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Happy New Year ladies!
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In an exclusive interview, Sky's special correspondent Alex Crawford talks to the president of Zambia about the US ambassador's remarks on a gay couple who have been imprisoned and the row that has sparked between the two countries.
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Would you ever or have you ever hired a lesbian escort/sex worker? What are you opinions?
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How to Balance Masculine and Feminine Style in a Professional Setting
FlyJ posted a topic in Latest News and Gist
Mursi Haynes knows a thing or two about hard work. After serving in the United States Air Force for five years, she deejayed and freelanced in TV production for a number of years before finally deciding to pursue a more entrepreneurial role as a content creator. But it's only been within the last year that Mursi has developed and catapulted her Talent Management career, where she consults, represents, pitches, negotiates, schedules and books. That's a lot of talking, networking, and showing face. "When I first took on this position, more of my day consisted of handling bookings, scheduling, and so forth," Mursi explained. "Shortly after, I began pitching my client to brands, negotiating deals, attending industry events and creative shoots." As a result, Mursi realized her work wardrobe didn't reflect her new, more professional title. "My professional goal is to get out of my comfort zone, and attend more in-person meetings and events in order to expand my network. I want to shake more hands versus striking keys. In my opinion, it's a much more effective way of connecting with people." While Mursi recognizes the need for a wardrobe update, she's always had a passion for style and a very clear-cut view of her aesthetic. "One thing that has never changed is my love for a more androgynous style," Mursi explained. While she defines her general style as edgy, casual, and sometimes street, her goal for this season is to keep elements of edginess, yet elevate her look professionally. "It's already a challenge for me as a woman, black, and queer to walk into a room and demand fair compensation for my client's time and talent," Mursi said. "It's important for me to feel and look great when I'm discussing money." These neutral suits from the Lauren Ralph Lauren Fall 2019 collection are perfect for when Mursi is in a more client-facing day. "I can see myself wearing these neutral-patterned tailored suits to business meetings, especially with brand reps, accompanying my clients on campaign shoots, or daytime industry events," she said. Plus, a head-to-toe monochromatic look is a power move no one can ignore. Mursi definitely has strong opinions about style, but she admits she's not great at keeping up with trends. Specifically, she said, "I am looking to incorporate more color, both casually and professionally." For those dressier evening events, a royal purple corduroy blazer and trouser set is a great way to make a statement while maintaining her unique aesthetic. In addition, she can upgrade loafers by looking for a luxe fabric like velvet or croc-effect. "This outfit would have been perfect for two events I attended recently," Mursi said. "One was a cocktail party for a product launch and the other for a new brand to market. I can absolutely step out in this suit for similar upcoming events." The key for Mursi's new elevated style is simple outfit formulas that are easy to follow. "My partner picks on me all the time because I take forever to get ready," she said. "I spend so much time trying to put pieces together, I sometimes get frustrated." Mursi admits to wearing jeans with a t-shirt or collared shirt and sneakers most days, maybe throwing on a blazer if the weather is cooler. Luckily, she can take that same outfit formula and elevate it with a few tailored pieces. A fitted trouser and wool-blend blazer will provide that same level of comfort, but with a professional, unique twist. "It's all about finding that balance between masculine and feminine when shopping as this is a reflection of my individuality," Mursi said. Source -
I stumbled on this quote online, and decided to share with the group. What is your take on being socially awkward/introverted.
