: Who is a woman??? The pointed response to this question will be one that is few-and-far-between. The stark reality is that Women are uniquely made, beautiful as they are, an Amazon in their own rights; and mother of nations.
Throughout History, primal nationhood has been inextricably linked to the world of Women. The Greek poet, Kostis Palamas in a poem titled: Wonders at the first Olympic Games anthem in 1896 thundered: ’What is my motherland’ Is it her landscape and the monuments left behind by all previous inhabitants – the ancient Greeks, the Romans, Byzantines, Venetians, Ottomans and others’? This Kostis’ literary work tells of the Greek history giving credence to womanhood. Even in the Yoruba tradition, the word ‘’Iya’’ meaning Mother venerates the towering virtues and admirable grace of being a woman, and the super-intelligence of a mother.
In the wake of the 21st century, the tide seems to be in the favor of the females. A new league of women enforcing inclusivity in corporate quarters, government, religion and family. These women are determined professionals, respectable scholars, accomplished entrepreneurs, disciplined artisans, romantic lovers/partners, and fantastic mothers emerging in fields hitherto considered to be ‘’Men Only’’. They are raring to go, captivating prying eyes with the ‘’women-power’’ phenomena – merging home affairs with career building. These words are boldly written in Chaka Khan’s Every Woman: ‘Whatever you want, whatever you need, anything you want done baby, I’ll do it naturally, Cos I’m every woman, Every Woman, It’s all in me’.
The sweet melodies of womanhood come in equal measures of delight and terror: much of what is sown is reaped. As the Won Kere Si Number maestro and ‘’Guitar monarch’’, the Late Fatai ‘Rolling Dollar’ Olagunju puts it in his song – She Go Run Away’: ‘’If you marry Lagos Lady, Make you give am money, If you marry Egba Lady, make you give am Lafun (Yam flour), If you no give am Lafun, she go run away, If you marry Ijaw Lady make you give am fish, If you no give am fish oooo, She go run away, If you marry Ibo Lady make u give am Akpu o, If you no give am Akpu, She go run away, If you marry Ijebu Lady make you give am Ikokore oooo, If you no give am Ikokore oooo, She go run away………….’’ The depiction of each local cuisine set against the backdrop of a lady’s origin is just a metaphoric expression of how much a woman should be loved and cared for.
Arts in a way exemplifies the affectionate appeal of every woman.
The below poem summarizes the balance between the female folk and the whole essence of life.
I’m Every Woman
Do you call me black, white, red or brown skin?
I’m the blood of umbilici thread that weaves life.
Tall or short, pudgy or slim, I am the nectar of sweet berries,
My wines ever refreshed in the swift passage of time.
Across cultures of lands, I am the personage of honour
Fresh as dews of morning, Woman as me,
The rhythm of many days’ music.
I’m every woman
I’m the girl, I’m the Lady, I’m the wife, I’m the mother
A stallion of pride in the shining aura of the galaxy.
I’m braver than the mysticism of muffling rustles in dark groove
More than such appellation that we are ‘’full of intrigues’’
As the Eagles, I rise above the censures of trepidation
I am the myriad of rainbow that fills the eyes.
I’m every woman
I’m loving, a darling to the love of my life
My body melts at the pelt of his suave eyebrows, lips as honeycomb
His gut is an appeal of wisdom and affection as dough to fill
He completes the word in the sentence of truest bond
I’m the cart of hopes, full of compassion and charity
Upon my shoulders, many homes are built and generations assured
I’m every woman
Finally, the poem: I’m every Woman by the writer holds true the judgment that women should be given the right place they truly deserve in the society and this can further be made possible when women support each other.
Are you a woman, have you impacted or have been impacted by a woman, celebrate yourselves today by lighting up the world with your strength and achievements.