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Nigerian lesbian Judith Ndukwu and her fiance Mona Nghixulifwa both tied the knot at a beautiful wedding ceremony in the Netherlands. Mona is from Namibia, while Judith is from Nigeria. The couple got married last weekend at Beachclub Naturel, Scheveningen in The Hague, Netherlands. In attendance were prominent lawyers, activists, and persons who flew in from the U.S., EU, UK, and Canada. Family and friends were also present including lots of LGBTIQ+ persons. The wedding was officiated by renowned Nigerian gay reverend, Rev. Jide Rebirth Macaulay, founder of House of Rainbow, an LGBTIQ+ affirming faith-based organization. Congratulations to the beautiful couple. Source
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Copied: For a lot of Black queer and trans femmes, love is something we have to bestow upon ourselves. We don’t read the comments on any article about us, we carefully curate our social media feeds, we tread very lightly when dating, and sometimes we avoid the mirror. In this context, I couldn’t be more excited to premiere Lafemmebear’s new music video for “If,” off her previous EP — in advance of the release of her new one, Blaq: the Story of Me. This song and video feel like a conjure, a gift, like being seen, like being loved. Lafemmebear asks, and then answers, a crucial question for Black queer femmes interested in survival — and, critically, not just survival but joy: “If I loved me despite the fear, would that be alright?” The video ends with a spoken word piece by Samantha Goff, which I’ll just reproduce in its entirety below, because it’s gorgeous, and powerful, and will be running through my mind for quite a while: To me, Black femme joy is about being unapologetically Black. Everyday, all day. It’s about… knowing who you are, and leaning into that and celebrating that, and figuring that out as a journey, but it’s a beautiful one. And once you’ve found the core of who you are, and can truly live it and express it everyday, that’s when you are living in your joy, ’cause you’re living in your truth. And the times when it gets hard, because the world is not made for Black femmes, especially not made for queer Black femmes, you find your tribe, other people like you, and you commune. And you get through. Source
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Opinion: Simone Biles penalized for having skills other gymnasts can't pull off
FlyJ posted a topic in Sports
Simone Biles is the last person international gymnastics officials should be using to try and make a point. In an effort to deter other gymnasts from trying skills they are not physically capable of doing, the International Gymnastics Federation watered down the value of a new element Biles plans to do at the world championships. That’s right. Penalize the reigning world and Olympic champion, who is almost cautious when it comes to adding difficulty, for the potential recklessness of others. “Am I in a league of my own? Yes. But that doesn’t mean you can’t credit me for what I’m doing,” Biles told NBC after learning of the decision this week by the women’s technical committee. “They keep asking us to do more difficulty and to give more artistry, give more harder skills,” she added. “So we do, and then they don’t credit it, and I don’t think that’s fair.” Every element in gymnastics is assigned a letter, which corresponds to a numerical value. An “A” skill is worth a tenth of a point, and every letter in the alphabet that follows is an additional tenth. So a “D” skill is four-tenths of a point while the rare “J” skill is worth a full point. Biles is doing two new skills at worlds: a triple-twisting, double somersault on floor exercise and a double-twisting, double somersault dismount off balance beam. The triple-double was valued as a J skill, while the double-double was only deemed to be an H. After widespread criticism of its decision, the women’s technical committee (WTC) released a statement Friday explaining its reasoning: “In assigning values to the new elements, the WTC takes into consideration many different aspects; the risk, the safety of the gymnasts and the technical direction of the discipline,” it said. “There is added risk in landing of double saltos for beam dismounts (with/without twists), including a potential landing on the neck. “Reinforcing, there are many examples … where decisions have been made to protect the gymnasts and preserve the direction of the discipline.” Translation: Some gymnasts are trying to pad their scores by chucking skills they have no business doing, and we need to protect them from themselves. There’s no shortage of hypocrisy in that rationale. If the federation is so concerned with athlete safety, why allow I and J skills in the first place? If Biles’ double-double is going to encourage gymnasts to take risks they shouldn’t, wouldn’t her triple-double do the same? And, while we’re at it, why not allow gymnasts to do a warm-up on the floor before event finals? Most bothersome, though, is that the federation has ignored the means it has to keep irresponsible impulses in check. In addition to the difficulty score – the sum value of all the elements in a routine – there is an execution score. If a gymnast insists on trying a skill he or she has no business doing – some of you vaulters, you know who you are – hammer them on the E score. Source -
Indeed, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I saved the tweet that recommended Sara Collins’ debut novel, but as soon as I learned that the protagonist was a same-sex loving Black woman in prison for killing her former slave-owning employers, I knew that I had to read it. A caveat: I’m still pondering over this novel’s inclusion on this website, but given the decidedly same-sex loving protagonist, I’ve decided to share my thoughts on it and let you decide. Keep in mind that using “lesbian” to describe female same-sex intimacies was first recorded in the late 19th century, and wasn’t used widely until well after that. The novel opens in 1826 with Frannie Langton about to stand trial in London’s Old Bailey for the murder of her former employers. She insists that she is innocent, but cannot remember anything about the murders. Frannie was their servant, a “gift” to George and Marguerite Benham from her former slave owners John and Bella Langton. After a precarious and somewhat mysterious existence on a plantation in the West Indies, specifically Jamaica, Frannie travels to London with her former owner John Langton, unsure what to make of her status as a newly free person. Confessions travels back and forth in time, meandering through Frannie’s young life on the plantation to her life in London and back again. Offered the opportunity to “give me something I can save your neck with,” Frannie pens her own story, sharing bits and pieces of her life as a slave and free woman. We learn that she serves as Langton’s attendant and scribe as he commits atrocities on the dead and the living, all in search of evidence that would prove once and for all that Black people are biologically inferior to whites, supporting the need to preserve the “peculiar institution” of chattel slavery. While this sub-plot of the novel is relevant given the setting, Collins’ attention to technical and scientific detail tends to slow down the pacing of the novel. These words, uttered by Phibbah, Frannie’s caretaker while still on the plantation and a reference to her first mistress, Miss Bella, would come back to haunt Frannie after her arrival in London. One of the more compelling plot lines in the novel is the “love” story between Frannie and her employer’s wife, Marguerite Benham. According to Frannie: As modern day readers, we know what Frannie may not when she returns, even encourages her mistress’s affections: this love affair is not going to end well for either of them. Frannie experiences uncommon highs as well as devastating lows during her time in London, and while I won’t spoil the ending by sharing any more details, I will note that the ending feels rushed compared to other parts of the novel. All in all, Collins’ neo-slave narrative/gothic novel is a good read for anyone interested in those genres, as well as lovers of literary fiction. It’s also an unconventional take on an interracial female same-sex love story, although it is not marketed as such. The dynamics of power, race, and sexuality all obtain in interesting ways, and while I’ve not written much about that here, I have a feeling I might have more to say about this novel later on. Source
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A recent study led by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) revealed that regular tea drinkers have better organised brain regions -- and this is associated with healthy cognitive function -- compared to non-tea drinkers. The research team made this discovery after examining neuroimaging data of 36 older adults. "Our results offer the first evidence of positive contribution of tea drinking to brain structure, and suggest that drinking tea regularly has a protective effect against age-related decline in brain organisation," explained team leader Assistant Professor Feng Lei, who is from the Department of Psychological Medicine at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. The research was carried out together with collaborators from the University of Essex and University of Cambridge, and the findings were published in scientific journal Aging on 14 June 2019. Benefits of regular intake of tea Past studies have demonstrated that tea intake is beneficial to human health, and the positive effects include mood improvement and cardiovascular disease prevention. In fact, results of a longitudinal study led by Asst Prof Feng which was published in 2017 showed that daily consumption of tea can reduce the risk of cognitive decline in older persons by 50 per cent. Following this discovery, Asst Prof Feng and his team further explored the direct effect of tea on brain networks. The research team recruited 36 adults aged 60 and above, and gathered data about their health, lifestyle, and psychological well-being. The elderly participants also had to undergo neuropsychological tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The study was carried out from 2015 to 2018. Upon analysing the participants' cognitive performance and imaging results, the research team found that individuals who consumed either green tea, oolong tea, or black tea at least four times a week for about 25 years had brain regions that were interconnected in a more efficient way. "Take the analogy of road traffic as an example -- consider brain regions as destinations, while the connections between brain regions are roads. When a road system is better organised, the movement of vehicles and passengers is more efficient and uses less resources. Similarly, when the connections between brain regions are more structured, information processing can be performed more efficiently," explained Asst Prof Feng. He added, "We have shown in our previous studies that tea drinkers had better cognitive function as compared to non-tea drinkers. Our current results relating to brain network indirectly support our previous findings by showing that the positive effects of regular tea drinking are the result of improved brain organisation brought about by preventing disruption to interregional connections." Source
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Uber and Lyft drivers more likely to cancel on LGBT passengers
FlyJ posted a topic in Latest News and Gist
A new study has proved LGBT+ people routinely face discrimination from Uber and Lyft drivers, who cancel their journeys almost twice as frequently as with straight passengers. The study “When Transparency Fails: Bias and Financial Incentives in Ridesharing Platforms” revealed that LGBT+ people and black people were the most likely groups to be cancelled on. Professors Chris Parker and Jorge Meija conducted the study by creating passenger profiles with a picture of a rainbow flag, suggesting that the rider would be LGBT+ or an ally. They also created profiles with pictures of black riders and names often perceived as black, such as Keisha, Latoya, Rasheed, and Jamal. In a study of 3,200 journeys, they determined that the LGBT+ or ally “customers” were canceled on almost twice as much as those without the rainbow symbol. “We know that LGBTQ riders face discrimination with these rideshare apps, but we thought that it was an interesting little twist, that even just signalling your support for the LGBTQ community could result in a canceled ride,” Parker told NBC News. Similar cancellation rates were seen during peak and non-peak hours. The inherent bias was even worse with the study’s black riders, whose journeys were cancelled nearly three times as often as white riders. However, unlike LGBT+ passengers, they were less likely to be cancelled during peak hours, suggesting that the increased cost of the trip was enough of an incentive to accept the journey. Although the study only proved drivers’ inherent bias before a LGBT+ person enters the car, there are LGBT+ people have often complained of discrimination once inside an Uber or Lyft. Uber drivers have been accused of giving customers low ratings because they are LGBT+, and there are numerous examples of LGBT+ couples being thrown out of taxis for public displays of affection. Source -
Openly Gay Nigerian Student Shares Homophobic Experiences
FlyJ posted a topic in Latest News and Gist
The undergraduate student went on Twitter to share about 5 cases of homophobic assaults and harassments he has experienced living openly as gay in Nigeria. Homophobic attacks are common in the country. Every day, the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, (LGBT) people are violated by state and non-state actors. Perpetrators enjoy impunity because the law doesn’t protect LGBTIQ+ people. Religion and ignorance about LGBTI issues are the leading cause of homophobia in Nigeria. Frustrated with his situation, Blaise who has suffered multiple human rights violations and a victim of several hate crimes says he is now struggling with his mental health. “Everything that happened to me messed me up big time, I won’t lie. I still haven’t recovered from any of them. I now deal with a complicated paranoia and anxiety. I’m not in a good place mentally at all. Much has happened, I have passed them but I know many will still come” he tweeted. Read his tweets below. Source- 9 replies
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A Muslim and Christian lesbian couple got married and the photos from their wedding were shared online. The Muslim woman wore a hijab for the ceremony. Both women were in a white dress as they posed surrounded by nature. The photos were shared with the caption: “A Muslim and a Christian who say yes. progress.” But a number of Twitter users did not agree that it was progress due to the fact that the couple are not only of different religions but also of same sex. They condemned the union and insisted the Muslim woman is not a true Muslim because she ended up taking off her hijab. Source
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Saw this online If the judge ordered you to be with your ex for a year or get locked up for a year, what will you do? 😉😄😃
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Interesting question I found online, and thought to share with the community. Can someone be everything you want and still turn you off?
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Gay men are in unwanted cages called marriage ~ Oyemykke
FlyJ posted a topic in Latest News and Gist
The Instagram celebrity alleged that many gay men in Africa are dating beautiful women just to stay and look normal. He also told women not to feel they are responsible for their failed marriages because some gay men have gotten into unwanted cages called marriage just to be socially acceptable. Oyemykke wrote; HES JUST NOT INTO YOU. A lot of GAY men dating beautiful women just to stay & look NORMAL. A lot of Bi men are in unwanted cages called marriage just to be socially acceptable. He wrote; Homosexuality, Lesbianism , Pedophilia & these other topics are issues we need to discuss . The more we frown at them instead of discussing them, the more pain we cause ourselves. Do we bring our guns & shoot them all? Or do we find means of understanding what we could do to help the society?? #HumansNotDemons For clarification sake , I did not say any of these above mentioned groups should be legalised. I said they are topics we need to discuss instead of frowning upon because they do exist. Pedophilia can be sickening to myself & yourself but it’s still very much being practiced in Africa. As a matter of actual fact, it’s more acceptable there than Homosexuality is ?? ( all because HOMOSEXUALITY is frowned upon in the religious books ) It is important to get my point instead of replying just for the sake of it. We have issues that need to be tackled, addressed & brought to light not tuck them under the Beds. Source -
I got a request to shed some light on sexing in the community, and so I decided to start the #BasicTips series. This week, I will be posting videos on Oral sex. Please feel free to post videos too. First, let's learn about the anatomy of the Vulva, commonly called the V-zone.
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A friend sent this to me, and it got me cracking up, so I thought to share. What are your thoughts?
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Simone Biles made history more than once this weekend during the US Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City, Missouri. The five-time Olympic medalist and 14-time world champion became the first woman to ever land a triple-double in competition during her floor routine Sunday night. She also snagged her sixth national all-around title with a score of 118.500, nearly five points ahead of second place finisher Sunisa Lee. Biles' stunning floor routine Sunday included several astounding flips and jumps but it was her insane triple-double -- two backflips and three twists while in the air -- that wowed judges and fans alike. And that wasn't the reigning Olympic and world all-around champion's only history-making moment of the competition. On Friday, the 22-year old became the first gymnast to attempt and land a double-double dismount off of a high beam. The move involves two twists and two somersaults while dismounting. Biles had attempted the triple-double the same day she landed her double-double but just missed the landing. Now, she's nailed the landing, made history twice, and won her sixth national title all in one weekend. Next, it's onto the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which, Biles said, will be her last. Source
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Simone Biles made history more than once this weekend during the US Gymnastics Championships in Kansas City, Missouri. The five-time Olympic medalist and 14-time world champion became the first woman to ever land a triple-double in competition during her floor routine Sunday night. She also snagged her sixth national all-around title with a score of 118.500, nearly five points ahead of second place finisher Sunisa Lee. Biles' stunning floor routine Sunday included several astounding flips and jumps but it was her insane triple-double -- two backflips and three twists while in the air -- that wowed judges and fans alike. And that wasn't the reigning Olympic and world all-around champion's only history-making moment of the competition. On Friday, the 22-year old became the first gymnast to attempt and land a double-double dismount off of a high beam. The move involves two twists and two somersaults while dismounting. Biles had attempted the triple-double the same day she landed her double-double but just missed the landing. Now, she's nailed the landing, made history twice, and won her sixth national title all in one weekend. Next, it's onto the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which, Biles said, will be her last. Source
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LGBTQ history curriculum will now be taught in Illinois schools
FlyJ posted a topic in Latest News and Gist
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law on Friday a bill that ensures the contributions of LGBTQ people are taught in public schools. House Bill 246 was introduced by Rep. Anna Moeller to amend the school code to add a more inclusive history curriculum. "In public schools only, the teaching of history shall include a study of the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State," the bill states. Equality Illinois, the state's largest LGBTQ civil rights advocacy organization, supported the bill and said the curriculum can have a "positive effect on students' self-image and make their peers more accepting." The organization said some topics that will be added to the new curriculum include the nation's first gay rights organization, the Society for Human Rights, being formed in 1924 in Chicago, and Sally Ride, the first US woman in space, who was a lesbian. "One of the best ways to overcome intolerance is through education and exposure to different people and viewpoints," State Sen. Heather Steans, who also sponsored the bill, said in a statement on her website earlier this year. "An inclusive curriculum will not only teach an accurate version of history but also promote acceptance of the LGBTQ community." The bill passed the Senate and House earlier this year and is scheduled to go into effect in July 2020. The bill also states that all textbooks "authorized to be purchased must include the roles and contributions of all people protected under the Illinois Human Rights Act and must be non-discriminatory as to any of the characteristics under the Act." "It is my hope that teaching students about the valuable contributions LGBTQ individuals have made throughout history will create a safer environment with fewer incidents of harassment," Steans said. "LGBTQ children and teenagers will also be able to gain new role models who share life experiences with them." Source -
The Premier League is back: Rivals ready for another thrilling season. Who will get their hands on the Premier League trophy this season?
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I got to say I am not as dedicated this season as I was last season. Is it just me or is there LGBTQ representation this season? Diane, Venita, Mercy, Nelson....
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Homosexuality, lesbianism, cause of insecurity in Nigeria – Emir
FlyJ posted a topic in Latest News and Gist
The Emir of Gwandu and the Chairman Kebbi Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Muhammadu Bashar, has attributed the current security challenges in the country to the way in which Nigerians have been ignoring God’s commands and adopting satanic behaviours. The Emir said such satanic behaviours include rampant homosexuality, rape and lesbianism, which were causative factors of insecurity in the country. The monarch made the observation while addressing his subjects after Eid-el-Kabir prayer in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday. “The society today is bedevilled by cases of rape, homosexuality, lesbianism, kidnapping and rampant killings which resulted into the present insecurity Nigeria is faced with,” he said. He charged the general public, especially parents to instill discipline and respect in their children by giving them sound education. “I give glory to God for giving us the opportunity to witness another Sallah. “The present ills in our society is also due to indiscipline and too much love for material wealth,” he said. Bashar warned that unless the people fear to sin against God and parents remain committed to imbibing good family values, the country would continue to face instability. The Emir also called on the people to be compassionate and supportive to the needy, saying that those who were able to sacrifice animals during the Eid should endeavour to share the meet with the poor and other needy persons. He prayed to Allah to continue to bless the country and give leaders the wisdom to better the lives of people. In his Sallah message, Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, prayed for peaceful return of pilgrims from Saudi Arabia. Bagudu appealed to communities living along flood prone areas across the state to relocate to upper areas in order to avoid being affected by flood. He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the bill converting College of Agriculture, Zuru to the status of a University. (NAN). Source -
As queen, I can only marry a woman –Dunkwu, Omu of Anioma
FlyJ posted a topic in Latest News and Gist
The Omu of Anioma, Martha Dunkwu, is a revered traditional ruler of Anioma land, which covers nine local government areas in Delta State. Anioma people are the Igbo located in Delta, who are separated from the Igbo in the South-East by the River Niger. Dunkwu tells OCHEI MATTHEW about the historical background of the Omu, its spirituality and others What has been the most interesting part of being the monarch? The most interesting part is the fact that the throne is indigenous to Anioma people. The two titles of Omu: Omu queen mother and Eze Nwayi (queen). Our forefathers’ intention was for the Omu to be a queen in charge of women. So, you find out that when I go all over the country, people look at me as if I’m a TV screen or movie star because they had not seen such before. Our former governor, Chief James Ibori, wrote me a goodwill message when I celebrated my 50th birthday, 14 years ago. He said I brought feasibility to this ancient institution. As a media person, I brought that to this institution. So, it has been interesting going all over the world because they didn’t know there is a part of Africa where their forefathers had decided 700 years ago that a woman must occupy this throne and play her part for the community to move forward. So sometimes at events, I’m the only female at a setting dominated by men. What were you doing before you became the Omu? I was a media practitioner. I studied in England, the United States of America and returned 35 years ago. I was a media consultant for the late Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa, of blessed memory and the late Orodje of Okpe. At some point, I consulted for the Asagba of Asaba and about seven traditional rulers. I was in the consultancy business but when I became the Deputy Omu, I decided that the best thing was to start working for traditional rulers. I was Deputy Omu for three years and became substantive Omu for 17 years, so I have done the work of Omu for 20 years now. How much do you miss your old life? No, I don’t miss my old life at all. I must confess that what I am doing is the physical manifestation of spiritual conclusion. So, once God has decided on a matter, you cannot miss anything because that’s the intention of God. How did you feel when you got to know that you would become the traditional ruler? Well, initially I was apprehensive because in the past, Omus were women in their early 80s and 90s and as you are aware, Omu doesn’t get married. And if you are married, once you become Omu, you must leave your marital home. However, I was not married so I didn’t have any issue with having to leave my husband. I wasn’t quite sure of how I would handle it but when I was convinced that it was the intention of God, I took it upon myself to do the right thing and I will continue to do to the right thing. How has your life as a female monarch been? Rosy…(laughs). Well, it’s challenging when you cannot marry, go into a relationship or attend a burial. There are so many things you cannot do as Omu. However, the work of Omu is 70 per cent spiritual, so I have to keep praying. I also have chiefs attached to my palace. There are spiritual and executive chiefs in the palace. What experience do you think you have had that you think came as a result of your being a queen? I am grateful to God and I remain grateful to the late Oba of Benin Kingdom. I learnt a lot from him. The Omu institution is very conservative and ancient. It is a dictatorship in the sense that no woman was consulted when few old wise men instituted the Omu institution. When many people see me and find out about the institution, they marvel. The challenges I have are even from our people. So what have been your biggest challenges since you became the monarch? One, I have tried to fuse the good of the old times with the good of the new period to have something brand new. I don’t have any challenge from the people of the North, West, South-East or Deltans. If there are any challenges I am facing, they are from my people and not necessarily from Anioma people. They are from my own home – Okpanam – and of course, it is understandable because even the best among us are despised in their homes. Anioma people own this institution; it is not a personal institution. So, one would not call what I experience as challenges in that sense. Even in Okpanam, the institution is for our forefathers and not for any individual. That’s why it is said that the Omu cannot abdicate the throne and people cannot put all manner of things in place to remove the Omu. So, in 700 years, no Omu has abdicated the throne and no Omu has been removed. Source- 13 replies
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